Medical Malpractice Verdict News

$50 Million Alabama Medical Malpractice Verdict: Jury Holds Cardiologist Accountable for Wrongful Death

A Mobile, Alabama jury has awarded $50,000,000 to the family of Dan Haas, a man who died in his sleep hours after his cardiologist sent him home from the hospital despite discovering a serious, life-threatening heart blockage. The verdict, returned after a 13-day trial, stands as a powerful statement on the consequences of failing to meet the standard of care in cardiac medicine. The case was tried by the plaintiff firm Cunningham Bounds, LLC, with offices in Mobile and Atlanta. The trial team consisted of attorneys Skip Finkbohner, Lucy Tufts, Dave Wirtes, and Carmen Chambers.A Family's Christmas Nightmare On December 24, 2020, Dan Haas came home from a hunting trip with severe pain between his shoulder blades and shortness of breath. On Christmas Day, he called his cardiologist, Dr. John Galla, to report his symptoms. According to the press release, Dr. Galla told Dan to take it easy and come in Monday for a stress test. Dan went to the offices of Cardiology Associates on December 28 with continued chest pain. The stress test results came back abnormal. On December 30, Dr. Galla performed a heart catheterization that, according to the lawsuit, clearly revealed a serious and life-threatening cardiac blockage. Rather than hospitalizing Dan and beginning treatment immediately, Dr. Galla sent him home. The cardiologist also cleared Dan for an elective eye surgery scheduled for the following week and instructed him to begin blood thinners only after that procedure. Dan Haas died in his sleep that same night, next to his wife.What the Experts Said Top cardiology experts retained by Cunningham Bounds testified at trial that if Dr. Galla had simply kept Dan in the hospital and administered routine blood thinners after the catheterization, Dan had a greater than 99% chance of survival. That testimony proved central to the plaintiff's case. The standard intervention, according to the experts, was not experimental or heroic. It was routine. The decision to send Dan home cost him his life. The plaintiff's trial team argued that Cardiology Associates failed to take the necessary steps to meet the required standard of care.The Defense Strategy and Its Failure Dr. Galla's defense took an unusual and ultimately unsuccessful position: that the contemporaneous medical records from Cardiology Associates, including entries Dr. Galla himself had made, were wrong. Attorney Skip Finkbohner addressed this directly in remarks following the verdict: "We relied on the contemporaneous medical records. They were accurate. The defense and their experts took the position these records were wrong. The jury spoke loudly about this, and the lack of care Dan received and the attempts to cover up the mistakes that were made." Finkbohner also noted that the Haas family had tried repeatedly to resolve the case before trial. According to his post-trial statement, the defense refused all settlement discussions and forced the matter to a jury. The jury spoke after 13 days of testimony.Five Years of Fighting for the Truth Dan's family, including his wife Barbara and their children Sarah, Carrie, and Daniel, spent more than five years pursuing accountability through the courts. Attorney Lucy Tufts reflected on what the verdict meant for the family: "The Haas family has been fighting to expose the truth of what happened to them for more than five years. This verdict affirms what they've known all along. Dan should have been admitted to the hospital. And if he had been, he'd be alive and here with them today." The Haas case underscores how a single clinical decision, the choice to send a patient home rather than admit them for observation and treatment, can be the difference between life and death. And how juries respond when they conclude that decision violated the standard of care.What This Verdict Signals A $50 million verdict in a medical malpractice wrongful death case is significant in any jurisdiction. In Alabama, where plaintiff verdicts of this magnitude are not common, the outcome reflects both the strength of the evidence and the preparation of the trial team. The case also illustrates an important dynamic in medical malpractice litigation: the power of a defendant's own records. When a physician's contemporaneous documentation contradicts his trial defense, the credibility gap becomes very difficult to overcome. The jury in Mobile made clear they were not convinced by the effort to rewrite the record. Cunningham Bounds has represented plaintiffs for more than 65 years, handling cases in serious personal injury, products liability, industrial accidents, and medical malpractice.Plaintiff Attorneys Who Win at Trial Belong on Major Verdict Cases like this one deserve a public record. Major Verdict is the only platform where plaintiff attorneys can display their trial results and notable settlements for the world to see, including potential clients searching for lawyers with exactly this kind of track record. If you are a plaintiff attorney with verdicts or settlements worth sharing, create your free profile on Major Verdict and let your record speak for itself. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a medical professional and want to find a plaintiff attorney with a proven record at trial, browse plaintiff lawyers on Major Verdict.

