Jury Awards $12 Million This Afternoon To Danbury Hospital Patient

Connecticut Law Tribune

Jury Awards $12 Million This Afternoon To Danbury Hospital Patient

By Karen Ali

May 30, 2014

A Danbury Hospital patient who went to the hospital in 2008 for what was supposed to be a simple one-day hernia repair won $12 million after a jury verdict this afternoon.
The verdict was against Danbury Hospital, who denied responsibility for the conduct of its own surgical resident, the plaintiff’s lawyer said.

“She spent 70 days in the hospital fighting septic shock, nearly died, and suffered catastrophic permanent injuries. The trial lasted three weeks and the jury deliberated for four hours before returning a verdict for $12,002,935.04,” said trial counsel Sean McElligott, who handled the case along with Josh Koskoff.

The trial judge was Shiela Ozalis.

The plaintiff, Vivian Gagliano, went to Danbury Hospital in 2008 and a resident she never met participated in the surgery and negligently inserted a surgical device perforating her colon, McElligott said.

“I am happy to bring some peace to my client after her horrific ordeal at Danbury Hospital. Hopefully, future patients will receive better care after this verdict,” said McElligott.

The client Vivian Gagliano added: “I am so thankful that the jury understood what I went through and did justice in this case.”