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WILKES-BARRE — A $6.2 million verdict was rendered on Wednesday in a medical malpractice case against defendants including Pinnacle Health Hospitals, Pinnacle Health Pediatric Surgery Associates, Pinnacle Health System and Geisinger Health System.
Judge Lisa Gelb presided over a jury trial that lasted about four weeks and included the presentation of expert medical witnesses who testified the 2009 death of 2-year-old Lauren Readler could have been prevented.
Attorney Joseph A. Quinn Jr. of the Kingston firm Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn representing plaintiffs Thomas and Lori Readler, administrators of the estate of their daughter, said the death was “unnecessary and preventable.”
Quinn presented medical experts who testified that staff at the named medical facilities had failed to timely and adequately respond Lauren’s symptoms, diagnosed as gastroparesis, which required surgical intervention.
Quinn said he felt he was also legally strong on cross examination of health care facility’s employees.
He alleges at one point Lauren was released to her parents without specific discharge instructions.
He said that the failure to surgically intervene resulted in a gastric perforation and ultimately in Lauren’s death.
Quinn said that although no monetary award could replace the life of a loved one who had died so young and so unnecessarily, he was pleased with the jury’s verdict.
“The jury has spoken,” he said. “They got it right. They were incredibly attentive.”
Quinn said Pinnacle Health Hospital was responsible for the actions of the doctors they employ. However, several pediatric staff were also named in the suit, including Dr. Domingo Alvear, Dr. Adriane Lioudis and Dr. Michael Veliuno.
“The defendants continue to deny any responsibility in regard to the events that led to Lauren’s death,” said Quinn.
Quinn said a petition for delayed damages would be filed in the near future, which if successful, would increase the award.