How much are 9 broken ribs worth?: York County civil jury awards family $1 million
A York County jury has awarded $1 million to the family of a man, after the jury said he did not receive standard of care medical treatment for broken ribs, court documents show.
The jury returned the verdict late Monday after a week-long trial in civil court at the York County Courthouse.
Bill Pratt, 65, who had liver cancer at the time, died in 2015 from pneumonia about two weeks after suffering nine cracked ribs in a fall down stairs, according to court documents and Chad McGowan of Rock Hill, lawyer for Pratt’s family.
The jury deliberated three hours before awarding Pratt’s family $360,000 in survivor damages, and $640,000 in consortium damages from lost companionship for Pratt’s widow, documents show. The jury verdict form said the defendants, Rock Hill Radiology Associates and Dr. Geoffrey Gilleland, were negligent in the care received by Pratt, court documents show.
Pratt’s widow filed a lawsuit in 2016, York County court records show.
The verdict form shows the jury found the defendants to be reckless and grossly negligent in how Pratt was cared for after the fall in 2015, according to court documents.
Pratt had scans that were done initially after seeking medical attention, but the first review of the scans missed the broken bones, McGowan said.
The next day, the doctor found the broken bones in a review of the scans, but did not alert the emergency department so Pratt could be called back and provided with proper treatment, McGowan said. Testimony during the trial showed that calling Pratt back for treatment in a trauma unit for the broken bones would have been the normal standard of care, McGowan said.
The jury found that the defendants deviated from the standard of care and were the proximate or legal causes of Pratt’s injuries, court documents show. The jury stated on the verdict form the radiology practice was 10 percent at fault, and the doctor 90 percent.
McGowan said Pratt had liver cancer at the time of the fall but deserved to have proper care after the fall.
“Everybody, regardless of pre-existing conditions, is entitled to proper care regardless of their medical condition,” McGowan said after the trial.
Matthew Henrikson of Greenville, lawyer for the radiology medical practice and the doctor, said in a written statement to The Herald the defendants do not have any comment at this time on the jury’s verdict.
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
