Judgment in hospital death is upheld

Friday, Aug. 23, 2002 | 9:11 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a $265,000 judgment in favor of a woman whose late husband suffered injuries when he fell out of bed at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas.

The court rejected Valley's claims that there should be a new trial because of misconduct of counsel for Leona Lawyer.

Valley said the attorney for Lawyer violated a District Court order at trial in questioning a witness about nurse understaffing at Valley. The Supreme Court said that one unanswered question did not result in jury passion or prejudice the trial that lasted four days.

Foster Lawyer, a 76-year-old man who had suffered numerous medical problems, was found on the floor beside his bed on April 4, 1994. The case was submitted to the medical screening panel that could not reach a decision whether Valley was at fault.

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