$22.1 million dollar verdict for surgical error on woman during hysterectomy

One of the largest jury verdicts in Kings County, NY was awarded to plaintiff Judith, a 56 year old woman who suffered a perforation of her bowel during the course of a hysterectomy she underwent on September 5, 2000, performed by the defendant OBGYN. The plaintiff developed severe peritonitis and had a colostomy and abdominal surgery. She had 7 subsequent hospitalizations in an attempt to reverse the colostomy which were unsuccessful. In 2005 she developed a PICC line infection which resulted in her suffering a heart attack and stroke. She is currently confined to a nursing home.

After a 4 week trial in Supreme Court, Kings County before Justice Marcia Steinhart the jury apportioned 90% fault against the doctor and 10% against the hospital (where plaintiff went for emergency treatment of the PICC line). The hospital had settled before the jury returned its verdict.

The award was as follows:

Past pain and suffering (2000 - present):    $10,000,000.00
Future pain and suffering (12 years):         $4,000,000.00
Future Medical Expenses:                      $6,500,000.00
Past Medical Expenses:                        $1,600,000.00
Total awarded:                               $22,100,000.00

$1.1 Million recovered in Medical Malpractice case.

FACTS: The parents of three year old Robert, who was running a fever, vomiting and had the shakes, called the doctor for medical advice. The doctor instructed the boy's parents to give him aspirin and bring him in for an examination the next day. The next day, shortly after the doctor saw him, Robert went into a coma and later died from a rare and swift-moving bacterial infection. The bacteria called meningococcemia is often fatal unless treated with antibiotics.

The jury in the State Supreme Court awarded the child's estate $1.05 million for the pain and suffering from the time of the call and the time he lapsed into the coma. The remaining balance was compensation for the medical expenses.

$3 Million recovered in Workplace Injury case.

FACTS: While working as a driller's assistant on a harbor-dredging project on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, 36-year-old Russel was struck by an undefined object. Russel was supporting two drilling towers when the object struck him. He is now suffering from epilepsy as a result of being struck in the head.

The jury found that Russel had grounds to sue under the Jones Act because the barge that he was working on was considered a "vessel" and it was considered unseaworthy. The case was decided in a U.S. District Court for Southern New York where he was awarded $3 million.


$2.97 Million recovered in School Bus Injury case.

FACTS: An 11-year-old student, was injured while attempting to board her school bus. She said she was attempting to board the bus on her way home from school when the driver allegedly pulled away from the bus stop prematurely, causing her to fall under the bus' right front wheel. According to the plaintiff, the driver alleged that the girl was running after the bus when she slipped and fell on ice. The case settled at a pre-trial conference for $2.97 million.

The girl suffered alleged hip fractures, degloving injuries and tissue loss requiring skin graft and multiple surgeries. She has severe scarring and disfigurement to both legs.


$1.65 Million recovered in Classroom Injury

FACTS: A Brooklyn, N.Y., school teacher was injured when her arm and wrist became caught in a classroom door while she tried to stop a student from slaming it. She claimed that the door was defective in that an arm of the door governor was broken and a screw in the door stopper was missing. She further contended that the door governor broke four months earlier and that she had reported the condition to a custodian several times. The school countered that it was unaware of the condition and argued that the fault lay with the plaintiff or the student. She has not returned to work and her expert testified that she is permanently disabled and will eventually lose full use of her hand. The jury awarded $1.65 million, including $1.2 million for past and future pain and suffereing


$3.8 million dollar settlement for family of mother who died in childbirth


$2.3 million dollar settlement for child not properly treated by a pediatrician