Cases in the News

Recent Money Damages Awards

In the News & Across the United States.

Every case is different. The awards below do not indicate the success in your particular case. Contact Walwyn & Walwyn for a free consultation and see to determine whether you are entitled to money damages for your injury. Marc Walwyn is serious about helping you get the compensation you deserve.

                                          

Ambulance Firm Settles Suits Involving EMT

A Colorado-based ambulance company has settled four lawsuits stemming from allegations that a former paramedic groped female patients. Last month, a jury ordered American Medical Response to pay $3.25 million to a woman who was abused by paramedic Lannie Haszard in the back of his ambulance. The terms of the most recent settlements were not disclosed.  Aimee Green, The Oregonian  10/09/2009


Jury Hands Down Record Award in Birth Injury Case

A New York jury has awarded $43.5 million to a woman who suffers from cerebral palsy and other injuries as a result of negligence during her birth in 1984. According to the lawsuit, Tiffany Busone was deprived of oxygen for more than 10 minutes because staff at the former Bellevue Maternity Hospital in Niskayuna failed to properly resuscitate her as a newborn. The award is believed to be the largest personal injury verdict in the history of upstate New York.  Robert Gavin, Alabany Times Union  10/09/2009


Hospital, Doctor Settle Malpractice Suit

A Connecticut hospital and former surgeon have agreed to pay $5.25 million to a woman who alleged that medical malpractice resulted in the amputation of her left leg. In the lawsuit, Eileen Kelleher claimed that staff at the New Milford Hospital failed to properly diagnose or treat complications that arose following back surgery and caused her leg to become gangrenous. A spokeswoman for the hospital declined to comment on the settlement.  Susan Tuz, Danbury News-Times  10/09/2009


Agency Settles Suit by Attack Victim

A Seattle-area nonprofit agency has agreed to pay $6 million for failing to properly monitor a mental patient who blinded a local healthcare worker, the Seattle Times reports. The victim of the attack, Maritza Dowe, a former administrative assistant, will receive $5.5 million of the settlement. The case had been scheduled to go to trial next week.  Charles E. Brown, Seattle Times  10/08/2009


Doctors Ordered to Pay for Misdiagnosis

A Florida jury has ordered two Coral Springs doctors to pay $4.3 million to the family of a girl who was misdiagnosed at birth in 1994. In the verdict, jurors found that Dr. Sedigheh Zolfaghari and Dr. Jose Colindres failed to perform routine tests and ignored symptoms that should have indicated an enterovirus, a usually mild illness that can become deadly in infants. The misdiagnosis left the child with injuries including severe vision problems and permanent liver cirrhosis.  Joel Marino, South Florida Sun-Sentinel  10/04/2009


Quadriplegic Awarded Damages for Bedsores

A New York judge has awarded $2.2 million to a quadriplegic former construction worker who developed severe bedsores while recovering from a spinal cord injury. According to an attorney for the plaintiff, staff at the Westchester Medical Center failed to regularly turn the patient during his stay at the hospital. The bedsores had to be surgically closed and prevented the patient from participating in physical therapy, his attorney said.  AP, Boston Herald  10/05/2009


Jury Awards Damages to Toddler Injured at Day Care

A Florida jury has awarded $3 million to a boy whose leg was broken by a KinderCare day care employee. Media reports note that child protection authorities had repeatedly cited KinderCare for violations at five of its Pinellas County locations. The employee involved in the incident has since pleaded no contest to felony child abuse. The award includes $2 million in punitive damages against KinderCare.  Stephen Nohlgren, St. Petersburg Times  08/08/2009


Misdiagnosis Prompts Record Damages

A Tennessee jury has ordered a Memphis doctor and her clinic to pay nearly $24 million for failing to diagnose a woman’s breast cancer. According to the lawsuit, the woman had complained of a lump in her breast for about 18 months. The award is believed to be one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in state history. WMC-TV Memphis, 07/13/2009

  

