A woman from Webster Parish, Louisiana has been awarded $24.2 million in damages in a malpractice suit filed in Jefferson Parish. The jury sided with her, finding that her son’s brain damage was caused by a malfunctioning pump two years ago when he had heart surgery at Ochsner Clinic Foundation.
Ty’Kevion Kidd, son of Tyronglia Willis, was three years old when he underwent heart surgery, in March 2005. The pump, which was manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and Hospira Inc., failed and delivered epinephrine, an adrenaline drug, which triggered cardiac arrest.
Ty’Kevion was examined in court in front of the jury, who decided that $20 million was necessary for his future medical expenses. The jurors also found that the companies involved were responsible for 65 percent of the damages, for a total of $15.7 million. When Ochsner admitted liability in 2007 and paid $100,000 to the victims, the Louisiana Patients Fund became involved and is responsible for 35 percent of the total award, or $8.5 million.
The jury found that Abbott and Hospira failed to meet the warranty provision of their contact with Ochsner, which was the original defendant in the case. Richard Breland, the Hospira service representative, was also dismissed as a defendant before the trial started.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. Medical products in particular are expected to work properly, and when they fail, they can cause great harm to the patients using them. Further medical harm from supposedly safe medical devices also causes emotional distress for patients and their families, and can even put several people in the position of losing time at work or losing their jobs. You will need financial help to get through these difficult times. Please contact the experienced attorneys at Strom Law, LLC, today. We offer free consultations to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800.
