June 17, 2004 - Jury Awards $1.75 Million for Wrongful Death
A Baltimore County jury has awarded $1.75 million to the family of a woman who died of a pulmonary embolism after undergoing bladder suspension surgery at St. Joseph Medical Center.
According to the complaint, Erma Joyce Pasquinelli, 59, had a history of phlebitis and despite doctors' orders, the nurses failed to put sequential compression stockings on her legs to reduce the risk of clotting. They also failed to get Pasquinelli up and walking around after surgery. She died four days after surgery when a blood clot broke off and traveled to her lungs.
Attorneys representing the Towson hospital called Monday's verdict disappointing and said they are looking into grounds for an appeal. They say the jury couldn't get beyond the sympathy they felt for this family in viewing the facts. The jury also didn't know that the doctors had reached a confidential settlement with the family prior to the trial. The jury didn't even know the doctors had been sued.
After the six-day trial before Baltimore County Circuit Judge Ruth A. Jakubowski, the jury awarded $500,000 to Pasquinelli's estate, $500,000 to her husband and $250,000 to each of their three adult children.
The information and materials on this Web site are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. We attempt to provide quality information, but the law changes frequently and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The information and materials provided are general in nature, and may not apply to a specific factual or legal circumstance. An attorney and client relationship should not be implied. Nothing on this Web site is intended to substitute for the advice of an attorney, therefore if you require legal advice please consult with a competent attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. All attorneys, unless otherwise noted in website, are not certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization. See Terms of Use.