Jamie M. Trapp

Chicago-area mom, expecting her first child, was admitted to a suburban Chicago hospital. During labor, the doctor ordered Pitocin, which is a drug used to stimulate contractions in order to move the labor process along. Excessive amounts of Pitocin, administered contrary to the hospital's own policies, were administered by the nurses. It was alleged that the doctor failed to monitor the amount of Pitocin given to the mother. The baby was born brain damaged and requires lifelong 24-hour care. Shortly after filing the lawsuit, the hospital and doctor offered $12 million to settle the case. This money will be used to take care of the child and give her as full a life as possible under the circumstances.

$10,000,000 — Misread ultrasound results in brain injury to newborn

First-time mom was ecstatic to learn she was having twins. A routine ultrasound taken just prior to her due date showed that the twins were in fetal distress and emergency procedures needed to be undertaken. The radiologist misread the ultrasound noting it was normal. One of the infants was stillborn at birth and the other infant suffered profound brain damage until the time of his death at the age of 7. The hospital and doctor settled the case for $10 million.