$29.1 Million Medical Malpractice Bench Verdict

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit today affirmed a $29.1 million medical malpractice verdict.

On April 2, 2010, attorneys David J. Pritchard and Patrick A. Salvi II of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., secured the $29.1 million verdict on behalf of Christian Arroyo. Judge Amy St. Eve of the Northern District of Illinois rendered the verdict for Christian and against the United States of America after a week-long bench trial. The government-employed doctors were found guilty of negligence having to do with their obstetrical and neonatal care. The attorneys of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., proved that prophylactic measures to prevent infection should have been taken prior to Christian’s birth and that the signs and symptoms of a neonatal infection were missed, causing profound brain damage.

The government appealed the verdict based on the statue of limitations. The government said that the suit was untimely because it was brought more than 2 years after the baby was discharged from the hospital following birth. Attorneys fully argued that the lawsuit was timely filed because the Arroyos did not know and had no reason to know that the brain injury had any sort of doctor or government cause.

Today, Christian Arroyo is a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. He cannot walk, talk or eat through his mouth.

Attorney Patrick Salvi II said: “We are very pleased that the Court of Appeals has affirmed this verdict on behalf of Christian, and rejected the government’s attempt to avoid responsibility for the misconduct of the doctors involved by asserting that they should have been sued sooner. The money will be essential in giving this young man a chance in life given his severe and permanent disabilities.