St. Louis law firm accused of mishandling med mal case

A woman claims she lost the chance to redeem thousands of dollars when an attorney failed to timely file a malpractice lawsuit against her former doctor.

Cherie Helmkamp filed a lawsuit Aug. 15 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Devereaux, Stokes, Nolan, Fernandez and Leonard and James P. Leonard of St. Louis.

In her complaint, Helmkamp alleges she hired Leonard of DSNFL to represent her in a medical/dental malpractice lawsuit she planned to file against Dr. Bradley Roberts. The lawsuit was related to injuries Helmkamp allegedly sustained June 13, 2010, according to the current complaint. In order to file a complaint within the statute of limitations, which requires that lawyers file lawsuits within two years of the applicable incidents, Leonard would have been required to file a lawsuit by June 13, 2012, the suit states.

Leonard did timely file the complaint June 12, 2012, but failed to include a named defendant in it, the suit states. In turn, on Oct. 5, 2012, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, and Helmkamp lost her chance to seek compensation for her injuries, the complaint says.

As a result of Leonard's actions, Helmkamp claims she suffered emotional, physical and psychological injuries and lost her normal life.

Helmkamp seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. She is being represented by attorney John J. Hopkins of John J. Hopkins and Associates in Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 14-L-1117.