Facts

The minor plaintiff was delivered with normal APGARs and a normal laboratory work up developed clinical signs of an infectious process. No (prophylactic) antibiotics were administered and no neonatologist or infectious disease specialist was consulted. The child did not improve. Ultimately, plaintiff was transferred to the NICU where bacterial meningitis was diagnosed. Thereafter, the child was treated and later released to Loma Linda University Medical Center. She is now five years old and is essentially completely disabled.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
The newborn plaintiff, with good Apgars, was admitted to defendant Arrowhead Regional Medical Center's normal newborn nursery. She was under the care of Jeffrey Koning, M.D., who was not licensed by the California Board of Medicine in October 2011, when these events occurred. He was a medical school graduate. He failed to recognize, timely, signs of an infectious process. He did not seek consultation from an infectious disease specialist or neonatologist before the newborn was transferred to the NICU and was diagnosed with meningitis.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendants contended that Dr. Koning's status was irrelevant, as the standard of care had been met, when the child was diagnosed with meningitis.

Settlement Discussions

Defendants started at $250,000, ultimately moved to $2.4 million. Plaintiff started at $4 million and agreed to $2.4 million.

Specials in Evidence

in excess of $75,000 $1 million $4 million

Injuries

The child suffered brain damage, total life disability requiring constant care.

Result

The case settled for $2.4 million.

Other Information

FILING DATE: Oct. 1, 2015.