On April 27, 2022, a jury in Weld County, Colorado awarded the firm’s clients $27.6 million in damages due to a nurse’s negligence, which caused a 3 day old baby to develop severe neurological deficits and cerebral palsy.
Carina Gresser was born a healthy baby girl at Banner Health’s North Colorado Medical Center. Unbeknownst to her parents or her doctors, she contracted an e. coli infection during the birth process. After about a day, she started showing signs of sepsis, which is a progression of the infection. A nurse knew that the baby was starting to show the signs of infection, but she never notified a doctor. Mrs. Gresser even ran out to the nurses’ station twice to report to this nurse that Baby Carina had stopped breathing and gone limp, and the nurse still failed to act.
A new nurse came on shift, and when she came to examine Baby Carina she knew something was wrong. She did her job the right way – she immediately called the doctor on call. 53 minutes later, Baby Carina was rushed to the NICU where antibiotics were started. The antibiotics were started in time to keep her alive, but they were too late to prevent permanent brain damage.
Baby Carina is now a beautiful 4.5 year old girl with intermediate cerebral palsy. She does not yet speak, but she’s working on it! She’s also starting to learn some independence, though she will always need around-the-clock care.
After a three week trial, in which firm partner Zachary L. Wool had a leading role, the jury of six awarded Carina Gresser $2,517,274.23 in past medical expenses, $1,200,000 in wages she will never be able to earn because she will never be able to work, and $23,930,000 for her future medical care.
The well baby unit of the hospital is supposed to by the happiest place in the world. Most of the time, those working there are the best, and they do their jobs the right way. However, in instances where they do not, the consequences can be devastating. If you or a loved on suffered injuries during the birthing process, contact Zachary L. Wool for a review of the medical records to see if you have any legal recourse.