$7.6 Million Jury Verdict in Birth Injury Caused by Negligent Forceps Use

After Mary Hunt was diagnosed as having possible preeclampsia, she was admitted to a hospital for induction of labor. Her treating physician ordered Pitocin and transferred her to an on-call obstetrician, Dr. Larry Clark.

Dr. Clark delivered Mary’s son vaginally using forceps. As a result of the difficult delivery combined with the forceful use of forceps, the baby suffered abrasions to his head, a cephalohematoma, and bleeding within the brain.

The child is now 3 years old and suffers from right-sided hemiplegia, developmental and speech delays as well as vision problems.

The Hunt family sued Dr. Clark and the hospital alleging negligent forceps delivery. Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that Dr. Clark had used excessive force and placed the forceps improperly on the child’s head. In addition, the lawsuit claimed that Dr. Clark had chosen not to obtain consent before using forceps for this difficult delivery.

The jury signed a verdict for approximately $7.6 million.

The attorneys successfully handling this lawsuit for the Hunt family were Roger A. Johnson and Scott Voorhees.

Hunt v. Freeman Health Systems, No. 17AO-CC00332 (Mo. Cir. Ct. Jasper County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling birth trauma injury lawsuits, obstetrician negligence cases, labor and delivery negligence lawsuits, and hospital negligence cases 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 Schaumburg, Vernon Hills, Wheeling, Crystal Lake, Grayslake, Lake Zurich, South Holland, Blue Island, Romeoville, Waukegan, Naperville, Wheaton, Aurora, Western Springs, Chicago (Logan Square, Ukrainian Village, Rogers Park, North Lawndale, Austin, South Shore, Bronzeville, Wrigleyville, Hyde Park), Lansing, Libertyville, Arlington Heights, Orland Park and Palos Hills, Ill.

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