A $5 Million Victory On September 24, 2021, attorneys Ashton Hyde and John Macfarlane secured a $5,000,000 jury award for clients whose mother died after doctors improperly withdrew life-sustaining care.
The jury found that negligence on the part of Dr. Wei Peng and Dr. Christina G. Richards resulted in the death of 67-year-old Lillian “Lil” Birt on April 25, 2016. Two weeks before, Ms. Birt suffered a surgical complication, but had a good prognosis. The jury found that Dr. Peng and Dr. Richards failed to adequately explain to the family that Ms. Birt's health was improving and that she would likely survive and make a good recovery. Instead, Dr. Peng and Dr. Richards certified Ms. Birt as terminal and agreed to withdraw life support, resulting in Ms. Birt’s death.
At the end of a nine-day trial, the jury agreed with our law firm's allegation that Ms. Birt's care should not have been withdrawn, and that Dr. Richards and Dr. Peng had breached the standard of care. The jury also concluded that Ms. Birt would have lived and achieved a full or near-full recovery, but for the negligent actions of Dr. Peng and Dr. Richards.
The jury awarded $2 million to each of Ms. Birt’s surviving children. Ms. Birt’s estate was awarded $1million for her pain and suffering prior to her death.
Patients place immense trust in their healthcare providers. When negligent actions on the part of doctors come into play, the fallout can be catastrophic. Younker Hyde Macfarlane is here to protect victims' rights and hold negligent medical professionals responsible.
At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, we handle complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases for clients throughout Utah. For the last three decades, we have used our extensive resources and vast knowledge to recover financial compensation for injury victims. We are committed to providing our clients with strong representation so they can move forward in their lives. To find out if you have a case, contact our Salt Lake City, UT, office and schedule your free consultation with the personal injury attorneys from our firm.
What Sets Us Apart?
Our Experience
Our injury lawyers have decades of combined experience. We have filed more medical malpractice claims than any other firm in the state of Utah, and we are willing to take difficult cases that other law firms turn away.
Our Attention to Detail
We have a system in place to make sure that each personal injury case receives its due attention to detail and that each legal strategy is tailored to the client's unique needs. Our injury lawyer can identify the most crucial facts and use them to create a compelling case on your behalf.
Our Extensive Network of Specialists
Our personal injury lawyers work with an extensive network of professionals in the Salt Lake City area, including nurses, paralegals, attorneys, medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, former insurance company attorneys, and more to build strong evidence in your personal injury claim.
Our Reputation
Our law firm has built a reputation on providing residents of Utah with excellent counsel and representation, as well being able to handle cases that other lawyers aren’t willing to take. In fact, nearly three-quarters of our clients are referred by other law firms.
Meet Our Personal Injury Attorneys
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$1,830,000 Jury Verdict
Our medical malpractice lawyers secured a $1.83 million jury verdict in a medical negligence case involving the death of a man at a nursing home. We filed a medical malpractice claim stating that the medical staff's failure to follow instructions regarding the victim's pressure sores contributed to the deterioration of his health and eventually resulted in his death.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers
Our personal injury attorneys work with medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, paralegals and more to build a strong case backed by compelling evidence. We have a history of obtaining favorable settlements and verdicts for our clients, even when we are up against powerful insurance companies and their team of attorneys.
Schedule your free consultation with our personal injury lawyers today. Contact us online or call us in Salt Lake City, UT, at:
(801) 335-6467
"They Treat You Right and Do The Work To Get The Answers."
Ingrid Pimentel
2020
We were referred to Yonker|Hide|Macfarlane because of medical malpractice that ended up taking the life of our child. Although there is nothing that can bring our son back, we found great emotional support and even hope at such a fragile time while working with them. We met with Mckay Corbett at first and he attentively listened for hours then John Macfarlane took over the case. He is a compassionate lawyer, who genuinely wanted to help bring justice and peace to us... He's also full of good judgment and managed to, with his many skills and perseverance, get us a fair and good settlement that gave us the sense of closure we were looking for, besides the fact that we felt at peace by knowing someone else (John Macfarlane and other members of their staff) also agree about the wrong that was done to our son and our family.
