Disabled Woman Awarded Millions for Prescription that Caused Stroke
New Jersey Courier-Post
February 1, 2001

By Bernie Weisenfeld

Woodbury--

A Washington Township woman who suffered a stroke in 1996 after taking migraine medication has received a multimillion-dollar jury award against the prescribing physician.

Delores Guida, 49, will receive an undisclosed portion of the $4.5 million in damages a jusy awarded Friday at the end of a 10-day malpractice trial in Gloucester County.

Attorneys for Guida and the Wasington Township osteopathic physician, Herbert Fichman, reached a confidential agreement on damages before the jury's decision, said Guida's lawyer, Gayle Lewis of Cherry Hill.

Guida suffered a stroke and paralysis the day after she took migraine medication newly prescribed by Fichman and another migraine drug she had previously used. Interaction between the medications, Imitrex and Cafergot, was the apparent cause of Guida's stroke, Lewis said.

Neither Fichman nor his attorney, Jay Blumberg of Woodbury, returned phone calls seeking comment Wednesday.

The jury concluded Fichman and Guida were both negligent, assigning 68 percent of liability for damages to Fichman.

Most of the damages awareded by the jury -- $3.2 million -- were for future medical care. Lewis said Guida, who is married and has grown children, is totally disabled. She has regained slight movement on her left side and has limited ability to speak. Lewis called her "one of the bravest women I've ever met."

In lieu of testifying, Guida made a videotape about a year ago describing the day she received the prescription, Lewis said. The jury also saw a video of a typical day of Guida's life at home.