CJ-2026-1477 - JUSTIN COCHRAN v. INTEGRIS HEALTH EDMOND, INC.

What's This Case About?

She died from a twisted intestine that her doctors missed three times—and now her son is suing the hospital system for $150,000, claiming they sent her home with a ticking time bomb in her abdomen while telling her to drink more water and buy an abdominal binder. Yes, really.

Meet Jerrolyn McCohn—a 74-year-old woman who, in February 2024, walked into Integris Health Edmond for what was supposed to be a routine but significant surgery: a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries, a sacrocolpopexy (which is fancy medical speak for “we’re going to prop up your pelvic organs”), and a cystoscopy. The lead surgeon? Dr. Dena O’Leary, a urogynecologist practicing under the Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond. Jerrolyn wasn’t just some random patient—she was someone who trusted this team enough to let them cut into her abdomen and rearrange her internal plumbing. Her son, Justin Cochran, the plaintiff in this case, likely expected a recovery period, maybe some pain, but not a funeral just a week later.

The red flags started immediately. On the day of surgery—February 23—Jerrolyn vomited twice as she was leaving the hospital. Now, if you’ve ever had abdominal surgery (or even watched a single episode of Grey’s Anatomy), you know vomiting post-op can be a big deal—it’s one of the earliest signs that something’s wrong in the gut. But instead of keeping her for observation, the staff at Integris Health Edmond let her go, clearing her for discharge the next day, February 24, at 3:16 p.m., with a note describing her condition as “good.” Spoiler alert: she was not good.

That same night, at 9:25 p.m., Jerrolyn was back—this time in visible distress, complaining of severe post-surgical pain. She was seen by Dr. Landon Riesenberg, a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.), who evaluated her and then… discharged her again. At 12:12 a.m. on February 25, she was sent home. No imaging. No blood work. No abdominal exam that flagged a potential blockage. Just a shrug and a “you’ll be fine.”

Then came the phone calls—the kind that make you want to scream at the ceiling. On February 26, Jerrolyn called Dr. O’Leary’s office, speaking to Monica Vargas-Ibarra, a medical assistant (M.A.), not a doctor. She told Vargas-Ibarra she was having trouble with bowel movements and “feeling lousy.” The medical advice? Take a stool softener, drink more fluids, eat more fiber. Classic “drink prune juice and call me in the morning” energy.

Two days later—February 28—she called again. Now she was bloated and still struggling with bowel movements. Vargas-Ibarra’s updated prescription? Drink half a gallon of water, take MiraLAX, and get an abdominal binder—you know, the kind you buy on Amazon for postpartum recovery or after a tummy tuck. Not exactly the protocol you’d expect when someone’s intestines are literally twisting themselves into a knot.

And then—on February 29—Jerrolyn McCohn was found dead in her bathroom. The cause? Small bowel volvulus. That’s when a loop of the small intestine twists around itself and its mesentery (the tissue that holds it in place), cutting off blood flow. It’s a surgical emergency. If caught early, it can be fixed. If ignored? It leads to tissue death, sepsis, and, as in this case, death. The death certificate doesn’t mince words: this is what killed her.

So why is this a lawsuit and not just a tragic medical error? Because, according to the petition filed by Justin Cochran and his legal team at The Tawwater Law Firm, this wasn’t just one misstep—it was a systemic failure. The claim? Negligence, plain and simple. The argument is that every single person involved—from the hospital system to the surgeons to the medical assistant—failed to meet the basic standard of care. They allegedly missed multiple chances to diagnose a life-threatening condition, dismissed worsening symptoms as “normal,” and treated a surgical emergency like a mild case of constipation.

The legal claims are layered like a bad lasagna. First, there’s negligence—the idea that these medical professionals didn’t do what a reasonably competent doctor or hospital would have done under the same circumstances. Then there’s informed consent, which argues that Jerrolyn wasn’t properly warned about the risks of her treatment or alternative options—meaning she couldn’t make a truly informed choice. There’s also negligent privileging and credentialing, which sounds like legal jargon but basically means: “Hey, hospital, you shouldn’t have let these people treat patients if they’re this bad at recognizing a twisted intestine.” And then there’s res ipsa loquitur—a Latin phrase that means “the thing speaks for itself,” used when the injury is so obviously preventable that negligence is assumed. Oh, and the hospital is being held vicariously liable—meaning even if the individual doctors messed up, the hospital is on the hook because they employed them.

