CASE REPORT
(23 MR/1) MEDICAL MALPRACTICE--BABY’S DELIVERY DELAYED DE - SPITE PLACENTAL ABRUPTION (12B) Kiera Campbell, disabled v Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Allison M. Masse, R.N., f/k/a Allison M. Allen, R.N., Dr. Michael Benson, D.O. 08L-50 Tried Mar. 6-23, 2023 VERDICT: $40,000,000 v Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and Allison Masse R.N. ($5,000,000 past disability; $20,000,000 future disability; $750,000 past emotional distress; $4,750,000 future emotional distress; $500,000 past pain & suffering; $5,000,000 future caretaking and medical expenses; $4,000,000 future loss of earnings/benefits); Not Guilty v Dr. Michael Benson.
Michael F. Bonamarte IV Michael F. Bonamarte IV is a skilled and passionate attorney who has achieved out - standing results in a number of high-profile nursing home, wrongful death, medical mal - practice and personal injury cases. His com - mitment to his clients is rooted in a family legacy of love of the law and meaningful ser - vice to those in need, with a special respect and admiration for the elders that our soci - ety so often fails to honor. He joined Levin & Perconti as an associate attorney in August 2005. In March 2014, he was named Partner, and in 2021, Managing Partner.
JUDGE: Mark E. Bovard (IL, Coles 5th Jud Cir)
PLTF ATTY(S): Michael F. Bonamarte, IV, Seth L. Cardeli, Cari F. Silverman of Levin & Perconti (Chicago, IL), Miranda L. Soucie of Spiros Law (Danville, IL) DEMAND: $8,750,000 ASKED: $35,000,000 - $37,000,000 DEFT ATTY(S): John F. Watson, R. Sean Hocking of Craig & Craig (Mattoon, IL) for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Masse (Pro Assurance) OFFER: $3,000,000 total ; Michael A. Barry, Sommer R. Luzynczyk of Pretzel & Stouffer (Chicago, IL) for Dr. Michael Benson, D.O. PLTF MEDL: Diane Wildrick, A.P.N. (Nursing), Dr. Glen Alward, Ph.D. (Psychologist) PLTF EXPERT(S): Charlotte Daniels, R.N. (Nurse, Obstetric); Dr. Stephen Jones, Tulsa, OK (918-502-4636) (Ob/Gyn); Dr. Craig H. Lichtblau (Rehab/Physi- cal Medicine); Dr. Orlando Carter Snead (Pediatric Neurology); Ronald Missun, Ph.D. (Vocational Economics Analyst); Chris Reyes, C.R.C. of Vocational Eco- nomics Inc., 201 E. Kennedy Blvd., #1609, Tampa, FL (813-532-3111) (Voca- tional Rehabilitation) DEFT EXPERT(S): Dr. Mark Neerhof, D.O. (Maternal & Fetal Medicine); Su- zanne Baird, R.N. of Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics, 7904 E. Chaparral Road, Scottsdale, AZ (Nurse, Obstetric); Dr. Mark S. Scher (Pediatric Neurology); Dr. Joel Meyer (Neuroradiologist); Jeffrey W. Lucas, Ph.D. (Vocational Rehabilita- tion) for all defts Jaime Campbell was 40 weeks into her pregnancy when she woke up around 1:15 a.m. on May 20, 2003, with a pool of blood and a large clot. She was five days past her expected delivery date and had been scheduled to undergo induc- tion of labor later that day. She was transported by ambulance to the Labor & Delivery department at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and arrived at around 1:50 a.m. The triage nurse, deft Allison Masse (f/k/a Allen), documented a large amount of bleeding and clots, cramping, pain level 6/10, and a suspected pla- cental abruption. Initial fetal heart rate monitor strips were reassuring. The on- call obgyn physician, deft Dr. Benson, was at home, so Nurse Masse called him at 2:04 a.m. to report the mother and unborn baby’s condition. Dr. Benson decided to stay home after concluding it was most likely “bloody show” and instructed Masse to clean the patient and call back with updates. From 2:20 to 2:30 a.m., there were no fetal heart tracings. At 2:30 a.m., the fetal monitor strips
Seth L. Cardeli Seth L. Cardeli is a skilled trial attorney rep - resenting families nationwide who have suf - fered from medical negligence and malprac - tice, including children injured during labor and delivery. Seth is well-versed in the many complex legal and medical issues surround - ing birth injury claims. He regularly con - ducts educational seminars for attorneys on the critical aspects of litigation, such as tak - ing depositions and dealing with obstacles to the discovery process. This wealth of knowledge informs Seth’s ad - vocacy and has helped him secure millions of dollars for families all over the country whose loved ones have been seriously or fa - tally injured in preventable tragedies.
JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2024 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 85
Powered by FlippingBook