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Litigation Committee

Ira Cooke, Esq.

Mr. Cooke spent the entire session talking about the successful case he had where a young boy in Elkton, MD had been denied treatment and has developed neurological, heart and brain damage and was awarded $3.2MM that was reduced by the court to $1.7MM. There were many questions. Mr. Cooke stated that based on his research, this was the first successful case for a Lyme disease victim.

He has a PH.D. in English and had been a teacher before going to Law school. He is only licensed in MD. He stressed that it is important that the next case brought on behalf of a Lyme victim be successful. That will begin to build a pattern which, hopefully, would make future law suits more successful.

Some key points he made:

• Insurance companies won't admit chronic Lyme disease even exists therefore, there is no breach of duty.



• His out-of-pocket costs for the case were $103,000 then his attorney fees (3 Attorneys involved) tallied $243,000. He has $346,000 invested in the case. He did not say what his share will be when all appeals are settled.



• He got involved since his daughter went to the same prep school as the victim and knew Aaron Murray. Murray contracted Lyme disease in 1995 when he was 14. It went untreated and he now is unable to complete 10th grade or hold a minimum-wage job. Meanwhile, Cooke's daughter is in College.



• Murray has lost 23 points on his IQ.



• The defense brought in several Infectious Disease specialists at $500 per hour. They said that Murray did not have Lyme disease. Murray only had 3 positive bands on the Western Blot.



• Cooke successfully argued that the Doctor was negligent because he failed to properly treat a very ill young man.



• Cooke said he's considering for his next case, taking on the DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. There are many parents who have had devastating experiences with DuPont Hospital. Cooke said he would work with Delaware Counsel on the case if he decides to pursue it.



• He said he would welcome cases in PA on the same basis; he'd line up a PA attorney. He wants people to contact him first.



• He said he would love a case where someone tested negative but had symptoms and lived in an endemic area.



• He also said he's dying to sue Insurance Companies for denial of treatment. He would also sue to get attorney's fees.

On a personal note, Ira Cooke seemed like an aggressive, bulldog type who would be very effective in a court room. He's not technically strong on Lyme testing, etc., but he has a way of tailoring his presentation to a non-technical jury.

NOTICE: The information provided here is for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. It is NOT intended to replace, and should not be interpreted or relied upon as medical or professional advice. We are victims of tick borne illnesses, and any advice from those in the medical profession are given as advice from their perspectives as patients themselves, and/or from treating a large number of patients, but NOT as medical advice. Your reading and/or using any information from this site means that you agree to the terms and conditions detailed in this disclaimer.