Petitioners in med mal cases seek discovery in federal court

Two petitioners before a medical review panel are asking to use a U.S. District Court for purposes of discovery.

Peter Patrick Bradley, Jr. filed suit against Miguel Angel Melgar, M.D., Sun Ik Lee, M.D. and Tulane Medical Center June 14 in Orleans Parish District Court.

Also on June 14 in Orleans Parish District court, Darreana Jackson and Frank Anthony Smith, Sr., on behalf of his minor son, legal heirs of Anna Louise Jackson, filed suit against Tulane-Lakeside Hospital, University Healthcare System, L.C. doing business as Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, the Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund doing business as Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Daniel K. Garrett, M.D., Riaz Haque, M.D., Neeraj Desai, M.D., Cynthia Mizgala, M.D. and W. Benjamin Rothwell, M.D.

The lawsuits state the court will be used for the purposes of "discovery, depositions, motions to compel, subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, and any and all other discovery or other procedure available under law or obtaining evidence for presentation before the medical review panel."

Mandeville attorney Gregory C. Weiss is representing the petitioners.

Judge Rosemary Ledet is assigned to the case involving Darreana Jackson and Frank Anthony Smith. Case No. 10-5992

Judge Paulette R. Irons is assigned to the case involving Peter Bradley. Case No. 10-5994