Serious Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

The law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. represents Frank Harris, an individual with severe psychological problems that has been a patient of the District of Columbia’s Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital. Our client, as a result of his severe disabilities posed a significant threat to himself. In fact, the “demons” within Mr. Harris convinced him to tear his eyes out and that if he did, he would no longer see visions disturbing to him. As a result, the District of Columbia, in accordance with doctor’s orders, was supposed to protect Mr. Harris from inflicting this horrible self-mutilating act. The District of Columbia’s employees however, according to the lawsuit filed by partners Ira Sherman and Joseph Cammarata, failed in its responsibility to protect Mr. Harris. The suit alleges that Mr. Harris was left insufficiently restrained when he asked to use the men’s room and he used that opportunity to rend himself totally blind.

The law firm has filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia which is scheduled for trial in October 2007. The District of Columbia sent a bill to Mr. Harris for approximately $2.2 Million representing the amount of the cost of services provided to him while he was hospitalized and under their “care.” In fact, what the District of Columbia is doing is seeking the very money it would pay to Mr. Harris as a result of the injuries sustained resulting from the negligence of the District of Columbia. Accordingly, the District of Columbia would benefit from its own negligence by paying money from one pocket and putting it in another! The District of Columbia city council members are incensed. (See letters from the City Council Chairman and At-Large Delegate attached to yesterday’s blog.) Now the press, local and national, are joining the chorus on this topic. (See the articles from the Washington Post and The Examiner) More will follow but rest assured, we will not stop fighting for fairness and justice.

by Ira Sherman, Esq.

On August 29, 2007 Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. will hold a press conference in front of D.C. Superior Court to call attention to the District of Columbia’s unfair attempts to engage in what the Washington Post has termed “Billing for Abuse.” The District of Columbia has attempted to recover of more than $2.2 million from an individual that was institutionalized in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Due to the District of Columbia’s negligent failure to adequately supervise the individual, he tore his eyes out with his own hands. Now, in addition to severe psychological disability, he is blind. The District of Columbia seeks to recover the money funded by Medicaid, spent to “care” for this individual from the proceeds of any settlement or jury verdict that is reached in favor of their patient, resulting from the harm caused to him by the District of Columbia’s own negligence. City Council Chairman Vincent Gray and Councilmember At-Large Philip Mendelson have each individually written Mayor Fenty requesting that the District of Columbia not continue in its efforts to collect this money. Attached to this blog are the letters to Mayor Fenty from Councilmembers Gray and Mendelson. To date, Mayor Fenty has failed to instruct the staff of the Attorney General’s office not to pursue this unfair and unjust effort to bill for their own abuse. Accordingly, to call attention to this matter, the law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. will hold a press conference on August 29, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in front of the D.C. Superior Courthouse located at 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. All members of the public are invited to attend this press conference.

by Ira Sherman, Esq.
http://www.chaikinandsherman.com/www.chaikinandsherman.com/Mendelson%20%26%20Gray%20letters%208-07.pdf

The Brain Injury Association of America has established a local chapter in the District of Columbia – The Brain Injury Association of the District of Columbia. Partners Joseph Cammarata and Ira Sherman, are President and Vice President, respectively and are serving on both the Board of Directors and as officers of the Brain Injury Association of the District of Columbia.

Partner Allan Siegel of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has been elected President-elect of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area Trial Lawyers Association. (hereinafter “DC-TLA”) DC-TLA is the premier organization of consumer advocates in the District of Columbia. It is the District of Columbia affiliate of the American Association of Justice, the national association of attorneys representing consumers and the interests of the consumers. Mr. Siegel has formerly occupied positions on the Board of Directors and has been elected Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President of DC-TLA. All of us at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. are proud of Mr. Siegel’s accomplishments and are excited about the prospect of Mr. Siegel taking the helm as President of the DC-TLA in May 2008.

by Ira Sherman, Esq.