Stephen S. Crandall brings a unique perspective to handling your case as he began his career as a defense lawyer.  Steve was formally an associate at Jacobson, Maynard, Tuschman & Kalur Co., LPA from 1992 to 1997 where he defended physicians, nurses and hospitals in medical malpractice lawsuits throughout the State of Ohio.  Steve then moved to Reminger & Reminger Co, LPA from 1997-2001 where he was a partner.  While with Reminger, Steve continued his representation of the insurance industry and tried numerous complexes cases to verdict, numbering nearly 100 by that time.  In 2001, Steve joined the Elk & Elk team and switched the focus of his practice to the representation of catastrophically injured individuals and their families against the same defenses industry that he has once represented.  His former representation has allowed him to utilize the experience and knowledge to now help individuals and families against the medical industry, pharmaceutical industry or in cases revolving around negligence in accidents of any kind.  Along with his partner, Jay Kelley, Steve has been involved in many of our state’s largest verdicts and settlements.

Steve has been recognized as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" and maintains the highest AVVO rating. He has been named as a top 50 lawyer in Cleveland by Ohio Super Lawyers, Cincinnati Magazine and Northern Ohio Live.

Steve graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester in 1990 with a degree in Political Science.  He then attended the University of Dayton School of Law where he graduated in 1994.  While there, he was a member of the University of Dayton School of Law’s National Mock Trial Team.  Steve’s professional associations include state wide bar associations as well as the American Association for Justice. 

Steve is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocates as a Certified Civil Trial Litigator.  He is also a life member of the Million Dollar and Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum and is a top rated AVVO lawyer. 

Steve also lectures frequently to legal and medical groups regarding his knowledge and experience in civil litigation.  These include lectures and presentations for the medical risk management department at the Medical Protective Company in 1997, 1999 and 2000.  Steve also frequently lectures to the medical group Symposia Medicus including at the 6th Annual National Conference on Fetal Monitoring in 2005, the 10th Annual Winter Conference in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2006, the 7th Annual on Fetal Monitoring in 2006, the 11th Annual Winter Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2007 and the 8th Annual Conference on Fetal Monitoring in 2007.  Steve’s legal lecturing includes Medical Risk Management for the Medical Protective Company in 1997, 1999 and 2000, How to Win a Civil Trial for PESI Continuing Legal Education in 2005, the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Convention in 2006 and Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys in September 2006.

Stephen S. Crandall's Recent Settlements and Verdicts

June 2008: $5.3 Million Medical Malpractice
Stephen S. Crandall/J.M. Kelley III:
John Doe V. Unnamed Hospital et al

5.3 Million dollar confidential result for a neurologically impaired twin.  The first of two twins born suffered an acute hypoxic injury following a failure by medical personnel to appreciate the persistent fetal tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and a non-reassuring fetal tracing indicative of oxygen deprivation for an hour and forty-five minutes prior to delivery.  The evidence bore out an acute insult either from the umbilical cord or a twin to twin transfusion caused an emergent situation at 7:15 pm, and went unattended, resulting in delivery at 9:06.

Utilizing of experts in obstetrics, neonatology, pediatric neuroradiology, placental pathology and pediatric neurology we established the medical need for intervention, and established with appropriate care this catastrophic outcome would have been avoided.

Additionally, through a certified lifecare planner and a PhD. in economics we demonstrated the exact cost of each item needed now and through the Childs lifetime.  Following the resolution through annuities and a Special Needs Trust we ensured the child would have the benefits of the money and retain government benefits through his lifetime.  This results in added funds and security for the child and his parents

January 2008: $3.9 Million Medical Malpractice Resolution -
Stephen S. Crandall/J.M. Kelley III:
Jane Doe V. Unnamed Hospital

3.9 Million Dollar Confidential resolution on behalf of a child with Cerebral Palsy from the birth process.  This young girl suffers from Cerebral Palsy as a result of in-utero oxygen deprivation.  The mother presented and was placed on fetal monitors that reflect the contraction pattern and the Childs heart rate in response to the forces of labor.

The monitors revealed a sinusoidal (wavelike) pattern was present for several hours.  Sinusoidal patterns are a non reassuring manifestation of fetal stress from oxygen deprivation.  Unfortunately, the hospital's personnel failed to respond. This delay created permanent injury in the Child’s brain, resulting in the need for a lifetime of care.

The goal of any settlement for a child requiring assistance in their activities of daily living is to ensure the necessary quality of medical care is available throughout their life and providing the equipment and staff to maximize their independent functioning in their home and/or community.  This resolution will provide all of those needs for this young girl throughout her life.

Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment of Tongue Cancer Case Settles For $1,100,000.00 (Medical Malpractice).
Client, age 54, was complained of pain in the tongue on several occasions to a periodontist. The periodontist simply poked around a hard surface on the client’s tongue, claimed it to not be cancerous, and failed to perform any biopsy on the lesion. The client then consulted an oncologist who did a biopsy and found that the client had stage 4 tongue cancer. As a result, the client completed radiation therapy to fight the cancer. Unfortunately, the client is in fear of relapse.

Missed Diagnosis of Blood Clot in Leg Case Settles For $400,000.00 (Medical Malpractice).
Client, age 61, had severe pain and swelling in the left leg and foot. He had x-rays done and was told that it was a pinched nerve. Five days later, the leg turned blue and it was found to have a blood clot, resulting in amputation.

Wrongful Death After Stress Test Case Settles For $1,200,000.00. (Wrongful Death).
Client, age 54, completed a stress test with no symptoms. Prior to leaving the doctor’s office, client relayed to a secretary that he was beginning to have symptoms and was asked to wait in the lobby. Once the symptoms began to resolve, the client alerted the nurse that he would be driving home. During his drive home, he passed away secondary to a heart attack and died approximately one half hour after completion of the stress test.

Recent Results

10/08: $1.9M – Medical malpractice resulting in HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy)
09/08: $465K – Medical malpractice resulting in a still birth
09/08: $425K – Cleft palate repair-related medical malpractice
03/08: $950K – Wrongful death resulting from medical malpractice misdiagnosis
03/08: $5.5M – Collision causing traumatic brain injury, intubation, ventilation, fractured shoulder, ribs and pelvis
02/08: $525K – Medical malpractice leading to stage 4 cancer metastasis in brain, back, liver, bowels
05/07: $625K – Medical malpractice leading to kidney failure, heart attack, wrongful death
05/07: $650K – Bariatric surgery medical malpractice resulting in punctured bowel, sepsis and wrongful death
12/06: $4.5M – Medical malpractice brain injury
11/06: $1.25M – Wrongful death caused by saddle pulmonary embolism due to medical malpractice