A $10.5 million settlement has been reached in a medical malpractice lawsuit tied to the death of a New Jersey attorney whose lung cancer was allegedly not identified in time. The agreement will go to the estate of Brian Coven, who died in 2024.
According to the case, doctors at Summit Medical Group allegedly failed to recognize warning signs of lung cancer over a period of about three years. The lawsuit argued that the missed findings delayed diagnosis and treatment, turning the case into what was described as a devastating loss for the family.
The settlement will be paid by Summit Medical Group on behalf of four physicians, according to the report. While the full details of the underlying medical records and court filings were not included in the available account, the case centers on whether earlier detection could have changed the course of Coven's illness.
The outcome highlights the high stakes in cancer screening and follow-up care, especially when symptoms or imaging findings may point to a serious disease. It also adds to broader concerns around missed diagnoses and the legal consequences healthcare providers can face when patients and families believe critical signs were overlooked.
