Four Defense Verdicts. Eight Months. One Formidable Team.

We are proud to announce that Mike Denning and Kristina Bitzer of Heyl Royster’s Rockford office have secured another defense verdict in a complex medical malpractice case in Winnebago County, Illinois.

Mike and Kristina represented a local orthopedic spine surgeon and his medical practice. The plaintiff alleged that the surgeon should have ordered additional imaging before performing a C3–C7 spinal fusion and decompression procedure and that the failure to do so resulted in an injury to the left vertebral artery, subsequent strokes, and lasting deficits.

The Heyl Royster team presented compelling evidence that the surgeon met the standard of care, carefully planned the procedure based on the available imaging, and encountered an unpredictable and unavoidable complication due to the patient’s highly unusual anatomy. Following expert testimony, a detailed explanation from the surgeon, and a strong presentation by the defense, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the surgeon.

This marks the fourth defense verdict secured by our Rockford medical malpractice team during the first eight months of 2026—and the third within the past three months.

These results reflect Heyl Royster’s time-tested, team-driven approach and our commitment to defending healthcare professionals and institutions in high-stakes cases involving complex medical and legal issues.

Congratulations to Mike, Kristina, and the entire trial team on this outstanding result.