$24 Million Verdict in Seattle Stem Cell Wrongful Death Case Sends Message to Unproven Treatment Clinics

A King County jury delivered a unanimous $24 million verdict on February 27, 2026, in favor of the family of Michael Trujillo, a 62-year-old Colorado man who died after receiving a stem cell injection at the Seattle Stem Cell Center in 2019. The Seattle stem cell wrongful death verdict is one of the largest medical malpractice awards in Washington state in recent years and puts a national spotlight on the risks of unproven stem cell treatments marketed to desperate patients.How a Colorado Electrician Ended Up at a Seattle Stem Cell Clinic Michael Trujillo, a journeyman electrician from Westminster, Colorado, was diagnosed with ALS in 2017. As the progressive neurological disease advanced, Trujillo and his wife Carmen searched for treatment options and discovered the Seattle Stem Cell Center through its online marketing. The clinic promoted stem cell therapy for a range of serious medical conditions, including ALS. After a free consultation, Trujillo underwent his first stem cell treatment in February 2019. He returned to the Seattle clinic in April 2019 for a second procedure. "We flew to Seattle with hope, and I flew home alone," his widow, Carmen Trujillo, told jurors during the trial.The Procedure That Took His Life Evidence presented at trial showed that during the second visit, stem cells were injected into Trujillo's spine without imaging guidance while he was taking blood-thinning medication. According to trial testimony, the combination caused catastrophic bleeding and brain herniation, leading to Trujillo's death. Dr. Tami Meraglia, owner of the Seattle Stem Cell Center, told KIRO Newsradio that she did not personally treat the patient. She said a different doctor at the clinic performed the procedure and changed the treatment plan from an IV administration to an epidural injection without consulting her, while the patient had high blood pressure and was on blood thinners. The clinic closed in 2021.A Unanimous Jury and a Courtroom Full of Emotion The King County jury returned a unanimous verdict, though unanimity is not required in Washington civil cases. Carmen Trujillo delivered her testimony on what would have been the couple's 46th wedding anniversary. After the verdict was read, jurors lined up to embrace Carmen. "They just were such a blessing. They were smiling. They were so happy for us. It was just one big celebration," she told KIRO Newsradio. Plaintiff's attorney Dylan Cohon of Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon PLLC said the verdict carries a broader message for the stem cell treatment industry. "This verdict is about justice, compensation, and accountability," Cohon said. "Medical providers who market treatments to vulnerable patients need to be honest about whether there is any scientific evidence that the treatments will work."A Pattern of Legal Trouble for the Clinic This was not the first legal action involving Dr. Meraglia and her clinic. In 2022, the Washington Attorney General filed a separate Consumer Protection Act lawsuit against US Stemology and Dr. Meraglia, alleging deceptive marketing of unproven stem cell treatments. That case resulted in an $800,000 judgment and permanent marketing restrictions. Despite the verdict, Dr. Meraglia indicated she intends to appeal, citing legal rulings made before and during trial that she believes prevented the jury from hearing all of her evidence. "We're disappointed in today's verdict, and our hearts go out to everyone," she told KIRO Newsradio. "A man lost his life. Even though it was many years ago, it's still very sad."What This Seattle Stem Cell Wrongful Death Verdict Signals The $24 million verdict underscores the legal exposure facing clinics that market unproven medical treatments to patients with serious or terminal diagnoses. For plaintiff attorneys, the case highlights the power of combining wrongful death claims with evidence of deceptive marketing practices, particularly when a clinic has a documented regulatory history. For families affected by medical negligence, verdicts like this one show what juries are willing to award when the evidence is strong and the attorney is prepared. Find a plaintiff lawyer on Major Verdict who has the trial record to back it up, or browse the latest verdict news from courtrooms across the country.

