$6.07 Million Jury Verdict Entered in Failure to Treat Preeclampsia That Resulted in Mother's Death

Karla Fountaine received prenatal care from a general practitioner, the defendant Dr. Cheryl Gill. At the time, she was 34 years old. During her pregnancy, she developed gestational diabetes.

When she began bleeding and suffering from increased blood pressure and headache, she was admitted to a hospital but shortly thereafter she was sent home. At 34 weeks gestation, she was readmitted to the hospital with continuing headaches and spiking blood pressure. She passed out in the hospital. An obstetrician delivered her baby.

Fountains suffered brain damage and subsequently died after the birth of her child. She was a former auto worker who had been retraining for another position. She was survived by her husband, an infant son and two other minor children.

Her husband, individually and on behalf of her family and estate, sued Dr. Gill and her medical practice claiming that she chose not to diagnose and treat preeclampsia. Among other things, the lawsuit maintained that Dr. Gill failed to refer Fountaine to an obstetrician or to come to the hospital after nurses advised her of her dangerous symptoms.

The jury’s verdict was entered at $6.07 million, which included $2.15 million in future lost income. The attorney skillfully representing the Fountaine family was Dwight D. Brannon.

Fountaine v. Gill, No. 2013-CV-06873 (Ohio Court Common Pleas, Montgomery County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling birth trauma injury cases, wrongful death case, medical malpractice cases and physician negligence cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including River Grove, Rosemont, Schiller Park, Schaumburg, Tinley Park, Antioch, St. Charles, Berwyn, Waukegan, ion, Hinsdale, Wheaton, Naperville, Chicago (Lincoln Park, Garfield Park, Jackson Park, North Lawndale), Lansing and Lynwood, Ill.