When a baby suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries during her birth at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, her parents turned to Tim Lawn and Stephen Raynes to investigate what happened and, if appropriate, seek financial security for their vulnerable daughter. After a detailed expert review, it was clear that the obstetrician failed to protect the baby’s neck during delivery and damaged the spinal cord.
After years of intense work and a two week hard-fought trial, Raynes & Lawn attorney Tim Lawn persuaded a Delaware County jury to award more than $40 million to the now six-year-old girl. The verdict, which totaled $40,258,000.00 and will be increased by delay damages to be more than $47,000,000.00, is believed to be the largest personal injury verdict ever awarded in Delaware County. The defendant doctor and hospital never made a settlement offer.
During the trial, Attorney Lawn presented expert testimony from a maternal fetal medicine specialist, a pediatric neuro-radiologist, a placental pathologist, a pediatric neurologist and pediatric spinal surgeon. Together, these physicians detailed how the baby’s injuries could only have occurred with excessive traction during her delivery.
“This was a vigorously defended case in which the defendants argued that the care was proper, and that the injuries occurred well before she was delivered. We knew that was medically inaccurate and set out to prove that improper care caused this catastrophic injury,” commented plaintiff’s lead attorney Timothy Lawn. Attorney Stephen Raynes noted “The jury was exceptionally devoted to finding the truth in this case. Tim’s brilliant courtroom advocacy, on behalf of this deserving little girl, convincingly proved that truth.”