Jury Awards $6.5 Million to Family of Man Who Died at Danbury Hospital From Too Much Sodium

BRIDGEPORT, April 4, 2013 – A Danbury Superior Court jury today awarded $6.5 million to the family of a man who died at Danbury Hospital because of excessive sodium.

This is believed to be the highest personal injury verdict from the Danbury Superior Court.

Jeffrey Pattison, formerly of Newtown, was admitted to Danbury Hospital on March 1 and died on March 16, 2006, when his sodium level rose rapidly. He had been admitted to the hospital because he was hallucinating and incoherent.

“Danbury Hospital clearly did not properly monitor Mr. Pattison and continued to administer a sodium solution despite the obvious danger that was resulting,” said Atty. Sean K. McElligott of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder in Bridgeport, CT, who is representing the Pattison estate and is one of the two Koskoff attorneys who tried the case.

The jury deliberated four and a half days before reaching its verdict today.

“Mr. Pattison died as a result of carelessness and negligence,” said Atty. Joshua D. Koskoff, who tried the case with Atty. McElligott. “We all hope this case will cause Danbury Hospital to amend its procedures to guard against a preventable death from ever happening again.”

Pattison was in the moving business. His son is a high school teacher in Newtown.

Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder has offices in Bridgeport and New Haven. The nationally known law firm has achieved record verdicts for people who suffer serious personal injuries or economic harm from medical malpractice, violation of their civil or constitutional rights, dangerous products, negligence, drunk drivers, corporate or governmental abuse and commercial misconduct. www.koskoff.com .