Stuart Ratzan Wins $8.8 Million Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case against Southern Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville

March 27, 2008, 9:00AM.

Miami, FLMiami-based Ratzan & Rubio P.A. today announced that Stuart Ratzan, founding shareholder, won an $8.8 million verdict on behalf of his clients, David and Shirlyn Gallagher on March 22 in the 4th Circuit Court in Duval County, Fla. The medical malpractice claim was filed against the intensive care nursing unit at Southern Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Shirlyn Gallagher, an insulin-dependent diabetic, was brought to Baptist for surgery following a heart attack. While recovering in the intensive care unit of the hospital, the nursing staff failed to provide Gallagher with her insulin, causing her to go into cardiac arrest. Doctors spent 40 minutes trying to save her, before realizing that she was in need of insulin. After receiving a shot of insulin, Gallagher was revived, but suffered a severe brain injury that which will require extensive physical therapy and lifelong care.

The $8.8 million verdict is split into two categories: $4 million for economic damages and $4.8 for non-economic damages. The non-economic judgment is significant because it challenges Florida's current statute that caps non-economic medical malpractice claims at $1.5 million.

Ratzan & Rubio handles cases that include medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, maritime, aviation, trucking, catastrophic personal injury and complex commercial claims. The firm's lawyers have litigated all types of cases in Florida courts.