Doctors Pay $24.5 Million for Death of Mother After Childbirth

Jurors recently awarded $24.5 million to the family of a woman who died hours after giving birth to her fourth child. The case from the 17th circuit court in Fort Lauderdale involved the mother’s death in 2015. The award divides the money between each surviving family member. The basis of the finding was the massive amount of blood loss by the victim, which plaintiffs claim was due to medical malpractice during childbirth. The trial took two days, and the jury deliberated for two hours.

The suit names four doctors as well as the medical group they worked for. To their credit, the doctors admitted causation and negligence. Nevertheless, the defendants’ attorney argued that the plaintiff’s settlement should have been closer to $4 million. This is despite the facts that there was a new infant, three other children, and a loving husband remain devastated by the loss of their mother and wife. The initial request was for $41 million.

Positive settlement because the jurors connected with the victims

The plaintiffs’ attorney did what every medical malpractice attorney should do. He used emotional testimony from the family to convey the magnitude of the victim’s death, which included:

• The depths of their loss, pain, and suffering

• How they continue to make their mother proud by carrying on

• How they continue to wrestle with their loss on a day to day basis

Because the family shared these life-changing details, the jurors were able to better understand the survivors’ journey over the last four years to pick up the pieces and create a new life for themselves.

It would be no overstatement that this death illustrates the tragic nature of maternal mortality in this country. We have some of the best doctors and equipment in the world, yet they fatally injured the very person they were trying to help. While this happened in Florida, it still illustrates how these devastating events impact the victims’ family. It also shows how important it is to work with an attorney who understands the issues and how to connect with the jury to get the compensation the family deserves.