Logan Logan & Watson, L.C.: Who We Are

In January 2012, Jeff Brown and Tom Pickert successfully defended a skilled nursing facility in a trial in Leavenworth County, Kansas. Plaintiff’s decedent was a 75 year old male resident with a history of atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s type dementia, diabetes, and a history of smoking. Approximately five months after the resident’s admission he developed skin breakdowns on his heel, coccyx, and buttock that were initially described as Stage II pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. Plaintiff alleged that the staff of the long term care facility had failed to adopt and/or implement an appropriate plan of care to prevent the development of the pressure sores. Plaintiff also alleged that the facility failed to properly manage the treatment of the pressure sores once they developed by failing to monitor the resident’s condition, failing to timely communicate his condition and/or changes in his condition to the resident’s physician, or otherwise provide appropriate medical care. The resident ultimately expired in November 2008. An autopsy requested by the resident’s family asserted that the cause of death was secondary to sepsis from the decubitus ulcers. Summary judgment on the plaintiff’s wrongful death claim was successfully achieved prior to trial. At trial plaintiff initially claimed damages for pain and suffering and medical expenses for a total claim of $600,000, but reduced the claimed amount to $150,000 in closing argument. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of our client after one hour of deliberation.

In October 2011, Scott Logan and Ryan Fowler successfully defended a general surgeon in a 5 day trial in Johnson County, Kansas. The plaintiff's decedent was a 71 year old male patient with a history of smoking, central nervous system lymphoma, hypertension, and prostate cancer. A colonoscopy revealed several benign polyps that were too large to be removed. Our client recommended and performed a colon resection to remove the area where large polyps were found. Postoperatively, the patient initially did well, but eventually developed renal failure, hypotension, respiratory failure, sepsis, and acidosis. A CT scan was later performed which suggested an anastomotic leak. Our client took the patient back to surgery. After confirming that the contamination of the abdomen was limited and that the patient's family desired to avoid an ileostomy, our client performed a re-anastomosis. The re-anastomosis ultimately leaked and a subsequent laparotomy with resection of the ileocolonic anastomosis and ileostomy formation was performed. The patient ultimately expired on March 13, 2008 from a recurrence of the CNS lymphoma. At trial plaintiff claimed damages pain and suffering and medical expenses for a total claim of $1,000,000. The jury returned a verdict in favor of our client.

In July 2011, Fred Logan was named by Governor Sam Brownback to the Kansas Board of Regents. The nine-member board is the governing board of the state's six public universities and the coordinating board for the state's 32 public higher education institutions. This includes seven public universities, 19 community colleges and six technical colleges. Board of Regents members serve four-year terms.

In September 2011, Brad Watson and Ryan Fowler successfully defended an emergency medicine specialist in a nearly two week trial in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The plaintiffs' decedent, a 31 year old male, presented to an emergency room with complaints of shortness of breath and chest pain. Our client, an emergency medicine specialist, examined the patient, ordered a CT study and chest x-ray, checked the troponin level, performed an EKG, and verbally consulted with a cardiologist. The plaintiffs' decedent was discharged with direction to see the cardiologist within two days and to keep his appointment with his PCP the following day. Five days later, not yet having been seen by the cardiologist, plaintiffs' decedent experienced chest pain and shortness of breath while driving. He pulled his vehicle over and called 911. Shortly after being transported to the ER, the patient collapsed and died. Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was congestive heart failure due to ruptured papillary muscle due to acute Myocardial Infarction. The plaintiffs, the patient's surviving spouse and minor child, alleged that our client failed to conduct a thorough and complete history, properly treat and diagnose the patient's condition, properly order and administer appropriate labs and diagnostic testing, and failed to get an immediate cardiology consult and workup. At trial plaintiffs claimed damages for loss of consortium, loss of support, loss of future wages, and funeral expenses for a total claim in excess of $4,000,000. The jury returned a verdict in favor of our client.

