In a striking turn of events, an Orange County judge has vacated a recent medical malpractice verdict after a video surfaced of the defense attorney boasting about his win. The jury had previously delivered a swift, unanimous verdict in favor of Dr. Essam Quraishi, finding him not liable for the death of patient Enrique Garcia Sanchez—who allegedly died after a feeding tube punctured his colon.
However, jubilation quickly turned to controversy when attorney Robert McKenna III was recorded in a celebratory office video saying, “a guy that was *probably negligently killed, but we kind of made it look like other people did it.” His remarks were not mere hyperbole—they undermined the legitimacy of justice and appeared to essentially admit negligence while glorifying the legal manipulation of blame. (Yahoo, North Atlanta Injury Law PC, FOX 11 Los Angeles)
In a hearing held on August 4, 2022, Judge James Crandall made the decision to vacate the verdict, stressing the need to “protect the system” and restore faith in judicial outcomes. He emphasized, “Bragging that justice wasn’t done—that’s what bothers the court.” (Yahoo, AOL)
Beyond the video, Crandall cited additional factors in his decision, such as a mid-trial three-week break that may have impaired jurors’ memory and the foreman’s omission of his prior experience as an insurance agent during jury selection. (Yahoo)
The fallout has been intense. McKenna issued an apology, calling his remarks “imprecise” and insisting they were meant for internal briefing—not publicity. Meanwhile, Dr. Quraishi’s new legal team labeled the statements as self-aggrandizing and harmful—especially given the death threats Quraishi allegedly has faced. (Yahoo, FOX 11 Los Angeles, North Atlanta Injury Law PC)
This extraordinary episode serves as a cautionary reminder: in an age of pervasive digital visibility, private boasts can become public disasters—and they can unravel even the most hard-fought verdicts.
