Birth Injury Case Settles for $7.5 Million

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp. will pay $7.5 million to the family of a 9-year-old girl who was permanently disabled as a result of alleged medical malpractice during her birth at Chicago’s Christ Medical Center. The 2009 birth injury lawsuit, filed by the girl’s grandparents and legal guardians, alleged that the medical center staff was slow to respond to indications of fetal distress before the birth of Elliana Tribble.

According to the family’s attorney, Tribble suffered oxygen deprivation for an extended period of time because of the staff's delay, and developed brain damage and eventually cerebral palsy as a result. Though they agreed to settle the case, the Christ Church Medical Center does not admit that doctors or other staff committed malpractice during Tribble’s birth. 

Tribble is extremely limited in her physical movement and needs daily assistance to complete basic functions. Reportedly, her family plans to use some of the settlement money to buy a motorized wheelchair she can control through head movements and to widen the doorways of their home.

When a newborn is injured at birth due to the negligence of another individual or entity, the child’s family may have legal recourse to seek monetary damages. Birth defects are the leading cause of death in infants.

If your child has suffered from a birth injury, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, lost wages, future treatment expenses and pain and suffering.  To find out if you qualify, contact a birth injury attorney for a free case review. Contact us today for a free, no-risk case evaluation.