Brooklyn Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Results In $62 Million Jury Award
Jurors awarded a $62 million verdict to a mother who lost both her legs following a routine surgery at Winthrop University Hospital in Long Island.
Jurors deliberated for just three days before reaching their decision in the medical malpractice lawsuit filed by Brooklyn’s Stacey Galette, according to an article in the New York Daily News. They awarded the 34-year-old woman $20 million for pain and suffering, $38 million for the pain she is expected to suffer in the future and $4 million for medical bills.
Brooklyn medical malpractice lawsuit allegations
Galette sued the hospital, where she underwent surgery in 2009 to have an ectopic pregnancy removed, according to the New York Daily News. In the suit, Galette claimed doctors pierced her intestine during the routine procedure, causing an infection that led to blood poisoning and gangrene. Doctors amputated both legs just below the knees.
Jurors told the New York Daily News that facts showed the hospital made mistakes, but they had to think thoroughly about who was responsible for Galette’s injuries and how to put a monetary figure on her living without limbs and how it would impact enjoyment in her life. The doctors who treated Galette, Paul Byrne, Frederic Moon and Cynthia Fretwell, also were defendants in the Long Island hospital malpractice case.
The hospital plans to appeal the ruling and the amount of damages to the Brooklyn Supreme Court. The hospital’s attorneys had argued that Galette, who now has two prosthetic legs and uses a wheelchair to get around, was only alive today because doctors listened to her complaints of pain following the routine, gynecological surgery. The doctors who treated Galette denied puncturing her intestine; they claimed her problems were due to an underlying bowel condition that occurred after her surgery.
Medical malpractice lawsuits
Preventable medical mistakes, whether they are related to birth injuries, misdiagnoses or errors related to the administration or monitoring of anesthesia, account for many deaths and injuries in the United States every year. Despite the large number of victims, research shows many never decide to file a claim against the responsible parties. Most victims are unaware of their rights or are unsure what steps to take following an injury. The right medical malpractice attorney can guide victims through the legal process and get them the compensation they deserve.
Contact a New York medical malpractice attorney
If you or a loved one is suffering from an injury due to hospital negligence, you may be entitled to damages for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. The lawyers at The Sanders Firm have more than four decades of experience working for those in New York who have been injured, disabled or died as a result of medical mistakes made by hospitals, their doctors and staff in all New York boroughs.
Contact The Sanders Firm for a free consultation to determine your eligibility for claiming compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan or Long Island. Call 1.800 FAIR PLAY (800.324.7752). Appointments are available day and night. Resources
- New York Daily News, Jury awards $62 million to Brooklyn mom who lost her legs in botched procedure at Winthrop University Hospital, http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/jury-awards-62-million-brooklyn-mom-article-1.1575800#commentpostform
- New York Daily News, Woman lost legs because of LI hospital’s negligence, lawyer tells Brooklyn jury, http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/woman-lost-legs-due-hospital-negligence-jury-hears-article-1.1506707