In June 2011, Scott Logan and Ryan Fowler successfully defended an orthopedic-spine specialist and trauma specialist in trial in Kansas City, Kansas in a matter involving allegations of failure to timely assess and diagnose a patient who ultimately suffered spinal cord stroke. The plaintiff was involved in a single car motor vehicle accident in which she suffered a dislocation of her cervical spine. Twelve days after the accident the plaintiff suffered a stroke of her anterior spinal artery (anterior cord syndrome) and as a result was rendered a paraplegic. The plaintiff alleged that the our clients failed to recognize her neurologic decline and failed to appropriately treat her hypotensive episodes resulting in the missed opportunity to avoid the spinal cord infarction. At trial plaintiff claimed damages for past and future pain/suffering, mental anguish, and past and future medical bills related to her paraplegia, for a total claim of $3,000,000. The orthopedic-spine specialist was dismissed on directed verdict following the close of the plaintiff's evidence. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the remaining defendant.

SCOTT LOGAN NAMED A MISSOURI & KANSAS "SUPER LAWYER." RYAN FOWLER NAMED "RISING STAR"

Scott Logan has again been named a 2011 "Super Lawyer" by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers publication. Ryan Fowler was again recognized as a 2011 "Rising Stars" by the same publication.

Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. The "Super Lawyer" designation indicates that the lawyer is in the top 5% of lawyers practicing in Missouri and Kansas. A "Rising Star" is an up-and-coming attorney who is either 40 or younger or has been in practice ten or fewer years. The results are based on responses to surveys sent to Kansas and Missouri lawyers who themselves have been selected as Super Lawyers. The final list of "Rising Stars" includes less than 3 percent of the Kansas and Missouri Bar. Recognition of these honors was also published in the November 2010 edition of Kansas City Magazine.

Scott Logan has been named to Ingram's list of the Best Lawyers in Kansas City®. Ingram's magazine partnered with Woodward/White, Inc., the publishers of The Best Lawyers in America®, to produce The Best Lawyers in Kansas City®. Attorneys named to this list are chosen as part of a peer nomination process. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on peer review, as it has been for the past 28 years, and the voting pool for existing categories consists of all lawyers who are currently listed. Each listed lawyer is asked "If you could not handle a case, who would you refer it to?" The complete list of Best Lawyers in Kansas City® will appear in the October 2011 edition of Ingram's.

In September 2011, Scott Logan and Tom Pickert were invited to present at the Pediatric Grand Rounds through the KUMC Continuing Education Department. Their presentation entitled "A Guide to Medical Malpractice Law for the Kansas Pediatrician" explored general risk management techniques as a means of increasing patient safety and reducing the risk of medical malpractice exposure.

In May 2011, Tom Pickert and Ryan Fowler were again selected to be speakers at the 2011 Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund Defense Counsel Seminar. Their presentation entitled "Analyzing and Attacking Medical Literature" explored the use (and sometimes misuse) of medical literature in medical negligence actions.

SCOTT LOGAN NAMED A MISSOURI & KANSAS "SUPER LAWYER." TOM PICKERT AND RYAN FOWLER NAMED "RISING STARS"

Scott Logan has again been named a "Super Lawyer" by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers publication. Tom Pickert and Ryan Fowler have also been recognized as "Rising Stars" by the same publication.

Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. The "Super Lawyer" designation indicates that the lawyer is in the top 5% of lawyers practicing in Missouri and Kansas. A "Rising Star" is an up-and-coming attorney who is either 40 or younger or has been in practice ten or fewer years. The results are based on responses to surveys sent to Kansas and Missouri lawyers who themselves have been selected as Super Lawyers. The final list of "Rising Stars" includes less than 3 percent of the Kansas and Missouri Bar. Recognition of these honors was also published in the November 2010 edition of Kansas City Magazine.

