SI Cerebral Palsy Teen Won $100M Lawsuit Against Hospital

When Stephanie Debes and her twin sister, Amanda, were born prematurely, they had no idea that the life of one of them would be eons away from the other despite them being twins. The family won a $100 million medical malpractice lawsuit in 2012 against the hospital where the twins were born. Stephanie was a teenager at the time the court announced the verdict. 

The Incident

When Stephanie and Amanda's mother, Catherine Debes, experienced premature labor pain three months before the babies were due, St. Vincent's Medical Center did not admit her immediately. Instead, they sent her home with Benadryl, said Rob Debes, the twins' father. The premature delivery could have been prevented had the hospital administered proper care, according to the family.

The premature birth, although resulting in a perfectly healthy Amanda Debes, gave Stephanie Debes a brain injury that resulted in cerebral palsy. The condition caused Stephanie to spend a lonely life as she grew. She didn’t have many friends. 

There’s no cure for cerebral palsy, and Stephanie was bound to live with the condition for a lifetime. She is bedridden and entirely dependent on her parents. Her parents got some relief when the court awarded the family $100 million in damages against the hospital's mishandling of the delivery.

The whopping lawsuit win was the talk of the town in Staten Island where the family lives. The court found the hospital guilty of $17 million in past suffering and $60 million for future suffering. The court also awarded payment for future medical expenses and lost wages, bringing the total payout to approximately $103 million.

The attorney representing St. Vincent's said that the estimate should have been much less than $100 million, emphasizing the baby was exceptionally premature and that the hospital staff aptly and professionally managed the delivery. There was no negligence on the part of the hospital in managing the premature delivery, he added. 

Despite the staggering amount awarded, the payout would still be limited to insurance coverage since St. Vincent's filed bankruptcy in 2010. 

NYC records dozens of medical malpractice incidents during childbirth each year. These incidents cause the deaths of many newborns and leave others severely injured and even paralyzed for life. These incidents are mentally and emotionally traumatic for the parents, especially for the mothers who experience physical trauma as well. It makes sense to press medical malpractice charges against the responsible hospitals, nurses, and doctors for mishandling childbirths. 

The Legal Aspect

In case you have suffered from medical malpractice in NYC, you should consult a medical malpractice attorney to get legal guidance for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. We believe that every individual deserves the best medical and health care, and we ensure that they receive damages for the suffering they have experienced from a lack thereof. 

A medical negligence lawyer who has experience in cases similar to yours can file a strong lawsuit and gather and present evidence to support your case. Contact a competent medical malpractice lawyer in NYC now to discuss your case and determine whether it makes sense to file a lawsuit.  Get in touch with us today by calling us at 212-344-1000. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with us today!