Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.A Grand Island family this week received a verdict of $960,534 against a local hospital after a two-week jury trial in Hall County District Court.
The parents of Logan Lautenschlager argued that he suffered brain damage from oxygen deprivation during birth at St. Francis Medical Center when the mother was given an overdose of induction medications.
The parents, Sarah and Lonnie Lautenschlager, also included Dr. John Reilly and the Grand Island Clinic in the lawsuit. Those parties settled with the parents for an undisclosed amount shortly after the trial began.
Pat Cullan, a physician and the attorney for the family, said the overdose of induction drugs drove the woman's uterus to contract harder and faster during labor, which lasted more than 25 hours. Cullan said Sarah Lautenschlager's placenta and uterine wall tore, causing the baby to lose blood flow and oxygen.
The hospital said in a prepared statement that it was "very disappointed" by the verdict.
"Our hearts go out to the Lautenschlager family," the hospital said. "We all can sympathize when bad things happen to good people, but we stand by our testimony given throughout this trial that we gave excellent care to Logan and Sarah."
Patrick Vipond of Omaha, the hospital's attorney, said no decision had been made on whether to appeal.
The incident occurred in August 2007. Logan now is 4 years old.
The Lautenschlagers asked for medical expenses, therapy costs and special education expenses, among other services. The verdict called for Logan to receive $950,534 and his mother $10,000.
Cullan said Logan is just now learning to walk and requires intensive speech therapy. Logan also has swallowing difficulties, Cullan said.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1123, rick.ruggles@owh.com
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