$1.6M may be awarded in Harbor-UCLA hospital suit

December 1, 2008

Los Angeles County officials will consider today whether to recommend paying more than $1.6 million to settle a malpractice lawsuit brought against the county by a woman who was paralyzed during back surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

The county Claims Board will discuss the proposed settlement with legal counsel behind closed doors. If they give their go-ahead, the matter will then go before the county Board of Supervisors for final approval. The lawsuit was brought by Shanay Bridges, a woman who had two vertebrae fractured in a car accident in March 15, 2005.

While receiving surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center the following month, Bridges — who was 20 years old at the time — was paralyzed. In her lawsuit, Bridges contended that no one explained the risks of the procedure to her and that the hospital’s staff failed to provide her with the necessary care. Although county officials maintained that she received proper care, the settlement was proposed to avoid a potentially risky jury trial.

Read Article: Contra Costa Times

Posted By: Phoenix DUI Attorney