Known for its advocacy on behalf of nursing home residents, Wilkes & McHugh has won more than $64 million in jury verdicts within the past two years. Founded in Tampa, Fla., in 1985, the firm has grown to approximately 60 attorneys with offices in seven states. It handles a wide spectrum of cases in addition to its primary focus. These include medical malpractice, products liability, toxic torts, construction defect and corporate fraud and misconduct. In 2001, the firm won a $78 million verdict in a negligence suit against an Arkansas nursing home-at the time the largest such result in state history ( Sauer v. Advocat Inc. ).

Noteworthy cases:

Crook v. Mariner Post-Acute Network Inc. (Hinds Co., Miss., Cir. Ct. 2004), lead lawyers Kenneth L. Connor and Amy J. Quezon. Substandard care by a nursing home staff led to a resident's bedsores and infection, which ultimately forced the amputation of a leg. The jury returned a $10 million verdict.

Evans v. Beverly Enterprises Inc. (Orange Co., Fla., Cir. Ct. 2003), lead lawyers Brian L. Thompson and Joseph H. Ficarrota. Negligence in monitoring a nursing home resident allegedly caused her death from congestive heart failure. The jury awarded $7.7 million in compensatory damages. The case settled before punitive damages could be considered.

Edwards v. Mariner Health Care Inc. (Leflore Co., Miss., Cir. Ct. 2003), lead counsel Kenneth L. Connor and Frances McRae Turner III. A nursing home resident suffered from bedsores and malnutrition, among other complaints, due to staff negligence. The jury awarded $6.5 million.

© 2004 All Rights Reserved