Medical Malpractice: Brain Damage
VERDICT: $13,179,029 ($2,967,520 Present Value)

Plaintiff, then a 30 year old female, went to Inter-community Hospital Emergency Room complaining of severe headache and forgetfulness. Emergency room physician consulted defendant neurologist (Rosenberg) who did CAT-Scan revealing marked increase in intracranial pressure ("hydrocephalus"). Rosenberg consulted neurosurgeon (defendant Reynolds) at midnight. Issue was whether she could wait until morning. Decision made that patient could wait until morning for surgery. One hour later, while in ICU, she suffered sudden increase in intracranial pressure ("herniation of brain") resulting in coma. Neurosurgeon then came in to do surgery. Patient survived with severe brain damage.