Nevada Medical Malpractice Settlement Amounts

Nevada’s medical malpractice reform in 2004 is leading to another problem: Nevada medical malpractice cases with doctors who are refusing to settle cases. The Nevada Supreme Court in Las Vegas is looking to take matters into their own hands to avoid the backlog of medical malpractice lawsuits: a “settlement marathon.”

Two judges will be assigned to conduct 18 malpractice settlement conferences per week on malpractice cases currently pending in Clark County District Court, to try to reduce the 400 pending medical malpractice lawsuits.

Nevada Medical Malpractice Verdicts and Settlements

2020, Nevada: $133,000 Settlement. A 50-something man suffered acute gallstone pancreatitis. He presented to the ER. The man was prescribed Clindamycin. He developed sepsis. The man died from his injuries. His family alleged negligence against the ER physician. They claimed he negligently prescribed Clindamycin. This case settled for $133,000.
2019, Nevada: $10,404,423 Verdict. A 38-year-old man experienced right wrist pain. He presented to a hand surgeon. The man was diagnosed with a scaphoid fracture. His physician recommended revision surgery. The man underwent a scaphoid excision instead. His symptoms worsened. The man sustained severe emotional distress, pain and suffering, and anxiety. He alleged negligence against the hand surgeon. The man claimed he misdiagnosed him with a scaphoid fracture, misrepresented the procedure, and failed to receive his informed consent. He received a $10,404,423 verdict.
2019, Nevada: $13,640,480 Verdict. A woman underwent a laparoscopic-assisted hernia repair. She developed sepsis. The woman sustained a bilateral foot drop. She underwent a temporary colostomy. The woman alleged negligence against the general surgeon. She claimed he improperly performed the procedure and provided substandard post-operative care. The woman received a $13,640,480 verdict.
2019, Nevada: $104,775 Verdict. A boy suffered a head laceration. He sought treatment at a hospital. The boy experienced complications. His parents alleged that the hospital staff’s negligent medical care caused his injuries. This case settled for $104,775.
2019, Nevada: $1,780,500 Verdict. A man underwent a coronary angiogram. Ten years later, he discovered that the guide wire used in the procedure remained in the thoracic aorta. The man alleged negligence against the heart surgeon. He claimed he failed to properly remove the catheter and identify the guide wire as missing. The man received a $1,780,500 verdict.
2019, Nevada: $5,771,495 Verdict. A 55-year-old woman underwent a hernia repair. Following the procedure, she sustained a gastric perforation. The woman developed an infection. Her blood circulation was compromised. She underwent bilateral foot amputations. The woman alleged negligence against the general surgeon. She claimed he misdiagnosed her condition and negligently performed the hernia repair. The jury awarded $5,771,495.
2019, Nevada: $48,630,000 Verdict. A 29-year-old woman experienced a sickle cell crisis. She presented to the hospital. She developed acute kidney failure and prolonged hyperkalemia. The woman went into cardiac arrest. She died four days later. The woman’s family alleged negligence against the hospital. They claimed its staff failed to properly address her deteriorating condition. The jury awarded $48,630,000.
2017, Nevada: $12,500,000 Verdict. A newborn boy suffered anoxic brain damage and fetal hypoxemia. He developed cerebral palsy. The boy’s mother alleged negligence against the hospital. She claimed its staff prolonged her labor, failed to address a uterine rupture, delayed an emergency C-section, failed to timely intubate her son, and failed to provide brain cooling treatments. The jury awarded $12,500,000.
2017, Nevada: $739,000 Verdict. A 69-year-old man underwent a cholecystectomy. He sustained a perforated bowel and severe necrotic peritonitis. The man developed sepsis. He died several weeks later. The man’s family alleged negligence against the surgeon. They claimed she failed to offer alternative treatments and carefully inspect him after the surgery. The jury awarded $739,000.
2016, Nevada: $650,000 Verdict. A 15-year-old girl underwent a left middle finger mass removal. During the procedure, the orthopedic surgeon placed a tourniquet around the finger. The girl’s finger became discolored. She was discharged without having the discoloration addressed. One month later, the girl underwent a finger amputation. Her family alleged negligence against the orthopedic surgeon. They claimed he negligently used the tourniquet and failed to warn the girl of the amputation risk. The family received $650,000.
2016, Nevada: $7,500,000 Settlement. A newborn sustained hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. He developed seizures. The boy’s mother alleged negligence against the hospital. She claimed its staff failed to address fetal tachycardia, provide antibiotics to treat Group B strep, timely administer IV antibiotics, timely perform a C-section, and timely resuscitate her son. This case settled for $7,500,000.
2015, Nevada: $4,286,300 Verdict. A 20-year-old college football player suffered an L5-S1 injury. He underwent surgery. The surgeon performed a microdiscectomy and laminectomy on his L4-5 disc, which was healthy. Following the procedure, the man suffered severe pain. He alleged negligence against the surgeon. The man claimed he operated on the wrong disc. A jury awarded him $4,286,300.
2014, Nevada: $901,420 Verdict. A 27-year-old woman suffered from uterine fibroids. She underwent a hysterectomy. The woman suffered a post-surgical infection. Her bowels became necrotic and gangrene. The woman underwent additional procedures, including an ileostomy. She alleged negligence against the surgeon. The woman claimed he injured her bowel and failed to timely treat her infection. She received $901,420.