Personal Injury Law

Birth injury verdict thrown out after jury was allegedly unfairly influenced

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

A $14 million medical malpractice verdict in favor of a boy who was brain damaged during birth has been tossed by a New York appellate court based on the defense's allegations that the jury was unfairly influenced by both the plaintiffs and the judge. The defense claimed that the judge clearly favored the plaintiffs and that she also acted inappropriately when she gave gifts to the brain damaged boy and the jurors during the holidays. The jury's verdict was announced at a much smaller figure but after the trial two jurors told the plaintiff's attorney that they had intended that amount to be annual. After hearing the plaintiff's side, the judge amended the award to $14 million. This settlement was thrown out and a new trial will be held because during the time after the initial verdict, the plaintiffs' attorney communicated with jurors outside of the courtroom. The attorney's actions could be considered professional malpractice.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on January 08, 2008 (boomark / email).