Top 10 Largest Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Settlements and Verdicts

Patients have a right to ethical, honorable, and proficient medical care under their physicians. Far too often, this is not the case in hospitals across America. Each year, an estimated 210,000 to 440,000 hospital patients suffer a form of negligence or malpractice that contributes to their passing. This makes medical malpractice the third leading cause of death in the entire country.

Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare professional’s negligent actions directly cause harm or injury to a patient. These types of cases can be highly damaging to the patient and can result in life-changing injuries or death. Even seemingly minor injury cases may require a medical malpractice lawsuit to compensate the patient for their losses.

Below are the top ten medical malpractice lawsuit settlements of all time. These shocking cases resulted in significant monetary recovery for victims who wrongly and unjustly suffered.

Medical malpractice can have devastating effects on victims and their families. If you or your loved ones need legal assistance or have more questions about medical malpractice, please call Hodes Milman at (949) 640-8222 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation.

$32.5 Million Settlement After Birth Injury Leads to Lifelong Effects

In 2024, Reading Hospital in Pennsylvania agreed to pay $32.5 million to the family of a boy who suffered severe brain damage during birth in 2018. His mother, Miranda Garcia, alleged that the hospital’s staff failed to recognize signs of fetal distress, leading to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. 

The boy now requires lifelong care, and the settlement will help support his medical needs. This case highlights the importance of proper fetal monitoring and timely interventions to prevent devastating birth injuries.

$40 Million Award for Birth Injuries

A Coles County jury awarded $40 million to Kiera Campbell, a 19-year-old with severe brain injuries, and her parents in a medical malpractice case against Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Kiera suffered permanent brain damage due to a delayed emergency C-section, which the jury found preventable. The trial, lasting three weeks, revealed that the delay caused Kiera to develop a seizure disorder, cerebral palsy, and cognitive impairments. 

$68.6 Million Awarded for Brain Damage After Electrolyte Imbalance

In 2022, a Florida jury awarded Miranda Crohan $68.6 million after four doctors were found responsible for brain damage caused by a severe electrolyte imbalance in 2017. 

Crohan collapsed due to hyponatremia (low blood sodium) and was treated at a Tampa hospital, where errors in managing her sodium levels led to catastrophic brain injury. The jury apportioned 85% of the blame to Dr. Alexandre Furman and 23% to Dr. Rabeeh El-Refadi, with smaller portions assigned to two other doctors. 

Despite the defense claiming her brain damage was due to an autoimmune condition, the jury found that improper treatment of her sodium imbalance caused her lifelong injuries, including the need for permanent care.

$75 Million Verdict for “Locked-In Syndrome” After Stroke

A Georgia jury awarded $75 million to Jonathan Buckelew in 2022, who suffered “locked-in syndrome” after a stroke following a chiropractic neck adjustment in 2015. 

Buckelew, unable to move any part of his body except his eyes, was awarded $29 million for medical expenses and $46 million for pain and suffering. The jury found emergency room physician Dr. Matthew Womack 60% responsible, with 40% of the fault assigned to radiologist Dr. James Waldschmidt. 

The lawsuit argued that delays in diagnosing and treating Buckelew’s stroke due to miscommunication and hospital rule violations led to his paralysis. 

Cook County Jury Awards $75.8 Million to Girl for Birth Injuries

A Cook County jury awarded $75.8 million to a young girl, Hannah, who suffered severe brain injuries and physical disabilities during her birth. The complications arose when doctors attempted to turn her from a breech position, causing arm fractures and brain hemorrhaging. Hannah required multiple surgeries and extensive hospital care. She now faces lifelong cognitive and physical challenges, including a non-functioning arm and walking difficulties.

While there’s no guarantee when it comes to medical malpractice settlements, our team at Hodes Milman will work tirelessly to ensure your outcome truly reflects everything you’ve been through following medical malpractice. 

