A Brooklyn Mom Won $62M Compensation Surgery Left Her Without Legs

Stacey Galette, 30, was awarded $62 million in compensation after a seemingly routine surgery caused her to lose both her legs and most of her hearing. The single mother of one from Brooklyn said that even though she had to wait a while, she was just happy that justice was served to compensate her for her amputations and the consequent suffering.

How Galette Lost Her Legs to Medical Malpractice

In 2009, Galette was scheduled for a routine procedure at Winthrop University Hospital in Long Island for an ectopic pregnancy, which she had believed would just be an in-and-out type of hospital visit. Instead, the doctors punctured her intestines during the procedure, which led to infection and blood poisoning, causing gangrene in her legs. Both her legs had to be amputated, and she also lost most of her hearing.

But Galette was not aware of the amputation until she woke up from a coma in the ICU after three weeks. Her family was present to deliver the awful news to her. She filed a lawsuit at Brooklyn Supreme Court in 2010, and her lawyer said that the double amputation below the knee had left his client unable to walk. Galette now uses prosthetics and a wheelchair to get around her daily life in NYC with her 10-year-old daughter.

Galette won the case after a trial of 12 weeks. A New York jury ordered Winthrop University Hospital to pay $62 million to Galette - $20 million for the pain she experienced, $38 million for the pain and suffering that she would have to endure for the rest of her life, and $4 million for her medical expenses. 

Winthrop, on the other hand, denied that they or their doctors had anything to do with medical negligence or Galette's current condition. According to the hospital, Galette's surgery was complicated, and their doctors had limited time to respond to the complications that arose, but they managed to save her life, albeit leaving her disabled. The jury, however, concluded that the hospital had made mistakes. After deliberation of three days, Galette won the case with a $62 million compensation for the loss of her limbs due to medical malpractice.

Galette's second lawyer said she was glad that the court decided to award her the money that would help her spend the rest of her life without more troubles because if Galette could turn back the clock, she wouldn't hesitate to do so.

The Legal Aspect

Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in NYC requires the services of an experienced medical malpractice lawyer who has handled cases similar to yours before. Medical negligence is a serious issue that leaves the victims disabled for life, both physically and financially.

If you or a loved one of yours has fallen victim to medical malpractice in NYC, you have the option to file a lawsuit with the help of an experienced medical negligence lawyer. Only a professional medical malpractice attorney with hands-on experience will help you get the justice you deserve. Get in touch with us today by calling us at 212-344-1000. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with us today!