A family is seeking justice after a tragic medical incident led to the death of their loved one. Catia Samaan, along with her children Janelle, Isabelle, and Jimmy, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Scott Chicotka in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura on April 21, 2025. The complaint accuses Dr. Chicotka of medical malpractice resulting in the untimely death of Samir Samaan.
The plaintiffs allege that Dr. Chicotka's negligent conduct during a surgical procedure in June 2023 caused severe complications leading to Samir Samaan's death on April 21, 2024. According to the complaint, prior to the surgery, Samir was generally healthy and only experienced minor shortness of breath upon exertion. He was informed by Dr. Chicotka that he required a heart valve procedure which was described as low-risk with only a one percent chance of complications.
However, the surgery resulted in catastrophic outcomes for Samir Samaan. His heart stopped pumping during the procedure, necessitating ECMO support for blood circulation and eventually leading to an amputation due to loss of blood flow in his leg. After being transferred from Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura to USC KECK Hospital and enduring months in a sedated state, Samir returned home dependent on dialysis and a pacemaker until his passing.
The lawsuit highlights that Dr. Chicotka failed to inform the family about critical details regarding Samir’s condition post-surgery, including a major heart attack suffered during the operation—a fact only revealed later by another surgeon at KECK USC hospital. The plaintiffs argue this concealment deprived them of making informed decisions about Samir’s care.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for their immense loss and suffering due to what they claim was substandard medical care by Dr. Chicotka and other unnamed defendants (Does 1-50). They contend that these defendants were responsible for negligence that directly led to their husband and father's deteriorating health and eventual death.
In addition to general compensatory damages, they seek special damages covering costs incurred from filing the suit and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court. They also demand a jury trial for all issues presented in this case.
Representing the plaintiffs is attorney Bianne Sadeddin from Rancho Cucamonga-based Law Office of Bianne N. Sadeddin. The case is identified under Case No: BOSS CLI hi ndo42581.