A local family has been awarded one of the largest medical malpractice settlements in Michigan history.
Attorneys representing the Tran family announced Tuesday a jury awarded a $130,571,897 settlement on behalf of the boy who suffers from cerebral palsy.
Following the three-week medical malpractice case in Oakland County, the jury found that two Beaumont Hospital medical technicians "caused severe and permanent brain damage resulting in cerebral palsy."
In 2006, then two-month old Vihn Tran suffered a breathing-hold spell following multiple attempts to start an IV. It is alleged the technicians delayed calling a code blue and did not give the standard care chest compressions. As a result, Vihn Tran "suffered a severe and prolonged hypoxic ischemic insult resulting in massive brain damage."
The family's attorneys have released this statement:
“Nothing will ease the suffering of this child, but at least this settlement will alleviate some of the financial burden from his caretakers,” says Brian McKeen, managing partner of McKeen & Associates. “I’m grateful for the jurors service and gratified they agreed that this was a preventable tragedy.”
In response to the jury decision and $130.5 million settlement, Beaumont says they stand by the care provided and will appeal the decision:
We are committed to providing extraordinary care, every day. We took this case before a jury because we believe the care we delivered was appropriate. Even though the dollar amount of the verdict will be substantially reduced due to applicable law, we stand by the care we provided and are appealing.
