Napleton & Partners

$1 Million for Wrongful Death of Grundy County Woman

The adult children of a 60-year-old Grundy County woman have settled their lawsuit against a Chicagoland Hospital and Doctor regarding medical negligence that resulted in the tragic death of their mother. On August 22, 2020, the patient presented to the Hospital for complaints of abdominal pain. A CT scan of the abdomen showed free intraperitoneal air and fluid, compatible with bowel perforation. On August 24, 2020, at 8:45 p.m., a nurse called the Defendant Doctor due to the patient’s condition deteriorating. The Doctor did not come into the Hospital to address the patients’ worsening condition, and at 11:36 p.m., she coded. On August 25, 2020, she expired. An autopsy determined that the cause of death was septic and hypovolemic shock due to acute peritonitis from a perforated gastric ulcer. $750,000.00 was paid by the Doctor’s insurance company, and $250,000.00 was paid by the Hospital. David J. Gallagher of Napleton & Partners represented the family.

$8 Million Settlement for Obstetrical Negligence

On March 30, 2024, mom presented to a local area hospital at 24 weeks gestation with potential signs of pre-term labor. She was sent home without a cervical exam or a proper workup for pre-term labor. The next day, mom presented to the local area hospital in active labor. The baby was delivered 2 hours later. The baby spent seven (7) months in the NICU but is now neurologically normal and is hitting developmental milestones. The settlement was paid by a local area hospital. Brad Schulman and Robert J. Napleton represented the minor and parents.

Special needs student’s family Awarded over $7.9 Million Dollars

Patrick J. Giese, Robert J. Napleton and Rory J. Cannon secured a $7.925 million settlement for the family of a 15-year-old student with profound cerebral palsy/spastic quadriplegia who was neglected on a Special Education Transportation bus.

Shortly after the bus departed, the student showed signs of labored breathing that went unnoticed. Several minutes later, the driver observed he had stopped breathing and directed the aide to check on him. The aide recognized the need for emergency care, contacted dispatch, and first responders were sent. The student was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance and pronounced dead approximately one hour later.

The family alleged inadequate training of the driver and aide in passenger monitoring, and that the company’s policy requiring calls to dispatch, rather than directly to 911, was negligent.