The Daily

Large Verdicts: The Most Vulnerable Victims Are Most Affected By Caps and Delays

Not surprisingly, the largest verdicts in medical malpractice cases tend to happen in cases with overwhelming medical costs and needs. When trial lawyers tabulate the real cost of these needs, they often use the word “board”. As in, putting the expenses up on the board. Expert witnesses and life care planners are often involved in projecting these expenses out over time and reducing the that amount to present value so that the jury verdict – if invested and used properly – can effectively cover all the costs.

These kinds of verdicts are awarded against defendants with both good and bad reputations. Each case is determined on its own merits. Which is how it should be. A child with devastating cerebral palsy or an adult on life support shouldn’t be shortchanged just because a lobbyists persuaded a legislature to pass “tort reform”.

Here is an example of a trusted institution in a community being found responsible in such a case. That is a jury doing its job.

Baltimore Jury Awards Record $229 Million in Johns Hopkins Malpractice Case