Lawrence J. Rudd, M.D., J.D.

Dental

• Mediated a case involving a dental extraction in an area previously radiated for tonsillar cancer, where the patient developed osteoradionecrosis complicated by a descending neck infection that required a tracheostomy and prolonged hospitalization.
• Mediated a dental/oral surgery malpractice case involving a corneal laceration sustained during eyelid surgery, allegedly caused by the failure to place a protective eye shield prior to the procedure.
• Mediated a case involving injury to the alveolar nerve caused by overfilling during a root canal procedure.
• Mediated a case involving the failure to fully extract a tooth, resulting in a retained root tip that led to abscess formation and subsequent hospitalization.
• Mediated a dental malpractice case involving a disputed adverse reaction—seizure versus conversion disorder—following the injection of anesthetic for a deep dental cleaning.
• Mediated a case involving the failure to timely biopsy an abnormal area on the gingiva, which was later diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma.
• Mediated a dental malpractice case involving alleged injury to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves during third molar (wisdom tooth) extraction. The plaintiff's primary claim centered on lack of informed consent, while the defense argued that a signed consent form disclosed nerve injury as a known risk and that the procedure was performed without negligence.

Medical

• Mediated a case involving allegations of elder abuse and medical negligence arising from spinal compression fractures sustained during a fall at an adult day care facility.
• Mediated a case involving allegations of elder abuse and medical negligence arising from spinal compression fractures sustained during a fall at an adult day care facility.
• Mediated a wrongful death and elder abuse case involving allegations of delayed response to abnormal lab results, which allegedly contributed to the patient's death.
• Mediated a case involving a quadriceps tendon tear resulting from a fall, allegedly due to inadequate monitoring and assistance during physical therapy.
• Mediated a case in which the plaintiff alleged that a colonoscopy failed to detect cecal cancer, which was diagnosed approximately seven months later following a perforation and lymph node involvement.
• Mediated a case involving elder abuse allegations stemming from failure to obtain consent for bedside eye surgery, along with claims of failure to recognize and treat sepsis, which the defense contended was unrelated to the procedure.
• Mediated a medical malpractice case involving a spinal cord injury allegedly caused by radiation therapy for vocal cord cancer, with both negligence and causation in dispute.
• Mediated a case involving extravasation of norepinephrine into the arm, with the patient subsequently dying during debridement surgery.
• Mediated a case involving improper alignment of a leg fracture, which necessitated corrective surgery.
• Mediated a case involving the death of a patient during the insertion of a chemotherapy catheter for breast cancer, with life expectancy as a key issue due to the patient’s concurrent cancer diagnosis and dialysis dependency.
• Mediated a case involving a portion of a surgical drain left in the knee following a total knee replacement procedure.
• Mediated a case involving a retained portion of a surgical drain left in the knee following a total knee replacement procedure.
• Mediated a case involving an anoxic brain injury to a 9-month-old child, allegedly resulting from failure to properly monitor the patient while intubated and on a ventilator. The defense contended that the neurological damage was caused by an underlying genetic condition—pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy.
• Mediated a case involving the failure to obtain thoracic spine x-rays despite the patient’s complaints of pain following a body surfing injury. Bleeding around the fracture led to paraplegia, though the patient ultimately experienced a strong recovery of function.
• Mediated a pharmacy malpractice case involving a complex issue of causation—whether the erroneous dispensing of gabapentin instead of diltiazem contributed to a myocardial infarction.
• Mediated a case involving complex causation questions regarding whether any intervention could have altered the outcome for a patient in cardiogenic shock who was brought to a hospital without a catheterization laboratory (Cath Lab).
• Mediated a case involving the alleged failure to diagnose focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, resulting in end-stage renal disease, with causation strongly disputed by the parties.
• Mediated a case involving the alleged failure to take appropriate action following an ultrasound diagnosis of complete placenta previa, resulting in a premature delivery at 25 weeks and significant complications for the child, including brain and lung damage, as well as other issues related to preterm birth.
• Mediated a case involving multiple defendants where a patient with a known history of bleeding on Coumadin was erroneously prescribed the medication, resulting in a subdural hematoma that left the patient unable to care for himself.
• Mediated a multi-defendant case involving the alleged failure to timely diagnose parotid gland cancer, with complex issues surrounding causation.
• Mediated a case involving the death of a pregnant woman allegedly due to improper treatment of coagulation abnormalities associated with cerebral vein thrombosis, with additional claims of fraudulent concealment and constructive fraud complicating the medical issues.
• Mediated a case involving the alleged failure to provide rehabilitation and monitor blood glucose levels, resulting in the patient's subsequent hospitalization for pneumonia and sepsis.
• Mediated a case involving the alleged failure to provide rehabilitation and monitor the patient’s blood sugar, leading to a subsequent hospitalization for pneumonia and sepsis.
• Mediated a case involving an alleged cervical spine injury sustained at a massage spa, with a central issue being the applicability of MICRA limitations.
• Mediated a case involving claims of medical negligence and elder abuse arising from a patient’s fall from a bed at a rehabilitation facility. The plaintiff alleged that the fall caused a cervical spine fracture requiring lifelong attendant care, while the defense argued that the fracture was pre-existing and that the subsequent spinal fusion surgery was due to underlying degenerative disease rather than the fall.
• Mediated a medical malpractice case involving admitted liability for a delayed cancer diagnosis. The central issue was causation—specifically, whether the delay reduced the patient’s five-year survival probability from greater than 50% to less than 50%. The rarity of the cancer added significant complexity to the analysis.

