$1,480,000 Settlement for Medication Error Claim
NEW JERSEY LAW JOURNAL
SUITS & DEALS – JULY 25, 2014
Barboni v. Dengrove: A couple allegedly injured by medications prescribed by their psychiatrist settled their Ocean County, N.J., medical malpractice suit for about $1.48 million on June 30.
In the 1990s, John Barboni began receiving treatment—for panic attacks connected to a previous work injury he’d sustained as a maintenance mechanic—from Robert Dengrove, M.D., of Toms River, N.J., who later began treating John’s wife Diane as well, said the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Barry Eichen of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP in Edison, N.J.
The Barbonis claimed that Dengrove overmedicated John, leading to periods of memory loss, and prescribed Diane Treximet to treat migraine headaches despite her high blood pressure, leading to a stroke. They alleged that Dengrove also allowed them to share medications, Eichen said.
Diane, 63, is wheelchair bound and has speech and cognitive issues, while John, 65, continues to have memory and cognitive issues, Eichen said.
Dengrove contended that there was no evidence linking Diane’s stroke to the Treximet, according to Eichen.
The parties settled on the day of trial, during voir dire, said Eichen, who was assisted by Christian Mastondrea, also of Eichen Crutchlow.
Dengrove was covered by Princeton Insurance, Eichen said.
– By David Gialanella