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$15.9 Million Jury Verdict for the Negligent Handling of Acute Vasculitis Resulting in Amputations

Stephanie Hollingsworth, 26, suffered from lupus and bilateral arm and leg pain. She was admitted to a hospital’s cardiac care unit where she was diagnosed as having acute vasculitis secondary to Sjogren’s syndrome, an immune system disorder.

The rheumatologist assigned to her care was Dr. Yvonne Sherrer, who ordered a STAT dermatology consultation and a skin biopsy, which showed necrotizing vasculitis. Hollingsworth, who was taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, developed a foot drop. Neurological assessments showed abnormalities of her lower extremities.

Dr. Sherrer transferred her to another facility three days later. Staff at this hospital administered Cytoxan for her necrotizing vasculitis on or around the third day of that admission.

Her condition improved for a while but later deteriorated to the point that she required amputation of parts of her fingers, nine toes and part of her left foot due to gangrene.
Hollingsworth sued Dr. Sherrer alleging that she negligently treated vasculitis by choosing not to timely prescribe Cytoxan and chose not to timely communicate with the second hospital about the diagnosis, which further delayed giving the drug Cytoxan.

The jury’s verdict in favor of Stephanie Hollingsworth was for $15.9 million.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case were Scott P. Schlesinger, Crane Johnstone, Peter J. Sonera, Jr. and Paul M. Silva.

Hollingsworth v. Holy Cross Hospital, Inc., No. 11-002290 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Broward County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling radiology errors, hospital negligence lawsuits, physician negligence 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 Long Grove, Bedford Park, Calumet City, Crestwood, Forest Park, Summit, Glenview, Northbrook, Rolling Meadows, Mundelein, River Forest, Oak Lawn, Crete, Chicago Heights, South Barrington, Barrington Hills, Arlington Heights, Hillside, Inverness, Matteson, Lyons, Lynwood, Oak Forest, North Riverside, Tinley Park, Chicago (Albany Park, Andersonville, Lakeview, Humboldt Park, Horner Park, Roscoe Village, South Chicago, Hyde Park, Edgewater, Edgebrook, Bueno Park, Little Italy, Lithuanian Plaza), Maywood, Skokie, Rolling Meadows and Markham, Ill.

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