Pharmacy

• Mediated a case in which the defendant allegedly dispensed the wrong medication, resulting in an adverse reaction that caused primarily leg numbness, which was claimed to be permanent.

Catastrophic Injury

• Mediated a case in which the plaintiff alleged he slipped on oil in a parking lot, resulting in shoulder and nasal injuries that required surgery. The defense contended a witness observed the plaintiff trip over a concrete parking stop, arguing lack of notice in the event of a slip and fall, and sole negligence by the plaintiff if he tripped over an open and obvious hazard.

Common Carrier

• Mediated a case involving neck and shoulder injuries sustained when a suitcase fell from a luggage rack on an airport shuttle after the driver abruptly applied the brakes.

Elder Abuse

• Mediated a case involving allegations of improper care resulting in the development of pressure sores and osteomyelitis.
• Mediated an elder abuse case arising from a fall in a skilled nursing facility that resulted in a broken hip. The decedent’s son pursued the claim as a successor in interest. A key issue in the case was the applicability of Civil Code Section 3333.1 to elder abuse claims, an area with no directly controlling case law.

General Negligence

• Mediated a case involving a dental injury sustained by a special needs student while at school.

Personal Injury

• Mediated a case involving a slip and fall in a grocery store, with the plaintiff alleging back and shoulder injuries.
• Mediated a case involving a slip and fall at a dialysis center that resulted in brain surgery, with significant disputes over life expectancy and the extent of damages.
• Mediated a case involving an injury caused by a sidewalk collapse, allegedly due to ground subsidence from trenching on an adjacent property. The primary dispute centered on which contractor bore responsibility.
• Mediated a case involving a fall from the edge of an elevated ramp at a restaurant entrance, where the plaintiff struck their head on a concrete planter. The plaintiff reported persistent headaches and neck pain, with a prior history of similar symptoms. The case involved complex medical issues distinguishing pre-existing conditions from injuries allegedly caused by the fall.
• Mediated a case that involved an Injury in a freeway accident. Plaintiff underwent knee arthroscopy, two-level lumbar discectomy, and spinal cord stimulator placement.

PI Auto

• Mediated a motor vehicle accident case resulting in a laminectomy and spinal fusion, with the plaintiff’s claims complicated by a significant prior history of lower back complaints.
• Mediated a case involving a femur fracture sustained when a wall constructed as part of a school building project collapsed onto the plaintiff's leg while it was being moved.
• Mediated a case involving an alleged cervical spine injury at a massage spa, with a central issue being the applicability of MICRA limitations to the claim.
• Mediated a case involving a collision between an automobile and a bicyclist, resulting in a fractured clavicle and broken ribs, with disputes over both liability and damages.
• Mediated a case in which a pedestrian’s arm was caught between two vehicles after being struck by a driver, with key issues focused on the extent of the resulting damages.
• Mediated an auto accident case involving a plaintiff with a prior history of low back pain, who claimed the collision exacerbated their condition and necessitated a microdiscectomy. The plaintiff reported ongoing pain and leg weakness.

Premises Liability

• Mediated a slip and fall case at a fast food restaurant involving a plaintiff with significant pre-existing medical conditions.
• Mediated a case involving a bicyclist injured due to an irregular sidewalk, with a dispute between defendants over whether the City or the property owner was liable. Liability hinged on whether the damage was caused by roots from the property owner’s tree.
• Mediated a case involving an injury caused by a sidewalk collapse due to ground subsidence from trenching on an adjacent property, with a dispute over which contractor was responsible.
• Mediated a case in which the plaintiff tripped over an unmarked, non–code-compliant step, resulting in a shoulder injury that required arthroscopic surgery followed by a total shoulder replacement.

Product Liability

• Mediated a case involving a severe laceration to the left middle finger caused by an angle grinder, allegedly due to a fractured clamp nut (flange) that resulted in the disc striking the plaintiff’s dominant finger. The plaintiff has undergone five surgeries and faces the possibility of amputation, as recommended by two hand surgeons. The defendant disputes that the clamp nut was defective but cannot explain the fracture and anticipates some degree of comparative negligence being attributed to the plaintiff at trial.

Wrongful Death

• Mediated a case involving the alleged failure to timely diagnose fulminant myocarditis, with both negligence and causation vigorously disputed by the parties.
• Mediated a case involving the development of bedsores and urinary sepsis at a rehabilitation center, ultimately resulting in the patient’s death.
• Mediated a case focused on liability for a fatal post-operative hemorrhage, with key issues also involving the patient’s life expectancy and work life expectancy given a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.