Now, about that $150,000 demand: $75,000 for economic damages (medical bills, funeral costs), and another $75,000 in punitive damages—money meant to punish the defendants, not just compensate the family. Is $150,000 a lot? In the world of medical malpractice, it’s not a jackpot. Some verdicts hit millions. But here’s the thing—this isn’t about the money. It’s about the pattern. It’s about a woman being sent home after vomiting post-op, re-admitted with pain, sent home again, then given bowel advice by a medical assistant instead of being rushed to CT scan. It’s about a system that failed her at every turn.

And let’s talk about that abdominal binder. Because seriously—an abdominal binder? That’s the advice when a 74-year-old woman is bloating, vomiting, and in pain after major abdominal surgery? It’s like telling someone having a heart attack to try deep breathing and a heating pad. The sheer banality of the response to a life-or-death emergency is what makes this case so infuriating. It’s not just that they missed the diagnosis—it’s that they treated her like a nuisance, like she was just another “difficult patient” with constipation, not a surgical candidate with a rapidly deteriorating condition.

Our take? The most absurd part isn’t even the binder (though, again, the binder). It’s the pattern of dismissal. This wasn’t one bad call. It was three separate encounters—ER visit, two phone consults—where her symptoms were minimized, normalized, and ultimately ignored. And the fact that a medical assistant was giving advice on post-op complications without escalating to a physician? That’s a red flag the size of a billboard. Hospitals are supposed to have protocols for this. There should’ve been an algorithm: vomiting + pain + bloating = imaging, stat. Instead, they treated her like she needed a fiber supplement, not a surgeon.

We’re not doctors. We’re entertainers, not lawyers. But even we know that when someone’s intestines twist into a pretzel, “drink more water” is not the fix. Jerrolyn McCohn deserved better. Her son is fighting not just for compensation, but for accountability. And honestly? We’re rooting for him. Because if this isn’t a wake-up call for how we handle post-op care, especially in older patients, then what is?

Case Overview

$150,000 Demand Jury Trial Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Larry A. Tawwater

THE TAWWATER LAW FIRM, P.L.L.C.

Relief Sought

$75,000 Monetary

$75,000 Punitive

Plaintiffs

JUSTIN COCHRAN individual
Rep: Larry A. Tawwater, Darren M. Tawwater, B. Adam Myers, B. Trevor Nation

Defendants

INTEGRIS HEALTH EDMOND, INC. business
INTEGRIS HEALTH, INC. business
INTEGRIS AMBULATORY CARE CORPORATION business
DENA O'LEARY, M.D. individual
LANDON RIESENBERG, D.O. individual
MONICA VARGAS-IBARRA, M.A. individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	negligence	alleging that Defendants' negligence led to Jerrolyn McCohn's death

