Congratulations to Catherine “Katie" Bertram and Kieran Murphy of Bertram & Murphy, in Washington DC, on their recent $25 Million verdict.
This case involved a 44 year old DC resident ("Plaintiff") who sought treatment from his Primary Care Doctor at GW University’s Medical Group, Medical Faculty Associates, Inc. ("MFA") on March 6, 2018, for “a new lump over his left rib under his breast." The treating physician and representative of MFA diagnosed it was a "collection of fat" without offering any imaging or a biopsy.
On or about June 27, 2018, the Plaintiff returned to MFA as the above lump was still present and was now painful. The Plaintiff saw his PCP again. This time she ordered a rib x-ray which confirmed no rib fracture or displacement. The radiologist who issued the x-ray report suggested the Plaintiff undergo a CT scan for further testing of the breast lump. The doctor did not order the additional scan nor advise Plaintiff of the radiologist's suggestion. Instead she offered the Plaintiff physical therapy.
The Plaintiff returned on August 14, 2019, for his annual physical. The lump, as mentioned above, was still present. The patient asked for surgical removal of the lump as he was concerned. A sonogram and biopsy was performed. Plaintiff was diagnosed with an "atypical vascular lesion" on September 2, 2109. An addendum was added to the radiologist's report on October 30, 2019, which led to a November 4, 2019, diagnosis of Glomangioma (glomuvenous malformation). In November, the PCP and the GW Breast Surgeon both told the patient his breast lump was benign and did not recommend additional treatment so Plaintiff did not return during COVID in 2020.
The Plaintiff returned to MFA for his annual physical in May 2021. The lump had returned in the same spot. In the fall of 2021 the breast lump was excised again. A different GW pathologist reviewed these slides and she was concerned it was cancer so she sent it out to NIH for a second opinion. NIH diagnosed the patient with angiosarcoma which they confirmed was present on the 2019 biospy slides as well. During the fall of 2021 the patient also complained of left kidney pain and so imaging was performed on his abdomen. A large tumor was found in his liver which was also confirmed to be angiosarcoma.
On April 11, 2025, after a two week trial, the DC jury returned in favor of the Plaintiff and awarded him a $25 Million dollars.
Advocate Capital, Inc. is grateful with Bertram & Murphy (Washington, DC). We appreciate their important work and their tireless effort to fight for justice on behalf of their clients.
