December 10, 2003

Attorneys David J. Pritchard and John S. Muir announced today that a 3.5 million dollar settlement was reached in the medical malpractice case that left Jasmine Lawson (a minor) with a brachial plexus injury to her right arm. This settlement was approved on 12-9-03 by Judge Noveselsky in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois in the case captioned: Jasmine Lawson, et al. v. Neil M. Levie, M.D. et al. 01 L 13146.

On January 10, 2001 Pamela Lawson gave birth to her daughter, Jasmine Lawson at St. Francis Hospital and Health Center in Blue Island. At the time of delivery, a shoulder dystocia was encountered trapping the child’s right shoulder behind the pelvic bone of her mother. It was alleged that the obstetrician, Dr. Neil Levie, and the labor and delivery nurse then failed to perform acceptable maneuvers to safely deliver the child. Rather, the nurse improperly applied fundal pressure, and the doctor used excessive traction. Both the doctor and the nurse denied any wrongful conduct, but a video of the delivery taken by the child’s father revealed that these improper maneuvers had indeed been performed.

Jasmine, now age three, has a minimal grasp in her right hand, loss of motion in her elbow and shoulder, and loss of length and muscle mass in her right arm.

The settlement of $3.5 million was paid by St. Francis Hospital and Health Center ($2.5 million) and Dr. Levie ($1 million dollar insurance policy with ISMIE). This settlement included a structure, which will pay the child more than $13 million dollars over her lifetime.

The hospital was represented by Susan Conner of Cassiday, Schade & Gloor. Dr. Levie was represented by Robert Smyth, Jr. of Donohue Brown Matthewson & Smyth.

For additional information on the Lawson case, David J. Pritchard or Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., please contact Beth Olzewski, Director of Marketing at 847-249-1227.

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