September 25 2008
$3 Million Settlement; Largest Settlement for a Brachial Plexus case outside of Cook County
SANGAMON COUNTY, IL – Michael P. Schostok of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. announced a $3 million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a mother whose son sustained a birth injury as a result of their doctor’s alleged failure to properly manage the labor and delivery. The Honorable Judge Belz of Sangamon County (Illinois) approved the settlement.
On June 30, 2003, Lisa Santoro, was admitted to the Memorial Medical Center for a scheduled delivery of her son, Hunter. During the labor and delivery, Hunter became stuck in the birth canal and was forcefully pulled out by the delivering physician. The plaintiffs allege that Dr. Amber Barnhart used far more force than was necessary to pull Hunter out and failed to implement accepted and required maneuvers to relieve Hunter's impacted shoulder. The plaintiffs also allege that the nurses and residents who were assisting Dr. Barnhart in the delivery used inappropriate pressure on top of Lisa Santoro's abdomen which caused or contributed to the ultimate injury of Hunter Santoro. Hunter was born with severe paralysis of his right arm caused by the nerve roots of his shoulder being pulled from the cervical spine.
"Hunter's injuries are permanent and will have a profound effect on the rest of his life. There are many jobs that he will never be able to do because of his paralyzed right arm. The settlement monies will go a long way in assisting Hunter in paying for the future medical expenses that he will have and to compensate him for his loss of income earning capacity," said Michael P. Schostok, attorney for the Plaintiffs.
For more information on the Santoro case, Michael Schostok or the Law Firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., please contact Christina Solomon at 312-372-1227 or csolomon@salvilaw.com.
[No. 2004 L 122 – HUNTER SANTORO, a minor by LISA SANTORO, his mother and next friend and LISA SANTORO, Individually, Plaintiffs, v. AMBER BARNHART, M.D., Individually, and SCOTT CIECHNA, M.D., Individually and MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER, an Illinois Not-For-Profit corporation, and SIU PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS, INC., and Illinois not-for-profit corporation, Defendants]