$750K Maine Medical Malpractice Verdict After Surgeon Leaves Gap in Patient's Femur

A nine-person jury in Ellsworth, Maine awarded $750,000 in damages to a 71-year-old woman on Friday after finding that her orthopedic surgeon and hospital provided negligent medical care during hip replacement surgery. The Maine medical malpractice verdict came after three days of witness testimony at Hancock County Superior Court and less than four hours of jury deliberation.What Happened to Mary Shea Mary Shea, a resident of Milbridge, Maine, sued orthopedic surgeon Peter Copithorne and Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital over right hip replacement surgeries performed in 2019. According to the lawsuit, Shea was 64 at the time and had previously undergone a successful left hip replacement in 2013 with no significant complications. Her right hip replacement, performed in February 2019, left a routine complication that should have been identified and repaired quickly. During a follow-up visit after surgery, Copithorne failed to read Shea's correct post-operative X-ray. He did not review the correct imaging until May 24, 2019, more than two months after the X-rays were taken on March 20, 2019. According to court testimony, Copithorne recorded in Shea's medical documentation that he had reviewed her March 20 X-rays with her. He later amended the note to reflect that he had read the wrong film. The original note was made with auto-generated language, a common practice for physicians.A Second Surgery Made Things Worse Because of the delayed diagnosis, Shea required a much more invasive procedure called an osteotomy to address the complication. During that second surgery, which the lawsuit said Copithorne had only performed alone once before, he sawed a centimeter-long gap in Shea's femur. He unsuccessfully attempted to close the opening with wire, according to the lawsuit. The femur is essential for mobility, and Shea's injuries from this procedure left her with permanent physical impairment. Two physicians testified at trial that the osteotomy would not have been necessary had Copithorne read Shea's X-rays on the day they were taken. During the two months between her March 20 imaging and her May 24 follow-up appointment, the muscles and tendons around Shea's femur atrophied, causing permanent weakness and mobility issues, according to plaintiff attorney Elizabeth Kayatta.Years of Treatment and $291,000 in Medical Bills After leaving Copithorne's care, Shea sought treatment from a Portland surgeon to fix her femur and undergo additional revision surgery. From there, she began years of injections, medication regimens, physical therapies, and various procedures to manage her pain, weakness, and mobility problems, according to testimony from Victoria Brander, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Northwestern Medicine who served as an expert witness. Shea's right hip replacement treatment resulted in nearly $300,000 in medical bills, approximately $250,000 more than what her successful left hip replacement cost. Once an avid hiker and kayaker, Shea has faced significant physical limitations, along with mental health challenges, in the years since her surgeries with Copithorne.The Jury's Maine Medical Malpractice Verdict and Defense Arguments The Ellsworth jury found that both Copithorne and Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital provided negligent medical care that harmed Shea. Three of the nine jurors did not concur with the verdict. Maine civil suits do not require a unanimous jury. Defense attorney Douglas Morgan acknowledged that Copithorne's failure to read the correct X-ray was negligent but argued that this did not directly cause Shea's medical complications. Morgan contended that Shea would have needed the osteotomy regardless of when the X-ray was read. The jury disagreed with that position. "Though we are disappointed with the verdict in this matter, we respect the jury's decision," Morgan said. "More importantly, we wish Mary Shea the best and continued good health moving forward." Kayatta framed the verdict as a moment of accountability. "When doctors make medical errors, they need to be held accountable for those errors in a meaningful way," she told the Bangor Daily News. According to the lawsuit, Copithorne is the second-highest paid physician at Northern Light. ProPublica reported he earned $712,019 for the fiscal year ending in September 2024.Why Verdicts Like This Matter Medical malpractice verdicts in Maine provide critical public insight into how juries evaluate surgical errors, hospital accountability, and patient outcomes. For anyone researching what medical malpractice cases in Maine are worth at trial, cases like Shea's offer real data from real courtrooms. Verdicts like this one deserve to be seen. Major Verdict is the only platform where plaintiff attorneys can publicly display their trial results and settlements for free. Create your profile today and let your record speak for itself. If you or someone you love has been affected by a medical error, you can find a plaintiff lawyer on Major Verdict with a proven trial record in your state.