Dr. DAVID A RICHTER, MD Medical Malpractice Cases, Lawsuits, and Complaints

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Phycicians Practice Address

Dr. DAVID A RICHTER, MD

275 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway

Cocoa Beach, FL

32931

Brevard

Court Case # 052018CA013558

Indemnity Paid: $75,000.00

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Department File Number :	M201887190
Claim Number :	163956
Date Submitted :	12/5/2018

Insurer Information

Insurer Name				Coverage Type
NORCAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY				Primary
Insurer FEIN		Professional License Number
94-2301054
Insurer Contact Information
Type	First Name		MI	Last Name
Individual	Richard			Petersen
Street Address
4651 Salisbury Rd. #410
City				State	Zip
Jacksonville				FL	32256
Phone	Ext	Fax	E-Mail Address
(904) 309 - 8142		(904) 394 - 7134	rpetersen@norcal-group.com

Insured Information

Type	First Name		MI	Last Name
Individual	David		A	Richter
Insurer Type		Street Address of Practice
Licensed		275 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway
City		State	Zip Code	County
Cocoa Beach		FL	32931	Brevard
Policy Number		Per Claim Policy Limits		Aggregate Policy Limits
723591N		$250,000		$750,000
Profession or Business			Other Profession or Business
Medical Doctor
License Number		Specialty Code & Classification		Certification Number
ME126342		Family Physicians or General Practitioners - No Surgery

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Injured Person Information

First Name	MI	Last Name		Date of Birth

Street Address			Gender	County where Injury Occurred
			F	Brevard
City			State	Zip Code

Location where injury occured		Other location where injury occured
Other Outpatient Facility		Med Fast Urgent Care Clinic
Name of Institution		Code

Location of Institutional Injury		Other Location of Institutional Injury
Other		Walk in Clinic
Date of Occurrence		Date Reported to Insurer
7/2/2016		6/20/2017

Diagnostic Information

Final Diagnosis For Which Treatment Was Sought Including Patient's Actual Condition
Patient appeared in a walk-in clinic on 07/02/16 with complaints of red eye and a history consistent with conjunctivitis of the left eye. The patient was a contact lens wearer and denied a history of trauma. Dr. Richter treated the patient with Gentamycin. The following day on 07/03/16, the patient - who was on vacation - returned to the clinic with a new complaint that she described as having a foreign body sensation. Dr. Richter prescribed an patch and additional antibiotics. Fluorescein staining revealed a corneal abrasion. She was urged to go to the ER but declined.On 07/04/16, she returned to the clinic and saw a 2nd physician who referred her to the hospital. The patient was discharged and followed up with an opthamologist two days later. She was diagnosed with a corneal scratch.The patient alleged that the patch from Dr. Richter was contraindicated and exacerbated her condition and that he failed to treat her corneal abrasion. A defense expert supported the standard of care of Dr. Richter as subsequent records demonstrate that patient complained of a history of being scratched by a dog prior to the arrival at the walk-in clinic. This information was not relayed to Dr. Richter. As such, the treatment may have been different, but the outcome would have been the same.
Operation, Diagnostic, Or Treatment Procedure Rendered Causing The Injury
Patient appeared in a walk-in clinic on 07/02/16 with complaints of red eye and a history consistent with conjunctivitis of the left eye. The patient was a contact lens wearer and denied a history of trauma. Dr. Richter treated the patient with Gentamycin. The following day on 07/03/16, the patient - who was on vacation - returned to the clinic with a new complaint that she described as having a foreign body sensation. Dr. Richter prescribed an patch and additional antibiotics. Fluorescein staining revealed a corneal abrasion. She was urged to go to the ER but declined.On 07/04/16, she returned to the clinic and saw a 2nd physician who referred her to the hospital. The patient was discharged and followed up with an opthamologist two days later. She was diagnosed with a corneal scratch.The patient alleged that the patch from Dr. Richter was contraindicated and exacerbated her condition and that he failed to treat her corneal abrasion. A defense expert supported the standard of care of Dr. Richter as subsequent records demonstrate that patient complained of a history of being scratched by a dog prior to the arrival at the walk-in clinic. This information was not relayed to Dr. Richter. As such, the treatment may have been different, but the outcome would have been the same.
Diagnostic Code :
Misdiagnosis Made, If Any, Of Patient's Actual Condition
*NR
Principal Injury Giving Rise To The Claim
Patient appeared in a walk-in clinic on 07/02/16 with complaints of red eye and a history consistent with conjunctivitis of the left eye. The patient was a contact lens wearer and denied a history of trauma. Dr. Richter treated the patient with Gentamycin. The following day on 07/03/16, the patient - who was on vacation - returned to the clinic with a new complaint that she described as having a foreign body sensation. Dr. Richter prescribed an patch and additional antibiotics. Fluorescein staining revealed a corneal abrasion. She was urged to go to the ER but declined.On 07/04/16, she returned to the clinic and saw a 2nd physician who referred her to the hospital. The patient was discharged and followed up with an opthamologist two days later. She was diagnosed with a corneal scratch.The patient alleged that the patch from Dr. Richter was contraindicated and exacerbated her condition and that he failed to treat her corneal abrasion. A defense expert supported the standard of care of Dr. Richter as subsequent records demonstrate that patient complained of a history of being scratched by a dog prior to the arrival at the walk-in clinic. This information was not relayed to Dr. Richter. As such, the treatment may have been different, but the outcome would have been the same.
Severity Of Injury
Permanent: Minor - Loss of fingers, loss or damage to organs. Includes non-disabling injuries.

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Legal Information

Date of Suit			Circuit Court Case Number
1/25/2018			052018CA013558
County Suit Filed in			Date of Final Disposition
Brevard			12/5/2018
Other Defendants Involved in this Claim

Stage of Legal System at which Settlement was Reached or Award Made
More than 90 days, after suit filed and prior to or during the course of mandatory settlement conference.
Final Method of Claim Disposition
Settled by parties
Court Decision			Other
Other			Settled at mediation
Arbitration
Claim not subject to Arbitration.
Date of Payment
12/5/2018

Financial Information

Was there a settlement Resulting in payment to the Plaintiff?

Yes

Indemnity Paid by Insurer on behalf of Insured

$75,000

Loss Adjust Expense Paid to Defense Counsel

$17,166

All Other Loss Adjustment Expense Paid

Injured Person's Total Non-Economic Loss

Deductible

Injured Person's Total Economic Loss

	Incurred to Date	Anticipated
Medical Expense	$0	$0
Wage Loss	$0	$0
Other Expenses	$0	$0

Safety Management Steps Taken by Insured to Make Similar Occurrence Less Likely

Facts of the case were discussed with insured and risk management.

Updates

No updates found.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dr. DAVID A RICHTER, MD have any medical malpractice cases, lawsuits, or complaints?

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