$16 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Timely Handle Cesarean Section Delivery

At 31 weeks gestation, Linnoska Correa had a prenatal visit with obstetrician Dr. Luis Pardo Toro. Correa’s blood pressure during the visit was 136/86 mm Hg, which was appreciably higher than other blood pressure readings during her pregnancy.

The next day, Correa complained of severe stomach pain. She was admitted to the hospital HIMA-San Pablo in Puerto Rico where she was diagnosed as having severe preeclampsia. She was given antibiotics and magnesium sulfate.

Two days later, Correa’s daughter was delivered by cesarean section. The Apgar scores at the time of delivery were 7 at one minute and 8 at five minutes. Correa’s daughter, who is now 8, suffers from severe neurological injuries and quadriplegia, which necessitates 24-hour care daily.

Correa, on behalf of her daughter, filed suit against the hospital and Dr. Pardo Toro, alleging they chose not to identify a dangerous uterine environment and perform a timely cesarean section.

The Correa family asserted that Correa’s continuing stomach pain and deteriorating fetal monitor tracings were a sign of a placental abruption that warranted an earlier delivery.

Dr. Pardo Toro settled confidentially before trial. However, the jury signed a verdict for $16 million as to the remaining defendants.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case for the Correa family were David Efron and Carmen Santiago.

The expert for the Correa family was Dr. Barry Schifrin, a specialist in maternal fetal medicine.

Correa-Carrillo v. CMT HIMA-San Pablo Fajardo Inc., No. 17-2253 (D.P.R.)

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling obstetrician negligence lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, birth trauma injury lawsuits, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy lawsuits, birth trauma lawsuits and medical negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 45 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Plainfield, Addison, Morton Grove, Skokie, Northfield, Arlington Heights, Melrose Park, Bellwood, Berkeley, Oak Lawn, River Forest, Park Forest, Forest Park, Crestwood, Midlothian, South Holland, Orland Park, Chicago (McKinley Park, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Little Italy, North Lawndale, West Loop, West Town, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, South Austin, Lincoln Park, Belmont Central), Franklin Park, Hillside, Oakbrook Terrace, Westchester, LaGrange, Burr Ridge and Tinley Park, Illinois.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.