The first Allegheny County, Pennsylvania jury verdict award of over $10 million on record was recently handed down to the family of a man who died eight years ago at UPMC Shadyside. In total, the family was awarded $12.5 million. Of that amount, $10 million was for how much he would have made in his lifetime had he lived. The additional $2.5 million was awarded earlier, in 2008, when a different jury determined that negligence on the part of UPMC was the cause of the man’s death.

The man who died was 24-years-old when he went to the hospital complaining of severe headaches. Because doctors believed he had a brain tumor, he was scheduled to undergo surgery several days after he arrived. The night before the scheduled surgery the pupil in one of the man’s eyes became fixed and dilated which is a sign of a serious brain issue. The following morning he underwent surgery where it was discovered that he did not in fact have a tumor, but rather an abscess. By this time it was too late to do anything.

The $10 million verdict came after a second trial that was ordered at the close of the first wrongful death trial to assess future earning potential. At the time of his death, the young man was employed as an accountant by the accounting firm Ernst & Young.

UPMC is reportedly planning to appeal the verdict. We will continue to monitor the case and post relevant updates as they become available.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “UPMC must pay $12.5 million in wrongful death claim,” Bobby Kerlik, Nov. 12, 2011