Former Offspring drummer-turned-doc saves juror during own malpractice trial
Mistrial declared after incident
Mistrial declared after incident
A California obstetrician-gynecologist and former member of a legendary punk band proved he retains his DIY sensibility at a recent medical malpractice trial, where he saved a prospective juror's life. The judge declared a mistrial, fearing the doc's heroics would sway the jury.
"No good deed goes unpunished," Dr. James Lilja, a San Jose and Fremont-based physician and founding drummer of The Offspring, told Law360. Lilja left The Offspring in the late 1980s to deliver offspring.
Lilja faces medical malpractice charges, filed by Stephenie Sargiotto and her husband, John, in Alameda County Superior Court, for the alleged negligent treatment of Stephanie Sargiotto.
Trial proceedings didn't get very far this week after one of more than 35 prospective jurors collapsed, hit his head and lost consciousness, Law360 reports. Lilja and his nurse assistant rushed from the courtroom to the juror's side and found him without a pulse and not breathing.
Lilja and his assistant administered CPR and shocked the man with an automated external defibrillator. When paramedics arrived, the man remained unconscious but had a pulse, Law360 said. The condition of the patient is unknown.
The brief act of gallantry led the plaintiffs' attorney, Robert G. Schock, to ask Judge Ronni MacLaren for a mistrial? How could the potential jurors not be biased after witnessing the defendant's bold action, Schock argued.
Despite the best efforts of Lilja's attorney, Barry C. Marsh of Hinshaw Still & Hinshaw LLP, to argue against the mistrial motion, the judge agreed with Schock, arguing the jurors' bias would be "incurable." MacLaren dismissed the 35 jurors and set a new trial date for April 2.
Lilja could not be reached for comment and the offices of Hinshaw Still & Hinshaw refused to comment on active litigation.
The physician lent his frenetic drumming to The Offspring between 1984 and 1987. , Offspring frontman Dexter Holland described his former bandmate as a "great guy with a pretty warped sense of humor."
"This guy was dying to get into medical school," Holland said. "In fact, he was so intent on getting into medical school that he didn't really even practice with us much." Lilja was replaced by Ron Welty.
Holland goes on to describe the inspiration behind "Beheaded," a single co-written by him and Lilja that appeared on the band's 1989 debut album. The premise of "Beheaded" stems from the notion of a "crazy guy who enjoys that sort of thing," Holland said.
Four years later, Lilja gained admission to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He now runs a private practice out of San Jose and Fremont and specializes in the treatment of cancerous and precancerous conditions of the female reproductive tract, according to his .
"I hope his patients don't find out that he once helped write a song called 'Beheaded!'" said Holland in his 2007 interview.
The Offspring released their ninth album, "Days Go By," in 2012.