$2.4 Million Jury Verdict for Negligent Induction of Labor

Talanda Blevins, 38, was admitted to a hospital for an induction of labor. She was attended by obstetrician Dr. James Holzhauer. During her labor, her uterus ruptured, resulting in fetal distress.

Dr. Holzhauer performed a cesarean section, during which it was alleged that Dr. Holzhauer lacerated the patient’s bladder.

She suffered significant blood loss while in recovery, and this was reported to Dr. Holzhauer.

Dr. Holzhauer later returned Blevins to the operating room for exploratory surgery. However, she continued to suffer blood loss, necessitating a third procedure to repair her lacerated cervix.

When the bleeding failed to stop, the doctor performed a total abdominal hysterectomy, and another doctor performed additional surgery to repair her bladder and damaged ureters. Blevins had been a store clerk earning an hourly wage, but she is now unable to return to work due to her continued pain, lifting restrictions, urinary incontinence, and inability to stand for long stretches of time.

Blevins sued Dr. Holzhauer alleging that he induced labor before the baby had descended to her pelvis, he chose not to timely repair her bladder and the uterine rupture, failed to ensure hemostasis before closure in the surgeries, and chose not to timely respond to notifications regarding her severe loss of blood while she was in recovery.

The jury signed a verdict for more than $2.4 million. Because of the state’s medical malpractice cap law, Blevins’s non-economic damages were reduced wherein the trial court entered judgment against Dr. Holzhauer for more than $1.7 million.

The attorneys successfully representing Talanda Blevins in this case were Charles M. Merkel III and Kenneth Mayfield.

Blevins v. Holzhauer, No. 2016-0027-CVIK (Miss Cir. Ct. Lowndes County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling birth trauma injury lawsuits, maternal injury lawsuits, brain damage injury 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 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Stickney, Worth, Palos Heights, LaGrange, Western Springs, Countryside, Country Club Hills, Elmhurst, Bensenville, Elk Grove Village, Chicago (Mont Clare, Galewood, Hermosa, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Pilsen, Englewood, Chatham, Grand Crossing, Woodlawn), Bensenville, Wood Dale, Palatine and Arlington Heights, Ill.