Illinois: Cerebral Palsy Award is $29 Million

An Illinois judge ruled in favor of claims against federal physicians that negligence during a baby's birth resulted in his permanent brain damage causing spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy related claims continue to bring large settlements. According to our source, the Chicago Sun Times article,

"Had the federal government's doctors followed the standard of care and provided the antibiotics to [the mother] or [the infant] at the appropriate times, [he] would have been a normal baby boy," said one of the family's attorneys, David J. Pritchard."

Also according to the Sun Times report:

"Lawyers for the plaintiff brought the case in federal court under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The law lets individuals sue the federal government, but it requires the case be tried by a judge."

Read the full article here.

$12 Million Settlement for Birth Injury in Illinois

ROCKFORD, Ill. — According to a Business Wire release, the family of a brain-damaged boy, severely injured during birth, settled its medical malpractice lawsuit against St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford for $12 million. The settlement is the largest of any personal injury case in Winnebago County.

The child, now 4 years old, has spastic quadriparesis, a form of cerebral palsy. He remains dependent on a ventilator and requires around-the-clock care. According to the lawsuit, hospital staff failed to recognize that baby was positioned for a breech delivery, failed to recognize signs of fetal distress and failed to deliver him by Caesarian section in a timely way. As a result, he did not receive sufficient oxygen during delivery and suffered massive brain damage.

“A failure to communicate accurate information and take appropriate action doomed this child’s future,” said the family's attorney. “The nursing staff assumed – but failed to verify – the fetal presentation. Given the wrong information, [the doctor] accelerated the labor and the child suffered catastrophic injuries.” See more details here...

Illinois: Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Settles for $6.5 Million

According to The Beacon News, a $6.5 million settlement has been reached "on behalf of a 7-year-old Aurora, IL, boy who allegedly suffered a brain injury at birth at Provena Mercy Medical Center."

Plaintiffs attorneys claim the attending obstetrician and delivery nurse, "failed to respond to the baby’s low heart rate and reduced oxygen flow caused by the drug Pitocin."

To read more on this case, go to the Beacon News article: Aurora family gets $6.5 million in brain injury case.

Brain Damage Lawsuit Settled for $15.35M in Illinois

Chicago Tribune reports on May 20, 2008:

"AURORA, Ill. - An Aurora mother has settled a malpractice lawsuit for $15.35 million with a hospital and doctor after her son suffered brain damage at birth six years ago."

Read full article here: Aurora mother settles malpractice lawsuit for $15.35...

Illinois: Jury Awards $2.34M for Birth Injury

Lake County, Illinois — A jury awards $2.35 million to a boy injured at birth. According to the Lake County News Sun, the boy suffered "severe nerve damage causing permanent disability while at Vista Medical Center East in 2004." The jury found that the doctor "was responsible for pulling too hard on the boy's head and neck when his shoulder became stuck on the mother's pubic bone." The boy will require physical and occupational therapy for his lifetime. Read entire article: Boy gets $2.35M for birth injury.