A recent Chicago Tribune investigation examined the deaths of eight women following cosmetic procedures performed by Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Ayoub Sayeg and raised serious questions about patient safety, regulatory oversight, and accountability in office-based surgical settings. Clifford Law Offices Partner Bradley Cosgrove was quoted in the article as he represented one of the victim’s families, and many of those questions were addressed in a Cook County courtroom nearly two years ago.
In December 2024, Bradley M. Cosgrove and Craig J. Squillace of Clifford Law Offices obtained a $56 million jury verdict on behalf of Idalia Corcoles. The 39-year-old mother of four died after undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck at Dr. Sayeg’s clinic. This was the highest verdict or settlement against a plastic surgeon in the state of Illinois. With post-judgment interest, the court entered the judgment for $66.262 million.
The front-page Sunday Tribune article details concerns that mirror issues examined during the trial, including allegations of delayed recognition of internal bleeding, failures in post-operative monitoring, and questions surrounding patient transfers to hospitals when complications arise. The newspaper also reported on ongoing disciplinary proceedings involving Dr. Sayeg and concerns about how long regulatory investigations can take while physicians continue to practice.
During the Corcoles trial, evidence showed that Mrs. Corcoles experienced significant warning signs following surgery, including abnormal vital signs and indications of internal bleeding. Testimony established that Dr. Sayeg never personally evaluated her after surgery despite her deteriorating condition. An ambulance was eventually called, but despite extensive efforts at the hospital, Mrs. Corcoles died the following day. The jury found in favor of her family after only a few hours of deliberation.
At the 2024 trial in the family’s lawsuit, Clifford Law Offices attorneys Bradley Cosgrove and Craig Squillace, both partners at the firm, maintained that Sayeg and his anesthesiologist ignored telltale signs Corcoles was bleeding and that, had 911 been called earlier, she would have lived.
The article quoted Cosgrove’s closing statement. In this statement, he said, “To call it substandard care may actually be giving it a compliment because it was so terrible,” according to a court transcript. “No human on earth should have been subjected to what Mrs. Corcoles was subjected to.”
The significance of the Tribune investigation extends beyond any single case. It highlights broader concerns about patient safety in medical procedures, oversight of office-based surgical centers, and whether warning signs are being recognized and acted upon quickly enough to protect patients.
“While the jury’s verdict was significant, the work continues. We remain committed to driving meaningful change, holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring lessons are learned to prevent this from happening again.”
– Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices
In response to the Tribune’s month-long investigation, Illinois legislators responded. In a follow up story on June 8, the Chicago Tribune reported Illinois regulators to audit plastic surgeon case, seek changes in law after Tribune investigation. Illinois regulators are proposing changes that would require doctors facing disciplinary proceedings to disclose additional patient injuries, deaths, lawsuits, and investigations while cases are pending. Following the $66 million verdict obtained on behalf of the family of Idalia Corcoles, Brad Cosgrove was asked to weigh in on the proposal:
“If somebody had full opportunity to defend themselves in a civil action and there’s transcripts and proceedings, I can’t understand why that wouldn’t be a heavy part of the state licensing review process.”