Jack Coakley Obtains Defense Verdict in Medical Malpractice Trial

On February 3, 2026, Jack Coakley secured a defense verdict on behalf of his client, a critical care physician, in a medical malpractice trial, after a nine-day jury trial at Plymouth Superior Court. The patient’s estate alleged that the critical care physician failed to properly treat the patient, who was diagnosed with clostridium difficile (“C. diff”), a bacterial infection that can cause severe colitis, and this caused the patient’s death.  The patient’s estate alleged that, in addition to treatment with anti-biotics, surgical intervention should have been attempted earlier.  The defense maintained, and presented expert testimony, that the critical care physician fully complied with the applicable standard of care.  The defense also presented expert evidence that, due to the unusually virulent strain of C. diff with which the patient was infected, it was very unlikely that the patient would have survived regardless of the treatment modality utilized.  The jury deliberated for less than two hours before rendering a defense verdict.

Case Lawyers:

John P. Coakley & Susan Devlin