Judge Approves Settlement in Strip-Search Lawsuit

A federal judge has granted approval for a $3.2 million settlement involving more than 500 people illegally strip searched at an Arizona jail. According to the lawsuit, Santa Cruz County violated the 4th Amendment Rights of those arrested by subjecting them to strip searches, regardless of offense. A similar lawsuit has also been filed against Pima County, Ariz. Brian J. Pedersen, Arizona Daily Star 07/14/2009                           


City Settles Police Sexual Harassment Suite

A California city has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to settle allegations that the local police department sexually harassed female officers because of their gender or sexual orientation. In the lawsuit, the female Hayward police officers claimed they were subjected to discrimination from 1982 through 2008. The settlement covers 14 officers, nine of whom are still with the department.  Eric Kurhi, San Jose Mercury News 06/10/2009


Boy Killed in Gate Accident. Family Recovers Money Damages
A Massachusetts city has agreed to pay $600,000 to the family of a child who was crushed when a 1,600-pound gate fell on him while he played at a local elementary school. The unsecured iron gate killed 11-year-old Timothy DiLeo and injured his younger brother on Labor Day 2007. State law caps settlement amounts in such cases at $600,000.  AP, Boston Herald  05/13/2009

Security Guard Trampled to Death.
Retail giant Wal-Mart will pay a combined $2 million to avoid criminal charges in the trampling death of a security guard last year. Under the settlement, Wal-Mart has agreed to improve safety procedures for its post-Thanksgiving sales, create a victims compensation fund and give $1.5 million to social services and nonprofit groups. Temporary security guard Jdimytai Damour died after thousands of shoppers crashed through a door on Black Friday crushing him.  Reuters, Reuters  05/06/2009

Asbestos Exposure
The family of a woman who developed mesothelioma from second-hand asbestos exposure should receive more than $2 million in damages, an Illinois jury determined last week. According to the lawsuit, the former Union Asbestos & Rubber Company, Owens Corning, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and others conspired to hide the dangers of asbestos from workers who came into contact with the substance. Juanita Rodarmel was exposed to asbestos while washing her husband’s clothes when he worked for Union Asbestos & Rubber, attorneys for the family argued.  Staff, Pantagraph  05/01/2009

Brain Damage
A Tennessee jury has ordered a Chattanooga-area doctor to pay $6.12 million to a woman who suffered severe brain damages after undergoing a procedure intended to diagnose bowel problems. Jurors found that Dr. Michael Goodman was 51 percent at fault for failing to recognize symptoms of an intestinal tear caused by the procedure. An attorney for Goodman said they expect to appeal the jury’s verdict.  Monica Mercer, Chattanooga Times Free Press  04/30/2009

Boy Drowns, Family Recovers Money Damages
A California jury on Monday awarded about $14 million to the family of a 4-year-old boy who drowned in a Santa Barbara-area athletic club swimming pool. After nearly three days of deliberations, jurors found that Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club, its owners and others were substantially negligent in the death of Yoni Gottesman. The jury is scheduled to determine potential punitive damages in the case later this week.  Chris Meagher, Santa Barbara Independent  04/27/2009

Widow of Smoker
A Florida jury has ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to pay $1.5 million to the widow of a smoker who died of lung cancer in 1996. In the verdict jurors found that the cigarette maker concealed information about the health effects of its product. Attorneys for R.J. Reynolds said they plan to appeal.  Staff, Miami Herald  05/12/2009

Drunk Driving Death
Jurors found that Robert LaBarre was 85% liable in the death of Sheena Marie Villa, a passenger in his car when he crashed while driving drunk. Compensatory damages of $1.1 million were awarded to Villa’s family, along with $2 million in punitive damages. A bar where LaBarre had been served alcohol that night was found not liable in the death.  Kevin Amerman, The Morning Call Online  05/09/2009

Taser Death
The mother of a 17-year-old boy who died after being shocked with a Taser has settled her lawsuit against the police. Roger Holyfield, who suffered from mental illness, was shocked at least twice by Jerseyville, Ill. police after ignoring warnings as he walked down a local street carrying a Bible and a cordless telephone and shouting "I want Jesus." The officers involved in the incident were not criminally charged. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.  Jim Suhr, Chicago Tribune  05/03/2009