Petition Text

2,076 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA JUSTIN COCHRAN, individually, and as the statutorily designated representative of the estate of JERROLYN MCCOHN, deceased, Plaintiff, v. 1. INTEGRIS HEALTH EDMOND, INC.; 2. INTEGRIS HEALTH, INC.; 3. INTEGRIS AMBULATORY CARE CORPORATION; 4. DENA O’LEARY, M.D.; 5. LANDON RIESENBERG, D.O.; and 6. MONICA VARGAS-IBARRA, M.A., Defendants. PETITION Plaintiff, for his claim, states: 1. On February 23, 2024, Jerrolyn McCohn presented to Integris Health Edmond to undergo a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, sacrocolpopexy, and cystoscopy by Dena O’Leary, M.D. 2. Integris Health Edmond is owned, operated and managed by Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation. 3. As Jerrolyn McCohn was leaving Integris Health Edmond Hospital, she vomited twice. Despite this warning sign of post-operative complications, Defendants allowed her to leave the hospital. 4. On February 24, 2024, at 3:16 p.m., Jerrolyn McCohn was discharged from Integris Health Edmond Hospital in what Defendants described as “good” condition. 5. On February 24, 2024, at 9:25 p.m., Jerrolyn McCohn presented to Integris Health Edmond Hospital. She complained of post-surgical pain and was seen by Landon Riesenberg, D.O. 6. Landon Riesenberg, D.O. discharged Jerrolyn McCohn at 12:12 a.m. on February 25, 2024. 7. On February 26, 2024, at 10:42 a.m., Jerrolyn McCohn contacted Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond – the office of Defendant, Dena O’Leary, M.D. – and spoke to Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A. 8. Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond is a trade name for Defendant, Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation. 9. Jerrolyn McCohn reported to Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., that she was having difficulty with bowel movements and feeling lousy. 10. Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., advised Jerrolyn McCohn that her pain and soreness were normal and to try a stool softener, increase fluids, and add fiber to her diet. 11. On February 28, 2024, at 3:26 p.m., Jerrolyn McCohn again contacted Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond – the office of Defendant, Dena O’Leary, M.D. – and again spoke to Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A. 12. Jerrolyn McCohn reported to Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., that she was experiencing bloating and irregular bowel movements since surgery. 13. Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., advised Jerrolyn McCohn to drink half a gallon of water and encouraged her to take a stool softener at least twice a day and add MiraLAX. When Jerrolyn McCohn stated that the bloating was bothersome, Defendant, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., advised her to get an abdominal binder. 14. Jerrolyn McCohn was found dead in her bathroom in the morning hours of February 29, 2024. 15. The Death Certificate related to Jerrolyn McCohn’s death identified small bowel volvulus as the immediate cause of death. 16. As a result of Defendants’ conduct, Jerrolyn McCohn died, resulting in damages to Plaintiff as set forth below. NEGLIGENCE 17. Defendants, individually, and by acting by and through their agents and employees, including, but not limited to, Dena O’Leary, M.D., Landon Riesenberg, D.O., and Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., acted negligently and deviated from the standard of care by, inter alia, failing to identify and treat Jerrolyn McCohn’s small bowel obstruction. 18. Jerrolyn McCohn died as a result of negligent medical care rendered by Defendants that violated the acceptable standards of medical care. 19. Defendants’ conduct resulted in damages as set forth below. DEFENDANTS’ DIRECT NEGLIGENCE FOR THEIR SYSTEMATIC FAILURES 20. Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, acting through their managers, directors, committees and leadership structure, have a duty to develop effective and safe processes for delivering patient care, educating staff and agents about these processes, and enforcing adherence to them. 21. Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, acting through their managers, directors, committees and leadership structure, have a duty to regularly reevaluate their procedures to identify and implement any needed improvements resulting from near misses, adverse events, evidence-based practice and the state of the art. 22. Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, have a non-delegable duty to develop, adopt, and enforce adequate and appropriate processes, procedures, rules, and policies to ensure the delivery of quality care to their patients. 23. Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, breached these duties to Jerrolyn McCohn. 24. The conduct of Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, deviated from the standard of care, breached Defendants’ duties to Plaintiff and resulted in Jerrolyn McCohn’s death, as well as the injuries and damages set forth below. INFORMED CONSENT 25. Defendants, individually, and acting by and through their agents and employees, failed to inform Plaintiff of the material risks involved in the course of treatment rendered to her; failed to inform Plaintiff of alternative treatments, or the option of no treatment by Defendants, and the reasonably foreseeable material risks of each alternative, including no treatment by Defendants; and that Plaintiff would have chosen a different course of treatment, or no treatment by Defendants, had the alternative and material risks of each been made known, including the option of no treatment by Defendants. 26. If Jerrolyn McCohn had been informed by Defendants that her symptoms necessitated additional treatment, she would have immediately sought that treatment. 27. Defendants’ conduct deviated from the standard of care and caused Plaintiff’s injuries and damage as set forth below. NEGLIGENT PRIVILEGING, CREDENTIALING AND ENTRUSTMENT 28. At the time of the injuries giving rise to the lawsuit, Dena O’Leary, M.D., Landon Riesenberg, D.O. and Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., were privileged, credentialed and otherwise entrusted to care and treat the patients of Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation. 29. Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, were negligent in retaining, supervising, credentialing, privileging and otherwise entrusting the care and treatment of its patients to Dena O’Leary, M.D., Landon Riesenberg, D.O. and Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A. 30. Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, were negligent in managing, operating or otherwise overseeing the care provided to Jerrolyn McCohn while a patient at Defendants’ facilities. 