Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Cerebral Palsy Results in $7.5M Settlement

An Illinois family will receive $7.5 million as part of a settlement reached with a hospital in birth injury lawsuit filed after their daughter was born with cerebral palsy, which was allegedly caused by medical malpractice. 

The case was brought by Tom and Donna Tribble, who are the legal guardians and grandparents of a now 9-year-old girl, Elliana, born at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in 2002.

According to the complaint, health care professionals involved in Elliana’s birth failed to respond quickly to signs she was undergoing fetal distress.

The family alleged that Elliana was deprived of oxygen for an extended period of time, which resulted in brain damage and cerebral palsy. Elliana suffers severe limitations, requires daily care and the use of a wheel chair. She will have cerebral palsy medical expenses for the rest of her life.

The $7.5 million settlement is likely to be approved by a Cook County judge and is meant to pay for Elliana’s lifelong medical needs. However, the settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing by the hospital or staff.

Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury that can occur before, during or shortly after birth. If the brain of a baby is deprived of oxygen, it can result in irreversible damage that leaves the child with developmental problems, loss of motor functions and other life-long injuries and disabilities associated with cerebral palsy.

Although cerebral palsy can occur without a medical mistake, when the exercise of the proper standards of medical care could have prevented the child’s brain from being deprived of oxygen, medical malpractice lawsuits over cerebral palsy are often filed to obtain compensation for the child.