$4 Million Awarded in Wrongful Death Suit

The family of a Florida woman who died during childbirth was awarded a verdict of $4 million in her wrongful death lawsuit.

The medical malpractice suit was filed by the surviving family of Wendy Leigh Jackson and blamed physicians at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for her untimely death which occurred as a result of an artery that ruptured during childbirth.  Jackson died a mere 16 hours after her son was born.

According to court documents, the doctors at the hospital were all aware of the results of an ultrasound that showed that Jackson had bleeding around her kidneys, but did not take action until it was too late.

Amazingly, the defendants submitted the argument that Jackson was partially to blame for her own death based on “contributory negligence”, but the jury rejected this theory.  The settlement is to be divided between Jackson’s son and her widow.

Victims of medical malpractice often think they are capable of filing their own lawsuit without the help of a medical lawyer.  This case is a good example of how the defense can spin theories and creative arguments that may or may not damage the plaintiff’s case.  This is why it’s critical to have an experienced medical attorney on your side.