Ten-year old wrongful death claim at trial in Mudge's court

A medical malpractice case involving a 10-year-old wrongful death claim is at trial in Madison County Circuit Judge William Mudge's court.

Plaintiff Stacey Luber alleges that Drs. Michael Mandis and Tibor Kopjas negligently and carelessly failed to properly evaluate Frederick Simon’s intravenous site before discharging him from Anderson Hospital on March 18, 2005. The doctors also are accused of failing to diagnose and treat Simon for bacterial sepsis.

The case had been set for trial in December, however it was continued after defendants objected to late disclosures of medical specials which nearly tripled the amount of damages sought by the plaintiff.

Luber is represented by Colleen Jones of St. Louis and Stephanie Brauer of Belleville, and is administrator of Simon's estate.

Paul Malcharek, M.D., Natalie Redmond, PA-C and Anderson Hospital had previously been dismissed from the suit.

Mandis is represented by Ted Dennis of Belleville.

Kopjas is represented by James Neville of Belleville.

In Mudge's order continuing the case last Dec. 8, he wrote, "Defendants claim the late disclosure causes substantial prejudice in the evaluation of the claim, preparation for trial, and the potential for conflict between the defendant individuals and their insurance carriers. They seek to bar these additional specials or a continuance.”

Madison County case number 06-L-661.