Johnson & Bell Shareholder, Gregory E. Schiller, and Attorney, Margaret A. Connery, obtained a defense verdict in favor of their hospital client. The two-week trial took place in DuPage County.
In this dispute, plaintiff entered the hospital with high blood pressure and a severe headache. He was treated by various physicians, but suffered a stroke in the hospital 20 hours after his admission. The stroke left the plaintiff unable to walk without assistance, as well as other disabilities. Plaintiff alleged that an improper diagnosis was made, the wrong medications were ordered and that the nurses improperly titrated those medications. The defense countered that the proper diagnoses were made and the stroke occurred in the hospital despite appropriate care rendered by the physicians and nurses.
At closing, the plaintiff’s attorney asked the jury for $9.5 million. After 90 minutes of deliberations, the jury returned with a verdict for the defense.