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Verdicts & Settlements

  • $15.0 million involving man who was left a ventilator dependant quadriplegic as result of broken neck during intubation

  • $12.5 million involving a suicide

  • $10.75 million settlement with physicians and hospital in case involving infant who suffered permanent brain injuries at birth

  • $8.1 million wrongful death verdict in case involving an outpatient suicide, highest verdict in the United States in a suicide case

  • $7.1 million verdict represented the first medical malpractice verdict ever in Guilford County, highest medical malpractice verdict in North Carolina at the time, the second highest punitive damages verdict in the state

  • $7 million awarded by jury in medmal verdict

  • $4.5 million involving a child who suffered significant brain injury as result of medical treatment received for heart condition

  • $3.5 million verdict involving infant who suffered permanent brain injuries

  • $3.25 million for the wrongful death of husband and father of 4 children who died due to a failure to see and appreciate a brain aneurysm by a radiologist performing an MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram)

  • Confidential settlement in 2002: $2.3 million for the wrongful death of a 38 year-old, wife and mother of 2 children who died following a routine thyroidectomy

  • Cumberland County: $1.5 million settlement in a car accident involving a 31 year-old wife and mother of 2 children which resulted in a closed-head injury and permanent brain damage

  • Macon County: $800,000 wrongful death verdict in case involving throat cancer

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    Birth Injury - Brain Damage - Perinatal Asphyxia

    NCLW Trial Reports 1996

    Medical Malpractice

    Birth Injury - Brain Damage - Perinatal Asphyxia

    Type of Case: Medical malpractice

    Type of Injuries/Damages: Brain damage and profound mental retardation, with moderate cerebral palsy. Permanent loss of income with lifetime attendant care.

    Age of Plaintiff: Four-years-old at time of trial. Injuries occurred at birth.

    Court/Case No.: Whitfield, GAL, et al. v. Snipes, et al.; Cumberland County Superior Court

    Awarded/Settled: Tried

    Date Case Concluded: December 13, 1988

    Judge or Jury: Jury

    Name of Judge: F. Gordon Battle

    Amount: $3,533,000, consisting of $3,500,000 for guardian, $33,000 for father.

    Highest Pre-Verdict Offer: $350,000

    Insurance Carrier: Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina

    Attorney(s) for Plaintiff: Wade E. Byrd and H. Dolph Berry, BERRY & BYRD, Fayetteville

    Other Useful Information: The father waived all recovery in favor of guardian except for past medical expenses and loss of services. Child never brought into courtroom, used day-in-the-life movie. Primary issue was causation. Plaintiffs contended brain damage due to asphyxia. Defendants contended brain damage due to a Torch infection in utero.

    Due to a multitude of factors, plaintiffs decided to settle with the defendant hospital for $50,000 prior to their presentation of evidence. It was the opinion of plaintiffs that hospital's negligence amounted to a small percentage of negligence committed, and it was also felt by plaintiffs if any defendant's presence were to reduce the amount of the verdict, it would be that of the local county hospital.

    Prejudgment interest raised the total value of the verdict to $3,900,000.