Sullivan Papain Attorney Ana-Marija Turkovic Obtains $1,000,000 Settlement in Delayed Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Sullivan Papain associate Ana-Marija Turkovic successfully obtained a $1 million settlement for a 48-year-old wife and mother, whose breast cancer diagnosis was delayed by 13 months due to the defendants’ negligence. Defendants, plaintiff’s primary care physician, OB/GYN, and radiologist, all failed to properly address clear signs of breast cancer, including a palpable lump
and obvious abnormal signs visible on plaintiff’s mammogram studies. As a result, her cancer advanced from localized Ductal carcinoma in situ (“DCIS”), which is by definition Stage 0 cancer, to Stage I multifocal invasive carcinoma requiring chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

Plaintiff’s counsel retained an expert in the field of surgical oncology who opined that an earlier diagnosis would have allowed for less aggressive treatment—specifically, had Plaintiff been diagnosed 13 months earlier, she would have required a lumpectomy and possibly radiation therapy, but no chemotherapy. Due to the Defendants’ negligence, Plaintiff lost the chance for breast preservation and was forced to endure chemotherapy.

At this time, Plaintiff has been in remission from her Stage I breast cancer for 5 years.