17 Lawsuits Filed against UCI Liver Transplant Program by Irvine Attorneys

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January 09, 2006 05:54 PM US Eastern Timezone

17 Lawsuits Filed against UCI Liver Transplant Program by Irvine Attorneys

Eisenberg & Gray LLP

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2006--The Irvine law firm of

Eisenberg & Gray LLP has filed 17 cases against the University of California

Irvine Medical Center.

Eisenberg & Gray are representing about 30 families and former UCI patients

who never received a liver transplant at UCI. The civil complaints filed in

Orange County Superior Court allege medical malpractice, fraud and

misrepresentation. The allegations include that UCI continued to accept new

liver transplant patients while they concealed their failure to comply with

mandatory federal guidelines:

-- UCI failed to perform the minimum number of 12 liver transplants

annually; They did eight per year in 2002-2004 and only five in 2005;

-- The survival rates were below federal standards;

-- UCI did not have a full-time liver transplant surgeon on staff since July

2004 until the program closed on Nov. 10, 2005.

" Our investigation has revealed that the patients were denied vital

information which prevented them from making an informed decision regarding

whether they should stay at UCI or seek treatment elsewhere, " said attorney

Larry Eisenberg. " Many of our clients were victims of UCI and remained on

the waiting list for two to six years. Approximately 15 to 20 of our clients

died while they waited in vain. The fact that UCI allowed this to occur is a

breach of trust of the highest magnitude, " explained Eisenberg.

Eisenberg has previously negotiated a $10 million settlement for 50 couples

in the UCI fertility scandal in 1997, regarding fertility doctors who stole

patients' eggs without the consent of the infertile couples. Eisenberg has

litigated about 60 cases against UCI which have resulted in settlements of

more than $12.5 million for his clients.

Eisenberg & Gray is the only law firm in California who has already handled

two liver transplant cases against UCI over the last two years. " We are

firmly committed to representing the interests of the victimized patients

and their families who are devastated by this tragedy. UCI put the

institution ahead of their patients and they will be held accountable, " said

Eisenberg.

Contacts

Eisenberg & Gray LLP

Lawrence Eisenberg, 949-753-1500

leisenberg@...

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=16523c06e55433cd & cat=48af4ef4eaa24\

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[Guest guest]

January 09, 2006 05:54 PM US Eastern Timezone

17 Lawsuits Filed against UCI Liver Transplant Program by Irvine Attorneys

Eisenberg & Gray LLP

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2006--The Irvine law firm of

Eisenberg & Gray LLP has filed 17 cases against the University of California

Irvine Medical Center.

Eisenberg & Gray are representing about 30 families and former UCI patients

who never received a liver transplant at UCI. The civil complaints filed in

Orange County Superior Court allege medical malpractice, fraud and

misrepresentation. The allegations include that UCI continued to accept new

liver transplant patients while they concealed their failure to comply with

mandatory federal guidelines:

-- UCI failed to perform the minimum number of 12 liver transplants

annually; They did eight per year in 2002-2004 and only five in 2005;

-- The survival rates were below federal standards;

-- UCI did not have a full-time liver transplant surgeon on staff since July

2004 until the program closed on Nov. 10, 2005.

" Our investigation has revealed that the patients were denied vital

information which prevented them from making an informed decision regarding

whether they should stay at UCI or seek treatment elsewhere, " said attorney

Larry Eisenberg. " Many of our clients were victims of UCI and remained on

the waiting list for two to six years. Approximately 15 to 20 of our clients

died while they waited in vain. The fact that UCI allowed this to occur is a

breach of trust of the highest magnitude, " explained Eisenberg.

Eisenberg has previously negotiated a $10 million settlement for 50 couples

in the UCI fertility scandal in 1997, regarding fertility doctors who stole

patients' eggs without the consent of the infertile couples. Eisenberg has

litigated about 60 cases against UCI which have resulted in settlements of

more than $12.5 million for his clients.

Eisenberg & Gray is the only law firm in California who has already handled

two liver transplant cases against UCI over the last two years. " We are

firmly committed to representing the interests of the victimized patients

and their families who are devastated by this tragedy. UCI put the

institution ahead of their patients and they will be held accountable, " said

Eisenberg.

Contacts

Eisenberg & Gray LLP

Lawrence Eisenberg, 949-753-1500

leisenberg@...

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=16523c06e55433cd & cat=48af4ef4eaa24\

1d8

_________________________________________________________________

Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!

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