Conn. Jury Awards $16 Million for Failure to Diagnose Heart Disease

A Superior Court jury in Bridgeport, Conn. has awarded more than $16 million to the family of a man who died of a heart attack more than a decade ago, an attorney said.

The jury made the award to the estate and widow of Gary Carlson, 49, of Stamford, a truck driver who died in 1994, said Josh Koskoff, attorney for the plaintiffs. The case was against Stamford Medical Group and Dr. Robert Goldsmith.

Carlson’s widow and estate accused the Stamford Medical Group of failing to diagnose and treat his cardiac disease.

Koskoff called the award one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Connecticut history. He said Carlson worked three jobs to support his family and was looking forward to an early retirement.

“It’s a validation of the injustice that was done by the negligent taking of a good man’s life,” Koskoff said. “This was going to be time to enjoy the fruits of all those hard years working.”

Koskoff said a jury originally awarded $10 million in 2003, but the defendants appealed.

Kevin Tepas, an attorney for the defendant, has denied there was medical malpractice. A message was left Wednesday for Tepas.