From the pain and suffering to the impact on your ability to earn a living and the mounting medical bills, our firm’s experienced medical malpractice lawyers will fight endlessly to get you the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been harmed by medical malpractice, call Hodes Milman at (949) 640-8222 or fill out our quick online form.

St. Cloud State Student Awarded $111 Million in Botched Surgery Case

In 2022, a Minnesota federal jury awarded a St. Cloud State University student $111 million in damages after a botched surgery left him with permanent damage to his left leg. Anuj Thapa, a Nepalese citizen, was a 19-year-old student when he injured his leg playing soccer in January 2017. 

He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital, where orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chad Holien recommended surgery, despite Thapa’s objections. After surgery, Thapa experienced severe pain and returned to the hospital six days later, where doctors discovered he had acute compartment syndrome. The failure to properly diagnose and treat his condition led to more than 20 additional surgeries and permanent disability.

$120 Million Award for Brain Damage Due to Delayed C-Section

A Wayne County jury awarded $120 million to Kirsten Drake and her son, K’Jon, after a delay in performing a necessary C-section at Henry Ford Health System led to severe brain damage. 

K’Jon, now 13, suffers from cerebral palsy and permanent developmental disabilities after his birth was delayed for over two hours despite concerning fetal heart tones. In 2024, the jury ruled the medical team’s failure to act urgently contributed to the child’s life-altering injuries.

Philadelphia Jury Awards Landmark $182.7 Million in Birth Injury Lawsuit

A Philadelphia jury has awarded $182.7 million to a 5-year-old boy who suffered cerebral palsy and brain damage due to a birth injury at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The verdict marks Pennsylvania’s largest-ever medical malpractice award. The defendant, Penn Medicine, attempted to appeal the verdict, but their appeal was rejected in 2024.

$208 Million Verdict Awarded in Case Involving Medical Negligence and False Imprisonment at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

In 2023, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital was ordered to pay $208 million after a jury found it responsible for the harm caused to Maya Kowalski and her family. The case revolves around the hospital’s false diagnosis of Munchausen by Proxy, which led to Maya being removed from her mother’s care and allegedly contributed to her mother’s suicide in 2017.

It marks one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts to date.

New Mexico Man Awarded $412 Million in Largest Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Verdict Over Botched Erectile Dysfunction Injections

A New Mexico jury has awarded a man over $412 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit against NuMale Medical Center in 2024, marking the highest medical malpractice settlement in U.S. history. The case involved allegations of fraudulent and negligent practices by the clinic, which operates in several states.

The man, who was 66 at the time, sought treatment for fatigue and weight loss at the clinic in 2017. Instead of receiving proper care, he was misdiagnosed and subjected to dangerous and excruciating penile injections, causing irreversible damage.

Hodes Milman: Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers

At Hodes Milman, we have spent more than 30 years helping to create better futures for victims who have suffered because of the carelessness of others. We fight for justice and relief while achieving real results for our clients. We put every ounce of our energy into ensuring that our clients obtain the results they deserve. Our track record speaks for itself — here are a few noteworthy medical malpractice verdicts: 

• $17.25 Million Settlement: 39-year-old man suffers stroke after undergoing surgery despite pre-existing kidney issues; case argued surgery should have been delayed due to compromised kidney function, which led to the stroke.
• $10.9 Million Verdict: Two HMOs failed to share medical information, leading to a delayed diagnosis of Stage IV cervical cancer. The case resulted in a $10,960,000 jury verdict, the largest wrongful death verdict in Orange County.
• $12.35 Million Settlement: Three patients developed surgical site infections after being operated on by a surgeon colonized with MSSA; two patients suffered severe neurological damage.
• $7.9 Million Settlement: Infant suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to a delayed C-section despite signs of fetal distress; the child now requires lifetime care.

While there is no way to promise a specific outcome for each individual medical malpractice case, what we can guarantee is doing all in our power to get you the compensation you deserve. Reach out to Hodes Milman today online or call (949) 640-8222 today.