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Legal Briefs
A Handout, or Permission To Remove Foot from Mouth?
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Business New Haven
4/5/1999
By: BNH
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In 1995, Aetna Life & Casualty limited the cancer treatment options (considered by it to be experimental) on an insured person in California. In 1996, the insured's surviving spouse brought a wrongful death suit against Aetna, claiming that Aetna's refusal to pay for a bone-marrow transplant and high-dose chemotherapy hastened the insured's death. In early 1999, a jury agreed and awarded over $120 million to the spouse, $116 million of which was in the form of punitive damages. Now, having picked its collective chin off the ground, Aetna is seeking indemnity of $75 million from six of its own insurers. And, to add insult to injury, Aetna CEO Richard Huber was quoted in the Hartford Courant as characterizing the huge award as the result of “a skillful, ambulance-chasing lawyer, a politically motivated judge and a weeping widow,” rather than any wrongdoing on Aetna's part. After the verdict, Aetna also sent letters of similar effect to members of Congress. Although Huber apologized to the insured's widow, he has not done so to either the trial judge or plaintiff's attorney. The latter, Michael Bidart of Shernoff Bidart Darras & Arkin in Claremont Calif., is considering a libel suit. Our question is: If the libel case goes to trial, will the jury members feel sympathy for anyone involved?
Fifth Time's the Charm?
When Westport attorney Lawrence Kuranko entered his fifth disciplinary proceeding late last year, he appeared to be using sound judgment in voluntarily surrendering his license to practice law in Connecticut. By February 1999, however, his mental state was in sufficient disarray to convince Milford Superior Court Judge Joseph P. Flynn to order that Kuranko receive treatment in Hallbrooke Hospital, a secure psychiatric facility also in Westport. Why? It seems that, in the process of “wrapping up” his law practice, he is alleged to have assaulted and attempted to murder one of his former clients. While refusing comment on specifics of the incident, Kuranko's attorney, John J.L. Chobor of New Haven's Greenburg, Hurwitz, cooper & Silverman, denies the criminal charges and states that Kuranko will vigorously defend himself against them.
LAW CALENDAR
The New Haven County Bar Association (NHCBA) presents a continuing legal education seminar entitled DWI Cases: Representing a 'Drinking' Driver. 6 p.m. April 8 at New Haven Superior Court, 235 Church St., New Haven. $40-$55. Reservations required. Call 203-562-9652. Two CLE hours.
The NHCBA presents a continuing legal education seminar entitled Nuts & Bolts of the Workers Compensation Case. 4 p.m. April 15 at the NHCBA offices, 70 Audubon St., New Haven. $40-$55. Reservations required. Call 203-562-9652. Two CLE hours.
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) presents a seminar on Effective Techniques for Mediation and Arbitration. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 16 at the Holiday inn, 201 Washington Ave., North Haven. $25-$165. Call 860-522-4345. Four CLE hours.
CTLA presents its spring program session of Case Strategy and Analysis Service. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 1 at the Reardon Law Firm, 160 Hempstead St., New London. $255 members only. Call 860-522-4345 . One CLE hour.
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