Attorneys Joseph Manna and Lynn Bochenek recently obtained a $1,012,500 settlement in a medical malpractice case for a man who suffered injuries due to the failures of a hospital and chiropractor to diagnosis and treat cauda equina syndrome (CES).
Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES)
CES is a condition that occurs when the bundle of nerves below the end of the spinal cord, known as the cauda equina, is damaged. Signs and symptoms may include low back pain, pain that radiates down the leg, numbness around the anus, inner thighs and groin, and loss of bowel or bladder control. A hallmark sign of CES is saddle anesthesia, which is numbness and tingling in the areas that come in contact with a saddle if one were riding a horse.
The cause of CES is usually a severely herniated disc in the low back. Other causes can include spinal stenosis, cancer, trauma, epidural abscess, and epidural hematoma. The diagnosis of CES is suspected based on symptoms and confirmed by medical imaging such as MRI or CT scan.
More…
The Buffalo News Reports on Bishop Richard Malone Press Conference
Attorney Barry Covert provided comment for an article published in The Buffalo News regarding a recent news conference given by Bishop Richard Malone of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. This is the first press conference Bishop Malone has given since November 2018.
The Buffalo New article states that Bishop Malone faced renewed criticism for his handling of clergy sexual abuse cases in August, when the Child Victim Act’s Look-Back Window took effect. However, this press conference, which took place on September 4th, was held to address reports of how Bishop Malone handled a different matter of clergy misconduct
Earlier in the day, ABC News and WKBW published stories regarding a second whistleblower who came forward due to concerns over Bishop Richard Malone. As detailed in a previous post, the whistleblower is Fr. Ryszard Biernat, who served as Bishop Malone’s secretary and diocesan vice chancellor. Fr. Biernat is represented by attorney Barry Covert.
Fr. Biernat began to record Bishop Malone due to the way he handled allegations made against a parish pastor within the Buffalo Diocese, Fr. Jeffrey Nowak. Fr. Nowak was accused of misconduct and sexual harassment by a seminarian within the Buffalo Diocese, Matthew Bojanowski. Matthew Bojanowski is also represented by Barry Covert.
More…
Diocese of Buffalo Whistleblower Exposes Handling of Misconduct Allegations Against Clergy
ABC News as well as local affiliate WKBW recently published their latest story in the ongoing reporting of how sexual abuse and harassment allegations against clergy are handled in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
The latest report details recordings made by a second whistleblower who has come forward due to concerns over Bishop Richard Malone and information he concealed regarding misconduct allegations made against a parish pastor within the Diocese of Buffalo.
The whistleblower is Fr. Ryszard Biernat, who served as Bishop Malone’s secretary and diocesan vice chancellor. Fr. Biernat is represented by attorney Barry Covert. Mr. Covert provided comment for stories published by ABC News and WKBW 7 Eyewitness News.
As reported by ABC News and WKBW, Fr. Biernat was compelled to begin recording meetings with Bishop Richard Malone due to the way he addressed misconduct and sexual harassment allegations made against Fr. Jeffrey Nowak. Fr. Nowak served as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians, a parish in the Buffalo Diocese. Allegations against Fr. Nowak were made by a seminarian within the Diocese of Buffalo, Matthew Bojanowski. Mr. Bojanowski is also represented by Barry Covert.
More…