Florida Verdicts

Plaintiff(s):

Estate of Richard Davies Briggs (Male, 60 Years)

Plaintiff Attorney(s):

Douglas R. Beam;
Douglas R. Beam, P.A.;
Melbourne,
FL,
for
Estate of Richard Davies Briggs ■ Jerry McGreal;
Douglas R. Beam, P.A.;
Melbourne,
FL,
for
Estate of Richard Davies Briggs

Plaintiff Expert(s):

Michael David; M.D., Ph.D.; Infectious Diseases; Chicago,
IL called by:
Douglas R. Beam, Jerry McGreal

Defendant(s):

Rebekah Robinson

Defense Attorney(s):

Mark S. Ramey;
Ramey & Kampf, P.A.;
Tampa,
FL,
for
Rebekah Robinson

On May 5, 2012, plaintiffs’ decedent Richard Briggs, 60, a pharmacist, was motorcycling in Tampa. After he stopped at an intersection, a vehicle driven by Rebekah Robinson attempted to make a left turn directly in front of him. She struck his bike, knocking him to the ground. Briggs suffered a laceration of his upper gums. On July 23, Briggs was admitted to the Florida Hospital emergency room, suffering from acute sepsis. On July 31, Briggs died from complications related to the sepsis and a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. The estate of Richard Briggs brought a wrongful death action against Robinson. The estate alleged that the bacteria entered Briggs’ body through the laceration of his gums in the accident. The estate’s infectious-diseases expert opined that the MRSA bacteria most likely entered Briggs’ bloodstream through the laceration sustained in the accident. Robinson conceded negligence for the collision, but disputed that it caused Briggs’ death. Her counsel argued that there were other possible causes for Briggs’ infection, including the diagnosis of a MRSA lesion to his right leg in late 2011; the diagnosis of a MRSA abscess to the left earlobe in early 2010; a third MRSA abscess that occurred about two years prior to his death; and two cataract extractions in late 2011, in addition to Briggs’ daily insulin injections.

In the collision, Briggs sustained a laceration to his upper gums, which required nine sutures. His estate sought $2 million in compensatory damages. Counsel for Robinson argued that the lesion on Briggs’ gums was not provably the cause of his ultimately fatal infection.

The jury rendered a defense verdict.

Judge:

Martha Cook

Trial Length:

4
 days

Trial Deliberations:

5
 hours

This report is based on information that was provided by plaintiffs’ and defense counsel.