Malpractice award largest in Warren County
Doctor failed to properly diagnose patient who died
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
MONMOUTH - A Warren County jury on Monday approved the largest medical malpractice award ever made here.Warren County Clerk Jill Morris said today the $1.4 million awarded to the sons of the late Debbie Peoples was the largest malpractice award ever in Warren County.
The lawsuit claimed that Dr. Won K. Lee, 316 N. Main St., failed to properly diagnose and treat Peoples. Because of that, she died Oct. 5, 2001, of cryptococcal meningitis.
Peoples' sons, Dana, 32, and Jermaine, 30, both of Galesburg, filed suit against Dr. Lee in Warren County in October 2002.
Chicago Attorney Alex Sukhman, represented the plaintiffs; Robert Noe, Moline, represented Lee during the week-long trial in Warren County Circuit Court. It took the jury less than three hours to reach a verdict Monday.
Debbie Peoples, Monmouth, worked for the city of Monmouth at the time of her death.
Sukhman said Tuesday that Peoples went to see Lee on Dec. 5, 2001, complaining of headaches. At that time, Sukhman said Lee failed to properly diagnose Peoples' illness.
Peoples, Sukhman said, made four appointments with Lee and called 21 times in seven weeks complaining of headaches.
On March 27, Sukhman said Peoples visited Lee again, and that time Lee's records indicated Peoples had a fever, was lethargic, weak and was vomiting.
During that visit, Sukhman said, Lee gave Peoples some sample medication and was found by Monmouth Police Officer Ryan Haptonstall a short time later wandering around in a confused mental state. She was taken to Community Medical Center where she spent the next six days.
Peoples was eventually transferred to Galesburg, where Dr. Marc Katchen performed a spinal tap. Within hours the test revealed that Peoples had cryptococcal meningitis.
But, before the medicine could be administered to Peoples the following morning, she died.
