Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Results in $10M Award

Scott Smith

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

A West Virginia jury recently awarded a 25 year old woman a $10 million medical malpractice verdict after she acquired an infection during a relatively simple knee surgery in 1995. The infection, for which the jury found the hospital and its parent company responsible, resulted in seven additional surgeries.

The plaintiff's attorneys argued the hospital's parent company, West Virginia University Hospitals Inc., did not inform its physicians or patients that it was experiencing an epidemic near the time (the woman) was infected.

According to a copy of the verdict form, the victim's family is set to receive $84,989.39 for medical expenses and $10 million in general damages, which include non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Representatives from both sides expect the verdict to be set aside because West Virginia law caps non-economic damages a $1 million.