Gurnee Family Awarded $29.1 Million Chicago Birth Injury Verdict Over Son’s Cerebral Palsy and Quadriplegia
The family of Christian Arroyo has been awarded a $29.1 million Chicago, Illinois medical malpractice verdict against the federal government. Arroyo, 6, has cerebral palsy and is a quadriplegic.
Arroyo was born in May 2003 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. According to the plaintiffs, Arroyo’s mother Maria developed an infection before she went into labor and her water broke early. The Arroyo family says that even though the newborn displayed signs that he was suffering from an infection, doctors failed to treat him. This allowed the infection to enter his bloodstream, causing permanent brain damage. Now, Christian is a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy who is unable to talk, walk, or eat with his mouth.
The family filed its Chicago cerebral palsy lawsuit against the US government because the doctors that delivered Arroyo were employed by the Erie Family Health Center, a Chicago clinic that is federally funded. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, injured parties can sue the federal government. A judge, not a jury decides these cases. The verdict will be offset by the $6.5 million Chicago birthing malpractice lawsuit reached between the plaintiffs and the hospital last year.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition that leaves a child with serious issues affecting movement and muscle coordination. When caused by the negligent or careless actions of a medical professional during birth, the family may be entitled to receive Chicago medical malpractice compensation involving injuries to a minor.
Living with cerebral palsy can be extremely challenging for a child, who may not be able to speak, move, or eat properly. Mental retardation can also occur. Cerebral palsy can be costly to live with, which is one reason why it is important that your family receive all of the personal injury compensation that your child is owed.
Family awarded $29M for quadriplegic child, Chicago Sun-Times, April 6, 2010
Gurnee family wins $29.1 million in medical malpractice lawsuit, Daily Herald, April 1, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Cerebral palsy, KidsHealth.org
Forms of Cerebral Palsy, Origins of Palsy
Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago
