Medical malpractice can change a life in an instant. What begins as a routine procedure or hospital visit can turn into a long-lasting struggle when care falls short of the standard. Patients and families are left facing permanent injuries, ongoing medical challenges, and profound emotional stress. At Power Rogers, we’ve seen firsthand the consequences of these errors and have worked to secure justice for those impacted.
The cases below highlight some of the most significant medical malpractice settlements in Illinois. They are not just numbers; they represent real people, families, and the ripple effects that follow when medical care fails. Some of these medical malpractice claims were handled by Power Rogers attorneys, and a few by other respected firms in Illinois. Taken together, they illustrate the importance of vigilance in care, timely intervention, and skilled legal advocacy.
$47.5 Million Settlement: Bacterial Infection
Handled by Power Rogers Attorney: Devon C. Bruce
A four-year-old child suffered serious injuries after multiple physicians failed to diagnose and treat a bacterial infection. Delays in treatment allowed the infection to worsen, causing irreversible harm.
Power Rogers secured a $47.5 million settlement in this case, the largest medical malpractice recovery in Cook County in 2016 and one of the largest medical malpractice recoveries ever obtained.
$40 Million Settlement: Brain Injury in a 12-Year-Old Girl
Handled by Power Rogers Attorney: Joseph W. Balesteri
A 12-year-old girl presented to a community hospital with symptoms of mononucleosis and streptococcal infection. Hospitalists failed to diagnose deep neck abscesses and did not recognize clinical deterioration. Specialists also missed critical warning signs, including class IV airway concerns and developing sepsis. The patient suffered a catastrophic neurological injury following cardiorespiratory arrest.
The $40 million settlement addressed the severity of the injury and marked one of the largest settlements for a brain-injured minor in Illinois.
$35 Million Settlement: Infant Intubation and Anoxic Event
Handled by Power Rogers Attorneys: Joseph A. Power Jr. & Devon C. Bruce
A three-month-old infant required intubation at a hospital. Improper technique resulted in subglottic stenosis. Later, a tracheostomy tube became occluded, causing a 12–15 minute anoxic event. The child suffered permanent spastic quadriplegia and cortical blindness.
Power Rogers helped the family secure a $35 million settlement, recognized as one of the largest infant brain injury settlements in Illinois.
$30 Million Settlement: Paraplegia Following Kidney Surgery
Handled by Power Rogers Attorneys: Joseph A. Power Jr. & Joseph W. Balesteri
A 46-year-old man underwent a laparoscopic nephrectomy for kidney cancer. During the procedure, a stapling device caused aortic and renal artery injuries, which went unnoticed by healthcare professionals until the patient was transferred to another institution. As a result, the patient became paraplegic and requires permanent dialysis.
Power Rogers obtained a $30 million settlement for this life-altering surgical complication.
$30 Million Verdict: Hospital Surgical Complications
Handled by Power Rogers Attorneys: Joseph W. Balesteri & Larry R. Rogers Jr.
A 35-year-old mother of three girls arrived for the labor and delivery of her first son. Her fetal heart tracings, initially Category I, progressed to Category II, but Pitocin continued without adjustment, and physicians were not notified of worsening signs in time. This led to acute fetal distress, uterine rupture, and permanent neurological injury to the infant.
The jury awarded $30 million, underscoring the consequences of lapses in labor monitoring and timely intervention.
$25 Million Settlement: Labor & Delivery Brain Injury
Handled by Power Rogers Attorney: Joseph W. Balesteri
At 37 weeks, a mother with pre-eclampsia was admitted to a Chicago academic medical center. Fetal heart tracings worsened during labor, yet Pitocin administration continued and was later increased despite evidence of fetal compromise. The child sustained permanent hypoxic-ischemic brain injury as a result.
Power Rogers secured a $25 million settlement, reflecting the catastrophic impact of mismanaged labor and failure to respond to warning signs.
Each case involved a preventable failure to recognize or respond to warning signs in time.
Across the cases, the harm escalated because providers missed symptoms, delayed diagnosis, ignored deteriorating conditions, or failed to act quickly enough during treatment.
$23 Million Settlement: Labor & Delivery Birth Injury
Handled by Power Rogers Attorneys: Larry R. Rogers Jr. & Joseph W. Balesteri
A mother at 38 weeks was induced for gestational diabetes and an attempted vaginal birth after cesarean. Following Pitocin administration, fetal heart tracings worsened, but in-utero resuscitation of the fetus was not performed, and Pitocin was not stopped. The baby was born with severe asphyxia and permanent neurological injury.
Power Rogers secured a $23 million settlement for this preventable birth injury.
$21 Million Settlement: Delayed Diagnosis of Spinal Condition
Handled by Power Rogers Attorneys: Joseph W. Balesteri & Kathryn L. Conway
A 13-year-old girl developed back pain that progressed over two months to weakness and sensory changes in her legs. During a hospital admission, she was incorrectly diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Doctors failed to obtain and review an MRI in time, which would have revealed a rare spinal tumor requiring urgent surgery to prevent permanent damage. As a result, she suffered paraplegia and incontinence.
Power Rogers helped the family secure $21 million, the largest reported result in Winnebago County history for a pediatric injury of this kind.
$20.6 Million Settlement: Ruptured Iliac Aneurysm
Handled by: Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard
A 58-year-old man presented to the ER with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Multiple medical providers failed to recognize a ruptured common iliac aneurysm. Delayed treatment led to permanent paralysis and multiple surgeries. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard resolved the case with a $20.6 million settlement.
$18 Million Settlement: Birth Injury
Handled by: Levin & Perconti
A first-time mother at 40 weeks gestation arrived at a Chicago-area hospital with signs of fetal distress. Staff delayed performing a cesarean section, and the child developed cerebral palsy. Levin & Perconti secured an $18 million settlement just before closing arguments in a three-week trial.
What Families Can Learn From These Cases
These cases show how quickly medical care can go wrong and the profound impact it can have on patients and families. Many injuries occurred when warning signs were missed or not addressed quickly enough, or when mistakes happened during treatment or procedures, from surgical errors to mismanaged labor or delayed recognition of infection. Often, it was a combination of these factors that led to the most serious harm.
These medical errors can happen for a variety of reasons, whether from lapses in judgment, failures to follow established protocols, or breakdowns in communication and coordination. No matter the cause, families who have suffered harm have options. With the help of an attorney, they can explore the possibility of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, allowing them to hold healthcare providers accountable, seek compensation for medical and care needs, and help improve patient safety for all.
When Medical Care Fails, Our Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers Stand With You
Serious harm from medical mistakes should never go unanswered. At Power Rogers, we fight to hold medical professionals accountable and seek justice for families affected by medical negligence. Our experienced attorneys guide you through every step of your medical malpractice case, advocating for the compensation and recognition you deserve. Don’t face this alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward justice.