31. The conduct of Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, deviated from the standard of care and caused Plaintiff’s injuries and damages as set forth below. RES IPSA LOQUITUR 32. Plaintiff’s injuries and damages were caused by an act, omission or instrumentality which was under the exclusive control and management of Defendants and the events causing the injuries to her were of a kind which ordinarily do not occur in the absence of negligence on the part of Defendants. 33. Defendants’ conduct caused Plaintiff’s injuries and damages as set forth below. DEFENDANTS’ VICARIOUS LIABILITY FOR THE NEGLIGENCE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND THOSE WHO HAD APPARENT AUTHORITY TO ACT ON THEIR BEHALF 34. At the time of the injuries giving rise to this lawsuit, Dena O’Leary, M.D., was the agent, servant and employee of Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, rendering Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, vicariously liable to Plaintiff for his damages. 35. At the time of the injuries giving rise to this lawsuit, Landon Riesenberg, D.O., was the agent, servant and employee of Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, rendering Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc., and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, vicariously liable to Plaintiff for his damages. 36. At the time of the injuries giving rise to this lawsuit, Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., was the agent, servant and employee of Defendants, Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc. and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, rendering Integris Health, Inc., Integris Health Edmond, Inc., and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, vicariously liable to Plaintiff for his damages. 37. At the time Jerrolyn McCohn was a patient at Defendants’ facilities, the words and conduct of Defendants caused her to reasonably believe that Defendants had authorized her healthcare providers, including Dena O’Leary, M.D., Landon Riesenberg D.O., and Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., to take action on their behalf. 38. The various healthcare professionals who treated Jerrolyn McCohn, including Dena O’Leary, M.D., Landon Riesenberg, D.O. and Monica Vargas-Ibarra, M.A., had the apparent authority to act on behalf of Defendants and Jerrolyn McCohn changed her position to her detriment in reliance on their apparent authority. 39. As a result of Defendants’ conduct, each is liable to Plaintiff for the injuries and damages as set forth below. JOINT VENTURE 40. Defendants, Integris Health Edmond, Inc., Integris Health, Inc., and Integris Ambulatory Care Corporation, entered into a joint venture to operate Integris Health Edmond and Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond in that Defendants: a. had a joint interest in Integris Health Edmond Hospital and Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond; b. had an express or implied agreement to share profits and losses of Integris Health Edmond Hospital and Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond; and, c. engaged in action or conduct showing cooperation in Integris Health Edmond and Integris Health Medical Group Urogynecology Edmond. 41. Each member of Defendants’ joint venture acted for itself as principal and as agent for the other Defendant within the general scope of the enterprise. 42. Defendants are estopped in favor of Plaintiff from denying that they are joint venturers, even though they never intended to become such. 43. Defendants engaged in an enterprise in which they have a community of interest and a common purpose in its performance thereby providing the existence of a joint venture. 44. An employee of one Defendant engaged in a joint venture with its co-Defendant renders the employee of one Defendant the employee of all Defendants. CAUSATION 45. Defendants’ conduct, in a natural and continuous sequence, produced Jerrolyn McCohn’s death, injury and damages to Plaintiff and without Defendants’ conduct, Jerrolyn McCohn’s death, Plaintiff’s injuries and damages would not have happened. 46. Had Jerrolyn McCohn received appropriate medical care, the small bowel volvulus would have been diagnosed. More likely than not, diagnosis and treatment intervention would have prevented Jerrolyn McCohn’s death. 47. Jerrolyn McCohn’s death, as well as the injuries and damages suffered by Plaintiff as a result of Defendants’ conduct, was a reasonably foreseeable result of Defendants’ negligence. DAMAGES 48. As a result of the Defendants’ conduct, Jerrolyn McCohn sustained severe personal injuries, suffered severe physical and emotional pain and suffering, incurred medical expenses and died, resulting in damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. 49. As a further result of Defendants’ conduct, the Estate of Jerrolyn McCohn incurred medical, funeral, and burial expenses, for which the Estate seeks damages in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. 50. As a further result of Defendants’ conduct, Justin Cochran, son of Jerrolyn McCohn, suffered damage due to grief and loss of companionship of his mother and claims damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. 51. As a further result of Defendants’ conduct, Kristan Cochran, daughter of Jerrolyn McCohn, suffered damage due to grief and loss of companionship of her mother and claims damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. 52. At the time of her death, Jerrolyn McCohn was 74 years of age. According to the United States Social Security Administration Actuarial Life Table, she had a life expectancy of 13.37 years. 53. Plaintiff, Justin Cochran, is the surviving son of Jerrolyn McCohn and is designated by 12 O.S. § 1054 as the personal representative of the Estate of Jerrolyn McCohn and one of the individuals authorized to bring a claim for wrongful death against Defendants pursuant to 12 O.S. § 1053. PUNITIVE DAMAGES 54. Defendants’ conduct was done in reckless disregard of Jerrolyn McCohn’s and Plaintiff’s rights, was intentional, and done with malice toward others, including Jerrolyn McCohn and Plaintiff. 55. Defendants committed wrongful acts intentionally without just cause or excuse. 56. Plaintiff seeks punitive damages against all Defendants in an amount in excess of $75,000.00. 57. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays judgment against Defendants, each in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, plus costs, interest, and any other relief the Court deems just and equitable. Respectfully submitted, Larry A. Tawwater, OBA No. 8852 Darren M. Tawwater, OBA No. 18854 B. Adam Myers, OBA No. 33985 B. Trevor Nation, OBA No. 36734 THE TAWWATER LAW FIRM, P.L.L.C. 14001 Quail Springs Parkway Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134 Telephone: (405) 607-1400 Facsimile: (405) 607-1450 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS’ LIEN CLAIMED JURY TRIAL DEMANDED