$40 Million Verdict for Teen Left With Cerebral Palsy After Delayed C-Section at Sarah Bush Lincoln

In May 2003, Jaime Campbell arrived at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, Illinois, 40 weeks pregnant and presenting with bleeding, abdominal pain, and cramping. Nurses diagnosed a placental abruption, a sudden separation of the placenta from the uterine wall that cuts off oxygen to the fetus. Despite the urgency, hospital staff and nursing personnel did not promptly call the attending physician. By the time an emergency cesarean section was performed, the delay had already caused permanent injury to the newborn, Kiera.

Kiera grew up with a seizure disorder, mild cerebral palsy, speech and developmental delays, significant executive function disorder, and memory deficits. Her parents, Todd and Jaime Campbell, spent the next two decades managing her care while the family pursued accountability through the courts. The case was filed roughly 15 years before it reached trial.

Levin and Perconti attorneys Michael Bonamarte and co-counsel from Spiros Law argued that the nursing staff's failure to escalate to a physician in time was a clear departure from the standard of care, and that timely intervention would have prevented Kiera's injuries entirely. The defense had offered $3 million before trial. At closing arguments, counsel asked the jury for $35 to $37 million.

The Coles County jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning a $40 million verdict on March 23, 2023. The breakdown included $20 million for future disability, $5 million for past disability, $5 million for future caretaking expenses, $4 million for future lost earnings, $4.75 million for future emotional distress, $750,000 for past emotional distress, and $500,000 for past pain and suffering.

The award is the largest medical malpractice verdict in Illinois history outside Cook County and the largest in Coles County history. No post-verdict reduction has been reported in available coverage.