The Biggest Medical Malpractice Verdicts of 2023

Last year, we wrote about the largest medical malpractice verdicts around the country. Our readers really liked that piece, so we’ve decided to look at the four biggest awards from 2023:

• Hagans v. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• Lee v. Westchester County Health Care Corporation
• Chris Maragos v. Dr. James Bradley and Rothman Orthopaedics Institute
• Anderson v. University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center

Read more: The Largest Medical Malpractice Verdicts of 2022

Hagans v. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania: $180 million

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, this was a record-breaking medical malpractice verdict. In this case, a child and their family were awarded over $180 million because the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania did not perform a cesarean section delivery when they needed to. As a matter of fact, the hospital healthcare providers knew that the pregnant mother had developed a severe uterine infection and still chose to delay the much-needed cesarean section surgery. As a result, the child suffered brain and neurological injuries that were 100 percent avoidable.

Now the child is five and has serious complications, such as “cerebral palsy, permanent brain damage, and substantial neurodevelopmental delays, making him completely dependent on others for care.” This award is the biggest medical malpractice verdict in the state of Pennsylvania to date.

Lee v. Westchester County Health Care Corporation: $120 million

A man and his family won $120 million in a medical malpractice case, which is the largest medical malpractice verdict in the history of the city of Westchester, NY. William R. Lee and his family filed a lawsuit against Westchester County Health Care Corporation because their medical team failed to treat Lee’s stroke in a timely manner.

After Lee’s wife found him having a stroke in their home, she immediately called 9-1-1. The ambulance quickly transported Lee to Westchester County Health Care’s Emergency Room where he was quickly taken back for a CT scan. However, it was later determined that “the doctors reading the scans were residents, and there wasn’t a board-certified radiologist onsite at the moment the scan was completed.” The residents stated that there was no clot, but there actually was. In fact, a radiologist finally looked over Lee’s scans several hours later and saw a basilar artery occlusion. While a thrombectomy was ordered to remove the clot, Lee had already experienced severe brain damage. Now, he lives at a medical facility in California, which ensures that he receives the individualized medical assistance and treatment that he needs daily. Unfortunately, Lee is unable to take care of himself or be with his family due to the delayed treatment of his stroke.

Chris Maragos v. Dr. James Bradley and Rothman Orthopaedics Institute: $43.5 million

Another large medical malpractice case that made headlines in 2023 involved Philadelphia Eagles player Chris Maragos, who won $43.5 million. Maragos had a torn posterior cruciate ligament injury. He was informed that he would need surgery to fix the torn ligament, which he agreed to. However, his doctors ignored the fact that he also had a meniscus tear; their failure to diagnose and treat the condition, Maragos’ lawyers argued, led to his early retirement from the NFL. He filed a lawsuit against Dr. James Bradley and Rothman Orthopaedics Institute. Maragos believes that he could have been able to play in the NFL for several more years if it were not for the negligence of his doctor at the time.

Anderson v. University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center

In Baltimore, parents of a young boy were awarded close to $34 million for an unnecessary cesarean section. Tara Anderson went to the hospital with back pain and cramps in her abdomen, but the medical tests showed that there were “no signs of labor or placental abruption.” Instead, the pregnant mother was having Braxton-Hicks contractions, which are quite common. In addition, she stopped having any cramps or pain after she was admitted to the labor and delivery floor.

The University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center misdiagnosed Anderson with preterm labor, and misdiagnosed the baby as being in fetal distress, despite no signs of either condition being present. The hospital and physician stated that a cesarean section was essential even though Anderson was only 23 weeks pregnant. As a result of this misdiagnosis, the baby suffered  brain damage and will likely need someone to care for him for the rest of his life.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries or other losses due to medical malpractice in Maryland, a lawyer from Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. is ready to help. We take these cases very seriously and want our clients to know that even a medical provider who has the knowledge and education necessary to practice medicine can still engage in acts of negligence or neglect. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today. We have offices throughout the state of Maryland.