Judge Rejects Malpractice Suit Against Obstetrician

A frustrated judge and jury cleared Thousand Oaks obstetrician Edward Feldman of malpractice Monday, calling a Moorpark woman’s lawsuit a waste of time.

Deliberating only one hour, a Municipal Court jury rejected Amber Onstot’s negligence claim against Feldman, who refused a $1 settlement offer before the trial because he wanted a jury to clear his name.

“I’m vindicated,” a tearful Feldman said after the unanimous verdict, hugging his wife, Pattie. “The people who know me knew this wasn’t true.”

Onstot, 37, contended during a weeklong trial that Feldman hurt her during vaginal exams in 1997 to scare her into a Caesarean delivery so he could make more money and go on a Florida vacation as scheduled.

But in a scathing commentary after the jury’s verdict, veteran Judge John J. Hunter indicated that the case should never have gone to trial.

Hunter said it is “disappointing . . . when people come to court to satisfy their own personal vendetta in the case, which was obvious here.”

Then he apologized to the jury “on behalf of the legal community for taking your time to resolve this meritless matter.”

Several jurors said they agreed with the judge. “It was a waste of our time,” Ray Ortiz said as jurors gathered in a courthouse hallway.

Feldman said he plans to file a malicious prosecution or slander suit.

Feldman said the Onstots were out to shake him down for a quick malpractice settlement, initially demanding $25,000 in August, then raising the amount to $60,000 in September after news stories ran about the case. Before trial the couple lowered their demand to $1, if Feldman would accept a judgment against him--an admission of wrongdoing. The issue before the jury, however, was negligence, and jurors said they saw no evidence of such.