The birth of a child is one of the highlights of the life of any family. So it seems particularly tragic that a mother bled to death in a Florida clinic a few hours after giving birth to her fourth child in 2015. The family is still picking up the pieces, but a jury in the 17th Circuit Court in Fort Lauderdale has made their lives a little easier by awarding them $24.5 million. The award divides the cash between the father and the four children. The basis of the finding after a two-day trial was medical malpractice by four doctors and the clinic.
Doctors admit guilt
To the credit of the medical staff, the doctors admitted causation and negligence in court. Unfortunately, their attorney was not so compassionate, complaining that the settlement, which was just over half of $41 million the family was looking for, should have been closer to $4 million. Fortunately, the jury did not agree.
The family told their story
The plaintiff attorney did what every smart medical malpractice attorney does – he worked to convey the size of the family’s loss as they told their story. The important details included:
- How they continue to wrestle with the loss of a mother and a wife
- How they strive to make their mother proud
- The depth of their loss, pain and suffering
The family shared these life-changing details in a way that the jurors felt connected to. It would be no overstatement to say that this woman’s death is a terrible example of how maternal mortality is still a significant issue in this country. We are supposed to have the best doctors and technology in the world, yet terrible deaths such as these still take place.
Lawyers help families meet these challenges
Families of medical malpractice victims can often get compensation for these errors by contacting an experienced and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney. They understand the challenges families face and can help them meet them with effective legal advice.
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