Current Firm News
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James Woods and family reach settlement with Kent Hospital
December 2, 2009 Actor James Woods and the defendants in the medical malpractice case over the 2006 death of his brother Michael Woods, reached an unprecedented settlement after nearly 4 weeks of trial. Mark B. Decof, lead trial counsel and with the assistance of Decof & Decof lawyers Daniel Schatz and Donna DiDonato, achieved an extraordinary settlement with Kent Hospital. In addition to a confidential monetary settlement between the Hospital and the Woods Family, Kent Hospital publicly acknowledged that “mistakes were made, and we can do better” through Kent Hospital CEO Sandra Coletta. In addition, the Hospital has agreed to establish The Michael J. Woods Institute and commit $1.325 million to improve the quality of patient care and safety at the Hospital by establishing new procedures and protocols, along with human resource improvements. James Woods will serve as a member of a committee which will monitor and ultimately approve the effort. Read the story as reported in The Providence Journal here.
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Three Decof & Decof lawyers named to the New England Super Lawyers List.
Providence, November 1, 2009 -- Leonard Decof, Mark Decof and Neil F.X. Kelly were named to the New England and Rhode Island Super Lawyers List for 2009. Mark Decof was also recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 10 lawyers in Rhode Island and named to the Super Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers in New England list. The Top Lawyers received the highest point total in the Super Lawyers assessment process. Lawyers who are selected to the Super Lawyers List are nominated by their peers, and then independently evaluated using objective criteria for their professional achievements. Only five percent of lawyers in Rhode Island are recognized on the Super Lawyers List.
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Jury award totals 4.5 million in Providence couple's negligence case
Providence, July 1, 2009 -- A Providence County jury returned a verdict in favor of a Providence couple for the negligence of Roger Williams Hospital. Decof & Decof lawyer Neil F.X. Kelly represented Leo and Francis Villegas at trial and argued that Roger Williams failed to adequately train its nursing staff in fall prevention and for the failure of the staff to activate a bed exit alarm that resulted in injuries to Mr. Villegas. The jury's verdict with interest totals $4.5 million. Neil was assisted at trial by Mark Brice who is of counsel to Decof & Decof. Read the article from the Providence Journal here.
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Supreme Court reinstates Johnston couple's medical malpractice claim.
Providence, July 1, 2009 -- The Rhode Island Supreme Court reinstated the negligence claims of a Johnston couple against Atwood Medical Associates, Inc. At trial, the Providence County jury was not permitted to consider the claim that Atwood, a large primary care practice, failed to provide adequate back-up for its on call physicians. Decof & Decof lawyer Howard B. Klein successfully argued on appeal that the trial judge erred in removing the claim from the jury's consideration. The Supreme Court determined that the expert testimony at trial supported the claim that Atwood did not have adequate coverage and that proper coverage would have prevented the plaintiff's injuries. The Supreme Court ordered a new trial.
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Vincent Cannon elected to the board of the Rhode Island Association for Justice.
Providence, February 3, 2009 – Decof & Decof lawyer Vincent Cannon was recently elected to the board of the Rhode Island Association for Justice. Vin is a trial lawyer with over twenty eight years of experience representing people with catastrophic injuries.
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Mark J. Brice celebrates 30th Anniversary as Lawyer
Mark J. Brice, of counsel to the firm, celebrates his 30th Anniversary as a lawyer having been admitted to the Bar Association of the District of Columbia on November 17, 1979 and now practicing in Rhode Island.
Current Industry News
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BP stops most Fla. claims payments
BP is looking to cut off more than just the oil spill. Claims filed from Florida's tourism industry are on hold in Naples and other areas not in the directly affected Panhandle area, BP officials have announced. Jack Wert, executive director of the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it's not the right approach for the oil giant to take. "If that's the case, that certainly is very sad," said Wert, noting that as of Thursday, he hadn't been notified yet of the change.
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Rat bites shopper, shopper sues store
A trip to a variety store is said to have resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder for a Delaware County man who said he was shopping for a ribbon when he was attacked by a rat.
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U.S.: Firms Must Spell Out Benefit Rights
WASHINGTON | Your company just denied your disability claim. What do you do now? How long do you have to file an appeal? And with whom? The Obama administration is planning to upgrade consumer protections for tens of millions of workers and family members covered by health, disability and pension plans, ordering companies to clearly explain decisions on claims and how employees can dispute denials.
