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…medicalmalpracticelawyers.com, $23M Illinois Birth Injury Medical Malpractice Verdict, June 2024
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.
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.