Hospital Client in Significant Medical Malpractice Claim

Susan Phillips and David Thompson received a defense verdict for their hospital client in a significant medical malpractice claim arising out of the neurological impairment of a newborn. The Plaintiffs contended that their daughter suffered neurological impairment, which resulted in profound cerebral palsy, during labor and delivery. The Plaintiffs claimed the nursing staff was negligent in failing to identify the critical nature of the baby’s status, and failing to contact the physicians to ensure their timely arrival at the hospital. Ms. Phillips and Mr. Thompson presented two leading authorities in neonatology and nursing care as expert witnesses, both of whom strongly defended the care of the nursing staff and supported the defense theory that the injury occurred prior to the Plaintiffs’ presentation to the hospital. After four and one-half weeks of trial, the jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning a unanimous defense verdict in favor of the hospital.