$10.1 Million Settlement in Medical Negligence Case

Please join The Becker Law Firm in congratulating Managing Partner, Romney Cullers, for securing a $10.1 million settlement on behalf of a five-year-old boy who suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and permanent brain injury as the result of medical negligence. This is the largest settlement ever paid by the hospital system involved.

At ten days old, the infant was brought to a community hospital for breathing difficulties and transferred to a larger facility for specialized care. Emergency physicians at the second hospital failed to timely diagnose a heart defect that was rapidly progressing to heart failure. While awaiting test results, the child suffered a cardiac arrest and required intubation. Three intubation attempts, including use of an incorrectly sized tube, were unsuccessful. The infant was ultimately resuscitated but did not regain a normal pulse for 23 minutes. The prolonged pulselessness resulted in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), leaving the child with profound brain damage, quadriplegia, and partial blindness.

Had the emergency physicians identified the heart defect, as was their professional responsibility, appropriate medications could have been administered to slow the progression of heart failure until surgical intervention was possible.

Expert Collaboration and Case Resolution

Mr. Cullers and his team of lawyers and in-house nursing professionals retained experts in pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric radiology, neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardio-thoracic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and economics, and conducted more than 40 depositions before resolving the case through mediation.

This outcome underscores the importance of holding medical providers accountable when preventable errors cause catastrophic injury. By rigorously investigating the case and presenting the evidence, the firm ensured that the child’s family has the resources necessary to provide lifelong care and that systemic failures are acknowledged. Cases like this reinforce the standards of care expected in emergency medicine and highlight the critical role of advocacy in protecting vulnerable patients.

Commitment to Families Affected by HIE

The Becker Law Firm is highly experienced in serious injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and birth injury cases, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The firm’s attorneys work closely with leading experts to identify preventable medical errors and pursue justice for injured children and families.

To learn more about these cases and how our attorneys can help, visit our pages on Birth Injury and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).

Contact The Becker Law Firm

If your child or a loved one has been harmed due to medical negligence, our attorneys can help you understand your legal options. The Becker Law Firm represents families across Cleveland and Ohio involving medical malpractice and catastrophic injury.

Call The Becker Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation. Our attorneys will review your case and explain your rights.