In April 2010, Jeff Brown and Ryan Fowler successfully defended an anesthesiologist at trial in Kansas City, Kansas in a matter involving allegations of "Anesthesia Awareness." The plaintiff underwent a right total hip replacement surgery on June 8, 2006, to replace a surgically repaired arthritic hip that had been reinjured in a fall. The plaintiff alleged that, during the surgery, he suffered an episode of "Anesthesia Awareness" when the inhaled anesthetic agent (Isoflurane) was decreased to offset the plaintiff's decreasing blood pressure. The plaintiff claimed that he awoke during the surgery and was able to feel all aspects of the operation being performed on his hip and hear discussions in the operating room. Following the alleged event, the plaintiff became an outspoken advocate on the topic of Anesthesia Awareness, making frequent media appearances in local and national media, including appearances on Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360 and a feature story in the National Enquirer. In closing arguments, counsel for the plaintiff refused to make a specific demand for recovery, instead asking the jury for what it thought the average person on the street would take in exchange for undergoing the claimed horrific experience of being awake during a surgery. The defendant pointed the jury to the evidence showing the life-saving need for the reduction in the anesthetic gas. The defendant also noted the numerous inconsistencies in the plaintiff's claimed memory of the awareness that showed it was something that most likely occurred post-operatively, after the patient had been transferred to the intensive care unit. The jury returned an 11-1 defense verdict, finding no negligence after less than 35 minutes of deliberation.

In May 2010, Tom Pickert and Ryan Fowler were selected to be speakers at the 2010 Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund Defense Counsel Seminar. Their presentation entitled "Courtroom Medicine: Defining Reasonable Medical Probability" explored the loose standards often employed by medical experts who provide opinions that purport to be to a reasonable degree of medical probability/certainty on the issue of causation and damages.

The firm has recently successfully defended four separate complex medical malpractice actions in a span of just 4 weeks:

In September 2009, Brad Watson and Tom Pickert successfully defended two obstetricians in an action in which the patient, a 46 year old female, claimed an anoxic brain injury related to a ruptured uterus diagnosed at the time of the C-section delivery of her child. The patient alleged the uterine rupture was caused by the inappropriate use of Pitocin to induce labor. The total claim for damages at trial was in excess of $300,000.

In September 2009, Scott Logan and Ryan Fowler successfully defended a neurologist against allegations of negligence concerning the evaluation and treatment of a 81 year old female who saw our client for evaluations and assessment of her cognitive impairment syndrome and early Alzheimer's dementia. The patient alleged that our client had inappropriately performed the assessment and as a result had failed to prevent her subsequent sudden blindness secondary to Giant Cell Arteritis. At the close of the patient's evidence the Court granted a directed verdict, resulting in the dismissal of the case against our client. The plaintiff claimed damages at trial in excess of $1,000,000.

In September 2009, Brad Watson and Tom Pickert successfully defended a general surgeon against allegations of negligence concerning a 63 year old male who underwent a left hemicolectomy to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon. Approximately seven days following the surgery, the patient was diagnosed with a ureter injury which was subsequently repaired. Prior to trial a non-negotiable demand of $400,000 was submitted by the attorneys for the patient. The total claim for damages at trial was in excess of $1,000,000.

In October 2009, Brad Watson and Ryan Fowler successfully defended an orthopedic surgeon against allegations of negligence relating to a total knee replacement surgery for a 40 year old male. The patient developed complications secondary to a post-operative infection resulting in a subsequent fusion of the joint. The total claim for damages at trial was in excess of $1,000,000.

For further details, please see Trial Results, Recent Projects and Reported Cases.

Scott K. Logan has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. The induction ceremony took place recently before an audience of approximately 974 persons during the recent 2009 Annual Meeting of the College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.

Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.

SCOTT LOGAN NAMED A MISSOURI & KANSAS "SUPER LAWYER." JEFF BROWN AND RYAN FOWLER NAMED "RISING STARS"

Scott Logan has again been named a "Super Lawyer" by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers publication. Jeff Brown and Ryan Fowler have also been recognized as "Rising Stars" by the same publication.

Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. The "Super Lawyer" designation indicates that the lawyer is in the top 5% of lawyers practicing in Missouri and Kansas. A "Rising Star" is an up-and-coming attorney who is either 40 or younger or has been in practice ten or fewer years. The results are based on responses to surveys sent to Kansas and Missouri lawyers who themselves have been selected as Super Lawyers. The final list of "Rising Stars" includes less than 3 percent of the Kansas and Missouri Bar. Recognition of these honors was also published in the November 2009 edition of Kansas City Magazine.

Tom Pickert was accepted into the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership program. The Centurion Leadership Program is an intensive, two-year development program focused on preparing Greater Kansas City's future leaders. It is designed to prepare a representative cross section of the community's emerging leaders for their role in shaping the future of Kansas City. Applicants were selected on the basis of a written application, recommendations, and interviews. The recruiting committee selects a group from diverse ethnic and professional backgrounds, each with strong potential as a future community leader.