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T&J Oksa
2019
When my twin brother passed away unexpectedly I found myself in a pretty bad place. Since I was out of State I didn't know who to ask for help. I needed to find someone and luckily I found Younker, Hyde & Macfarlane. John Macfarlane and all of the other staff and legal assistants at the office were great. It took time but they were able to find answers and to get to a settlement that worked. I would recommend to anyone that happens to need Medical Malpractice Attorneys to contact them as they treat you right and do the work to get the answers. It's nice when everything is done you can say "Thank you" and rest knowing that they did everything they could do.
Featured Practice Areas
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Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is our focus, and our attorneys are capable of handling all types of medical negligence and birth injury cases, no matter how complicated.
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Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent disability and the need for lifelong care, which is why it's so important for victims to seek financial compensation from the liable person or party.
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Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
When medical professionals fail to accurately diagnose a medical condition, it can result in serious side effects and even death. The personal injury lawyers at our Salt Lake City practice can file a lawsuit to help victims seek a recovery.
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Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of preventable injuries and death. Whether you were involved in a head-on, rear-end, sideswipe, rollover, or other type of auto accident, a personal injury lawyer can represent your best interests against the negligent person or party and their insurance company.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can be particularly devastating; their lack of protection can result in catastrophic injuries such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, road rash, loss of limb, and broken bones. When seeking compensation, most victims are up against skilled lawyers for the defendant's insurance company. That is why it is so important to have a personal injury attorney representing your best interests.
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Wrongful Death
When a loved one dies as a result of another person's negligent behavior, we are here to help family members file a lawsuit and seek compensation for losses associated with the death. Depending on the circumstances of the case, we may seek compensation from an insurance company, business, or government entity.
Our Complete Practice Areas
Our personal injury attorneys at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, in Salt Lake City, UT, handle a wide range of cases:
Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury
Hospital Errors
Misdiagnosis/Failure to Diagnose
Catastrophic Injury
Auto Accidents
"They Helped Bring Closure for My Family."
Tori Lloyd
2020
John and his amazing team did everything in their power to make sure I got everything I deserved! They are also continuing to help me. I highly recommend this law firm.
Shawn Troumbley
2019
These men were very respectful and empathetic to my family after the loss of my 15 year old daughter. Younker, Hyde and Macfarlane helped bring closure for my family. Thank you for their dedication and tenacity.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligent act of a medical professional, driver, property owner, or another party, don't hesitate to get a professional legal opinion. At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, our personal injury lawyers offer free, no-obligation consultations so we can review your personal injury claim and advise you of your legal options. We aren't afraid to negotiate or litigate against insurance companies and their attorneys. Contact us online or call us in Salt Lake City, UT, at:
(801) 335-6467
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
A statute of limitation is the amount of time in which victims or their families have to file a lawsuit under each state's personal injury laws. Once the statute of limitations runs out, individuals no longer have the legal right to file a lawsuit against the person or party responsible for the injuries or death. However, there are some exceptions:
- Notice of a potential claim is required for certain healthcare providers within one year.
- In certain circumstances, the statute of limitations is tolled until a reasonable and prudent person would have known of a potential claim, however no claim can be filed four years after the date of the negligent act.
We always recommend that clients contact the personal injury lawyers at our Salt Lake City firm as soon as possible so we can review the details of your case.
Benefits of Hiring an Attorney on a Contingency Fee Basis
"Excellent Staff and Lawyers."
Tony Wojcik
2019
Mr Macfarlane contacted us today about our pending medical malpractice lawsuit. His pleasant and easy manner in discussing the case was a nice surprise. He explained our case in easy layman terms. I highly recommend this firm for any legal matters that anyone has in the future.
Kevin Boren
2019
Very helpful and excellent staff and lawyers. Helped us receive peace of mind and helped settle our case with our young son that passed away. Without them we wouldn't have some of the closure that we now have. John was excellent and always answered our questions and was available when we needed him.
Watch Our Video To Learn More about Our Practice
Meet our lawyers and hear how our law firm in Salt Lake City has helped clients from throughout the state achieve justice in the wake of tragedy.
