Medical Malpractice
Cataract Surgery - Blurred Vision

A 71-year-old retiree suffered blurred vision as a result of a delay in relieving optic nerve pressure that built up after cataract surgery. He settled his claim for impairment of vision against his treating physician shortly prior to trial for a substantial sum. The terms and conditions of the settlement agreement are confidential.

Carmen P. Belefonte was the attorney for the plaintiff.

Traumatic Brain Injury
Tree Limb Falling Onto Highway Injures Motorist

Plaintiff was operating her motor vehicle on the highway when she was seriously injured as a result of a dead tree limb falling from the hillside of a condominium complex onto a heavily traveled roadway. The limb pierced her windshield and struck her in the head. Our client lost her sense of smell and taste and sustained a mild traumatic brain injury. A suit was instituted against the landowner of the nearby condominiums for failing to safely maintain the trees adjacent to the roadway. This suit was resolved with the landowner--condominium association--for a significant sum.

Carmen P. Belefonte was the attorney for the plaintiff.

Traumatic Brain Injury
Auto Accident

The Plaintiff in this case was making a left-hand turn at a major Haverford Township intersection when the defendant drove through a red light and smashed into the side of his car. The Plaintiff sustained serious injuries and was in a coma for a prolonged period of time. Upon coming out of his coma, the Plaintiff was placed in a rehabilitation facility. Because of the accident, he suffered a closed head injury (resulting in cognitive impairment) and an eye injury that permanently disabled him and prevented him from pursuing employment as a driver-salesman. The case was resolved with the defendant driver and settled for a substantial sum.

Carmen P. Belefonte represented the Plaintiff.

Traumatic Brain Injury
Auto Accident

In this case the Plaintiff was hit head-on by a SUV on a major highway and was hospitalized for several months. The serious injuries suffered by the Plaintiff included a cauda equina injury, which caused permanent erectile dysfunction, bladder and bowel damage, and aggravation of a preexisting Traumatic Brain Injury. The Plaintiff received a substantial sum of money in an out of court settlement.

Carmen P. Belefonte was the attorney for the plaintiff.

Medical Malpractice
Emergency Room

This case involved a misdiagnosis of a child in the emergency room. The two-year-old child was taken to the emergency room in a listless state where he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. Hospital personnel failed to properly monitor his blood gases to detect that the child was not getting sufficient oxygen to his brain, which resulted in severe brain damage. The case was resolved with the defendants for a substantial sum that provides lifetime care for this child.

Carmen P. Belefonte was the attorney for the plaintiff.

Improper Surgical Technique
In this case a young mother suffering from gastrointestinal problems was subjected to complex stomach surgery that led to the need for further corrective surgery, loss of most of her stomach and a lifetime of digestive complications. Due to an inappropriate surgical technique, the surgeon created more risks of complications than other accepted surgical procedures for her stomach condition. This case was resolved with the surgeon and settled for a substantial sum.

Carmen P. Belefonte was the attorney for the plaintiff.

Negligence
Automobile Accident

The Plaintiff in this case was making a left-hand turn at a major Haverford Township intersection when the defendant drove through a red light and smashed into the side of the his car. The Plaintiff sustained serious injuries and was in a coma for a prolonged period of time. Upon coming out of his coma, the Plaintiff was placed in a rehabilitation facility. Because of the accident, he suffered a closed head injury resulting in cognitive impairment and an eye injury that permanently disabled him from pursuing employment as a driver-salesman. The case was resolved with the defendant driver and settled for a substantial sum.

Carmen P. Belefonte represented the plaintiff.

Negligence
Workplace Accident

In another case, the Plaintiff was an apprentice working with a company that installed sprinkler systems in commercial buildings. While working at a job site, the sight glass on an air dryer that was part of a sprinkler system exploded into his face. Silicone gel pellets caused damage to his face and eyes. After a period of hospitalization and recuperation from his eye injury, the plaintiff returned to work. The explosion was caused by the negligent maintenance of the system by the named defendants. The Plaintiff suffered substantial pain and suffering and permanent eye damage. After one day of trial, the plaintiff resolved this case with the defendants for a substantial sum.

Carmen P. Belefonte was the attorney for the plaintiff.

Business Dispute
The defendant in this case entered into a real estate transaction with the plaintiff to purchase real estate that included apartments and an abandoned gas station. The Plaintiff sued the defendant for an amount in excess of $350,000 for breach of this agreement, claiming that the defendant had failed to make the required monthly payments. The defendant in turn contended that the Plaintiff breached this agreement by selling him real estate that had contaminated underground tanks that had previously contained gasoline. The case proceeded to trial, where the defendant produced evidence that the tanks may have contaminated the soil and the plaintiff had not remedied the contamination in accordance with government regulations. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant, finding that the plaintiff had indeed breached the agreement. As a result, the defendant had no further contractual obligation to the plaintiff under the real estate agreement.

Carmen P. Belefonte was lead counsel for the defendant.

Commonwealth v. Haideman, 296 A.2d 765.
In a landmark case, Carmen Belefonte successfully represented George Haideman before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court when it ruled for the first time that it was improper for the police to comment at trial that a suspect at the time of his arrest wanted to remain silent until he spoke to a lawyer.

Beradocco v. Colden, 366 A. 2d 574
In another landmark case that led to a Constitutional Amendment in Pennsylvania relating to the election of judges, Carmen Belefonte successfully challenged Governor Shapp's appointment to fill a vacancy for District Justice. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court voided this appointment, concluding that there was adequate time under the Constitution to fill the vacancy by an election rather than appointment.