On May 1, 2024, an Illinois birth injury medical malpractice jury returned its verdict in the amount of $23,070,000 in favor of now seven-year-old Na’ Jai Johnson, who sustained brain damage and cerebral palsy as a result of the claimed medical negligence of two obstetricians and a nurse at Chicago’s Advocate Trinity Hospital, by the failure to timely perform a Cesarean section delivery. The majority of the Illinois medical malpractice jury’s award is for the medical expenses required for Na’Jai’s care and treatment for the rest of her life.
The Illinois birth injury medical malpractice complaint reportedly alleged that in January 2017, Na’Jai’s mother, Alexis Willis, presented to Advocate Trinity Hospital with complaints of decreased fetal movement. The complaint alleged that despite obvious signs that Na’Jai was in trouble, the obstetrical team at Advocate Trinity Hospital failed to timely deliver Na’Jai by C-section. The complaint reportedly alleged that approximately 25 minutes before delivery, Na’Jai’s heart rate dropped and did not recover, causing her to suffer hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Expert witnesses reportedly testified during trial that Na’Jai should have been delivered before her heart rate dropped, and had the medical providers at Advocate Trinity Hospital done so, Na’Jai would not have suffered brain damage and cerebral palsy.
Na’Jai’s medical malpractice lawyers stated after the verdict: “Na’Jai’s family was extremely grateful for the opportunity to have her case heard, and they appreciate the time and effort put into the case by her attorneys, the jury, and the court. These are hard, complex cases for the jury to hear and deliberate. Their dedication and diligence in understanding the details of this case ultimately led to Na’Jai and her family getting justice after her birth injury. This case was a victory for parents and a victory for victims of birth injuries everywhere – but most importantly, it was a victory for Na’Jai and her family. The damages the jury awarded her will allow her family to provide her with the quality of life she deserves and help her fulfill her potential.”
Advocate Health Care states on its website: “Advocate Health Care is a faith-based nonprofit health system in Illinois. We’re dedicated to changing patient expectations by giving them easy access to all they need to stay well, live well and achieve outstanding treatment outcomes. In 2018, Advocate Health Care merged with Aurora Health Care of Wisconsin to form Advocate Aurora Health. And in 2022, Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health combined to create Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the U.S.”
If you or a loved one have suffered serious harm as a result of a birth injury in Illinois or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find an Illinois medical malpractice lawyer, or a medical malpractice lawyer in your state, who may investigate your birth injury medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a birth injury medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
Click here to visit our website or call us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find birth injury medical malpractice attorneys in your U.S. state who may assist you.
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