Medical Malpractice – $4.2 Million Jury Verdict (Bridgeport, 2021)
James Taylor had spent his career helping others as a dedicated social worker for the State of Connecticut. At 50, he and his wife Linda were looking forward to retirement, travel, and enjoying the next chapter of life together.
James had a history of stroke but was doing well under the care of his neurologist. He was stable on a blood-thinner that protected him from future strokes. But when he developed a small rectal growth in 2015, a colorectal surgeon recommended surgery — and instructed him to stop his blood-thinner for five days beforehand. That decision changed his life.
The surgery took place at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. When James awoke, he was unable to move the left side of his body. He had suffered a massive stroke. Despite being rushed to Yale for a specialized procedure, the damage was permanent.
James spent months in the hospital, unable to speak or walk. With determination — and Linda by his side — he worked through intensive rehabilitation and eventually returned home. Even so, his life was permanently altered. He now lives with left-sided weakness, speech difficulties, seizures, and requires help with most daily activities. His condition is expected to worsen over time.
Our investigation showed that this tragedy was preventable. Safer, non-surgical options existed that did not require stopping his critical medication. The surgeon never consulted James’s neurologist and moved forward without fully considering the risks. Simply put, James should never have been taken off his blood-thinner for this type of procedure.
The defense argued that surgery was necessary and the stroke was just a rare complication. With the help of medical experts — including James’s neurologist — we proved otherwise. The jury returned a $4.2 million verdict: $3.2 million to James for his injuries and $1 million to Linda for the loss of their shared life.
This case underscored a simple but vital truth: when patients are stable on lifesaving medications, those decisions cannot be taken lightly. James and Linda deserved better.
Names and identifying details have been changed to protect client privacy.