$6.5 Million Structured Settlement Reached in Negligent Intubation Lawsuit

Clara Roman was born prematurely. Several months after her delivery, she was admitted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center to undergo repair of an inguinal hernia.

A week after the surgery, Clara’s parents returned her to the hospital for treatment of a recurrent bulge. The anesthesiologist, Dr. William Rahal, intubated Clara in preparation for emergency surgery. That surgery was later canceled.

While still under the anesthesiologist’s care, Clara suffered oxygen deprivation, which resulted in a severe brain injury.

Clara is now 7 years old. She is blind, mostly nonverbal, and has profound neurological deficits, including seizures.

Clara and her parents sued Dr. Rahal, his medical group, and the hospital, alleging negligent intubation.

The Roman family asserted that Dr. Rahal had placed the tube too deeply into Clara’s throat, preventing sufficient oxygenation.

The defendants denied liability and argued that Clara’s injuries resulted from her prematurity and bacterial infection.

The parties agreed to a structured settlement totaling $6.5 million.

The attorneys who handled this case for the Roman family were Robert Adinolfi and Peter Chamas.

Roman v. Rahal, No. MON-L-4550-13 (N.J. Super. Ct. Monmouth County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling birth trauma injury lawsuits, traumatic brain injury lawsuits, labor and delivery negligence cases, anesthesiologist negligence lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones 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 Lyons, North Riverside, Franklin Park, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, River Grove, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Northfield, Highwood, Olympia Fields, Lincolnshire, Kildeer, Palatine, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Skokie, Chicago (Logan Square, Avondale, Lakeview, South Shore, Sauganash, West Town, McKinley Park, East Hyde Park, Jackson Park Highlands, Greater Grand Crossing, Chatham, Burnside, Washington Heights, West Morgan Park, Auburn Gresham, Ukrainian Village, Archer Heights), Stickney, Berwyn, Brookfield, Rosemont, Maywood and Winnetka, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.