$17 Million Medical Malpractice Settlement

June 23, 2014 – Patrick A. Salvi of the law firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., obtained a $17 million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of two-year-old boy from Waukegan, Illinois, who suffered severe and irreversible brain damage during a surgery to remove a cyst on his throat. The settlement was approved in Cook County.

The plaintiff had a condition known as a thryoglossal duct cyst. This condition was to be corrected on October 18, 2013 with the Sistrunk procedure, where the surgeon removes a portion of the hyoid bone (small bone in the throat) along with the cyst. During the procedure, the plaintiff alleged the thyroid membrane and larynx were injured. As a result, swelling and a hematoma developed in the plaintiff’s throat.

A second emergency surgery was ordered and staff attempted to intubate the plaintiff unsuccessfully on three occasions. An emergency tracheostomy was performed, but the plaintiff had already been without oxygen. The plaintiff suffered a prolonged cardiac arrest and permanent brain damage.