Florida Jury Awards $4 Million in Birth Injury Case

A Florida jury awarded $4 million to the family of an 11-year-old girl who suffered brain damage at birth as the result of a several hour delay in securing an operating room at the hospital.

The lawsuit was filed by the parents of Jordan Preshong Brown, who developed cerebral palsy after suffering from brain damage.  According to the lawsuit, Jordan's mother was carrying twins when she was admitted to the hospital with premature contractions. Shortly after she was admitted, one of the twins died in utero, causing Jordan to go into premature distress.

The lawsuit alleges that Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach was negligent in causing Jordan to develop cerebral palsy and mental retardation because the hospital couldn't secure an operating room for the Cesarean section until several hours after it was needed.  As a result, Jordan's brain was deprived of oxygen, causing permanent brain damage.

The hospital maintains that Jordan's condition was caused by her premature delivery, not the hospital's negligence.  The jury disagreed.  Good Samaritan Hospital, Inc. was found liable for the birth injury and ordered to pay $4 million in damages.

Cerebral palsy is a life-long disability that affects movement control and muscle coordination.

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