Illinois Malpractice Verdicts | Malpractice Settlement Value

2022 – Illinois

A 42-year-old man suffered flank pain. He was admitted for acute cholecystitis. The man underwent a cholecystectomy. He suffered multiple post-operative complications, including an intra-abdominal infection, septic shock, and abdominal compartment syndrome. The man alleged negligence against the hospital. He claimed its staff failed to monitor him over 12 days, recognize sepsis signs and symptoms, order a CT scan, appreciate intra-abdominal infection signs, and timely perform surgery. The man received a $49,550,000 verdict.

$49,550,000 – Verdict

2022 – Illinois

A 100-year-old woman took three-milligram Warfarin tablets instead of one-milligram ones. She developed respiratory distress, supratherapeutic anticoagulation, dysphagia, and acalculous cholecystitis. The woman died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Her family alleged negligence against the doctor who prescribed Warfarin. They claimed he prescribed a high dose and failed to manage and monitor the deceased’s intake. The Cook County jury awarded $1,365,000.

$1,365,000 – Verdict

2022 – Illinois

A man with rickets fell. He suffered bilateral hand and foot numbness and tingling and spinal cord compression. He underwent a cervical laminectomy and fusion. The man suffered permanent kyphosis and limited neck mobility. He could neither look up nor extend his neck. The man required a straw for drinking. He alleged negligence against the surgeon. The man claimed he improperly placed screws that were too short, failed to assess his cervical area, and failed to provide post-surgical follow-up. A jury awarded $2,000,000.

$2,000,000 – Verdict

2022 – Illinois

A 59-year-old woman suffered a product cough, chills, nausea, and a low-grade fever. She presented to the ER. The woman received an upper respiratory infection diagnosis. She was discharged. The woman’s condition worsened. She returned to the ER. The woman was diagnosed with MRSA. She developed sepsis, bacteremia, and multi-organ failure. The woman died from her injuries. Her family alleged negligence against the hospital. They failed to rule out a MRSA infection and appreciate her frequent exposure to the infection. The jury awarded $8,050,000.

$8,050,000 – Verdict

2021 – Illinois

A woman underwent a mammogram. The radiologist interpreted the results as normal. One year later, the woman received a Stage III breast cancer diagnosis. She underwent bilateral mastectomies, radiation, and chemotherapy. The woman’s life expectancy was reduced. She alleged negligence against the radiologist. The woman claimed he failed to properly interpret her mammogram, examine her breast lump, perform an ultrasound, and provide accurate medical advice. A jury awarded $6,528,000.

$6,528,000 – Verdict  

2020 – Illinois

30-year-old woman presented to the hospital with chest pain. She diagnosed with microscopic hematuria based on a urine test and sent her home with medication. Five days later, the chest pain and tachycardia came back and she was given different medication without further testing. Nineteen days later she died of a rare blood clot disorder (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). Her estate alleged that both medical providers failed to order several tests that would have diagnosed her condition early enough to prevent her death.

$2,375,000 – Settlement

2020 – Illinois

Pain management doctor was accused of negligently administering a steroid injection in a patient’s neck. The injection punctured the dural and ultimately caused the patient’s death. The defense argued that there was no evidence of causation.

$734,000 – Verdict

2020 – Illinois

Plaintiff suffered rhabdomyolysis (a rare condition that causes muscle breakdown) from interaction between 2 different cholesterol drugs. She sued the doctor for negligent prescribing and Walgreens for negligently dispensing.

$600,906 – Verdict

2019 – Illinois

Decedent, female in her early 70s, went to ER with symptoms of pneumonia. Radiologist noted a potentially cancerous “abnormality” on the chest x-ray, but no evidence of pneumonia so she was sent home. A year later she was diagnosed with lung cancer, but by then it was already terminal and she died soon after. Her estate sued the doctors for failing to diagnose her cancer at the ER visit.

$12,000,000 – Verdict

2018 – Illinois

Woman came to the hospital at 37 weeks pregnant after her water broke. Fetal heart strips showing warning signs, but her OB/GYN sent her home after only talking to her on the phone. 4 days later she was rushed back for an emergency C-section. Her son suffered oxygen deprivation and was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy.

$48,195,000 – Settlement

2017 – Illinois

A woman underwent cataract surgery. She suffered a left eye injury when it leaked after the hospital staff removed her stitches. The woman sued her ophthalmologist for prematurely removing her stitches. The ophthalmologist admitted negligence but denied the extent of the injury.

$800,000 – Verdict

2016 – Illinois

A 36-year-old woman died of cardiac arrest after surgeon negligently cut an artery during a hysterectomy procedure. Warning signs of internal bleeding were not discovered until it was too late.

$5,008,921 – Verdict

2014 – Illinois

A 35-year-old woman is recovering from a tracheostomy procedure. A nurse dislodged her trachea tube while giving her a bath, causing acidosis, brain damage, and cardiac arrest. The patient later died as a result of the botched bed-bath.

$3,000,000 – Settlement

2014 – Illinois

Patient suffers a fatal pulmonary embolism shortly after undergoing a hysterectomy procedure. Her family sues for wrongful death alleging the doctors failed to recognize the symptoms of the blood clot and take preventive measure. The defense argued that the decedent made the blood clot more likely by refusing a blood transfusion on religious grounds.

$2,747,768 – Verdict