In October 2008, Brad Watson and Ryan Fowler successfully defended a neurosurgeon in an action relating to the evaluation and treatment of an alleged spinal epidural abscess that led to a 56 year old woman developing paraplegia. The plaintiff's total claim for damages at trial was in excess of $1 million. This is the fourth defense verdict obtained by the firm in the past 13 months. For further details, please see Trial Results, Recent Projects and Reported Cases.

SCOTT LOGAN NAMED A MISSOURI & KANSAS “SUPER LAWYER” AND JEFF BROWN NAMED A “RISING STAR”

Scott Logan has again been named a "Super Lawyer" by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers publication. Jeff Brown was also recognized as a "Rising Star" by the same publication. Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. The "Super Lawyer" designation indicates that the lawyer is in the top 5% of lawyers practicing in Missouri and Kansas. A "Rising Star" is an up-and-coming attorney who is 40 or younger or has been in practice ten or fewer years. The results are based on responses to surveys sent to Kansas and Missouri lawyers who themselves have been selected as Super Lawyers. The final list of "Rising Stars" includes less than 3 percent of the Kansas and Missouri Bar. Recognition of these honors was also published in the November 2008 edition of Kansas City Magazine.

FRED LOGAN NEGOTIATES AND DOCUMENTS GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE FOR PARK AND CONSERVATION PURPOSES

Fred Logan recently represented G. Kenneth Baum in negotiating and documenting gifts to the Johnson County Park and Recreation District of environmentally sensitive real estate in southern Johnson County. Mr. Baum made an outright donation of approximately 25 acres for park purposes and made grants of conservation easement in perpetuity on two tracts totaling approximately 35 acres. The real estate included the Camp Branch Creek and a tributary, described by one environmental expert as "the last intact stream system remaining in Johnson County." Mr. Baum is the former chairman of George K. Baum & Company and is a leader in the conservation movement in Kansas.

Tom Pickert authored an article concerning the admissibility of settlements in trials involving multiple defendants that has been published in the Kansas Defense Journal. The article titled, "Introducing Evidence of Settlement in Multi-Defendant Medical Malpractice Cases" appeared in the Fall 2008, Issue II of the Kansas Association of Defense Counsel's ("KADC") Kansas Defense Journal.

The firm has recently successfully defended three difficult jury trials where the total damages claimed were in excess of $20 million.

In October 2007, Scott Logan and Tom Pickert successfully defended a general surgeon against allegations of negligence concerning the evaluation of potential malignant breast lesions in a 44 year old woman. The decedent left behind a husband, an adult child and two minor children living in the home. The total claim for damages was in excess of $4 million.

In January 2008, Brad Watson and Scott Logan successfully defended a cardiologist against allegations of negligence concerning the evaluation and treatment of endocarditis that allegedly caused a 62 year old man to suffer a major stroke. The total claim for damages was in excess of $8 million.

In April 2008, Brad Watson and Tom Pickert successfully defended an OBGYN physician against allegations of negligence concerning the prenatal and birthing care of a 27 year old woman, allegedly resulting in neurological injuries to one twin. The total claim for damages was in excess of $ 8 million.

For further details, please see Trial Results, Recent Projects and Reported Cases.

Fred Logan has been named Johnson Countian of the Year by the Johnson County Community College Foundation. The prestigious award is given for outstanding civic leadership in the county.

In announcing that Mr. Logan would be the recipient for 2008, Foundation officials cited his work in behalf of education. Bank of Blue Valley president and chief executive officer Bob Regnier said, "His unwavering support of education at all levels has positively impacted our community for future generations."

Logan was also praised for his civic leadership in the metropolitan Kansas City area. Johnson County Community College President Terry Calaway said, "Fred has a long record of limitless civic commitment to the metropolitan area, Johnson County, and Johnson County Community College. It's a privilege for us to honor someone who works so tirelessly for the good of the community."

Logan will receive the award at a black-tie gala that raises scholarship funds for students at Johnson County Community College Foundation.

For a complete list of Fred's numerous civic activities and honors, please see his complete Resume.