$5 Million Jury Verdict for Stage 4 Bed Sore and Wrongful Death

Ellis Mae Reed, 72, had a history of significant health problems that included diabetes and vascular disease. After she developed a blood clot, she was admitted to Jackson Hospital. For five days, she remained bedridden. She developed sepsis and was moved to the facility’s critical care unit, where she was diagnosed as having a Stage 4 pressure sore on her sacrum; staff administered three debridements and hospice care.

Reed unfortunately died approximately three months after her Jackson Hospital admission. She is survived by her 12 adult children.

Reed’s son, on behalf of her estate, sued the hospital, alleging that it chose not to turn and reposition her during the first five days of her hospital admission, which was the method that should have been used to prevent her pressure sore. The Reed family also alleged that the medical chart contained false entries.

The jury signed a verdict, and judgment was entered in the amount of $5 million.

The attorneys handling this case were D. Brett Turnbull and Andrew J. Moak.

At trial, the Reed family attorneys presented experts in nursing and infectious disease.

The defendants presented experts in nursing and wound care.

Reed v. Jackson Hospital and Clinic, Inc., No. CV-15-901730 (Ala. Cir. Ct. Montgomery County, June 14, 2019).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling nursing home negligence lawsuits, bed sore injury lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, wrongful death cases and birth trauma injury 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 Highland Park, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Algonquin, Carpentersville, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, Carol Stream, Lombard, Downers Grove, Countryside, Bridgeview, Naperville, Aurora, St. Charles, Geneva, South Elgin, Lockport, Lemont, Long Grove, Blue Island, Calumet City, Lansing, Plainfield, Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Crystal Lake, Cary, Woodstock, Wonder Lake, McHenry, Grayslake, Antioch, Winthrop Harbor, Waukegan, Joliet, Lake Forest, Chicago (North Center, Uptown, Lincoln Park, Edgewater, West Rogers Park, Forest Glen, Norwood Park, Jefferson Park, Logan Square, Near West Side, Greek Town, River North, Near North Side, Old Town Triangle, Sheffield Neighbors, Park West, Lakeview East, Wrigleyville, Roscoe Village, Beverly, Lathrop Homes, Streeterville, Near East Side, Little Italy, East Pilsen, Armour Square, Douglas Park, Oakland, Bronzeville, North Kenwood, Hyde Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Jackson Park Highlands), North Riverside, Brookfield, Rosemont, Willow Springs, Justice, Evergreen Park, Calumet Park and Midlothian, Ill.