Case Number 90 L 4828
Circuit Court of Will County, IL
$5.7 Million Award
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January 5, 1995 Dear Mr. Walsh: On behalf of everyone at United Cerebral Palsy, I want to thank you for your generous donation on behalf of your client, for the students at our Reed Street facility. Providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities is a mammoth undertaking which requires the involvement of everyone in our community. Walsh, Knippen, Knight & Diamond has taken a lead role in making our community work by joining United Cerebral Palsy in its effort to provide care, opportunities and hope to individuals with disabilities. We are indeed fortunate to be affiliated with your organization. Your dollars will help us purchase a wide variety of equipment and supplies from which each child has an opportunity to benefit. Thank you again for your support of our work. Sincerely, |
In this case, Ed Walsh and Tom Knight represented a young boy and his family. Five hours after the infant's birth, he suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest, resulting in profound cerebral palsy and intellectual deficits. His cardiac and respiratory arrest was caused by a Group B strep bacteria infection.
At birth, the baby had several of the classic clinical symptoms of Group B strep infection, including a drop in heart rate and ultimately cyanosis; the defendant obstetrician transferred the infant to the hospital nursery for observation, without notifying a pediatrician or any attending physician, contrary to hospital policy. Upon arrival to the nursery five hours after his birth, the defendant pediatrician noted respiratory distress during her routine rounds but failed to consider or diagnose Group B strep infection.
Through selective retention of nationally known medical experts and rehabilitation life care planners, and through the efficient utilization of computerization techniques to store and review over 30 pre-trial deposition transcripts, Ed Walsh and Tom Knight were able to secure a record-setting medical malpractice settlement, for the Circuit Court of Will County, in the sum of $5,735,000.00.
In recognition of the significant assistance provided to them by the staff at United Cerebral Palsy, Easter Seals, Joliet, Illinois, the firm made a substantial monetary gift donation to the school their young client attends daily.
