More on the Florida Med Mal Case

From InsuranceJournal.com

Fla. Jury Awards $217M to Misdiagnosed Stroke Patient

A Florida jury increased to nearly $217 million the damages awarded to a Tampa man who was left brain-damaged and disabled after hospital emergency room doctors misdiagnosed stroke symptoms.

The Hillsborough County jury added $100.1 million in punitive damages for Allan Navarro and his family after returning a verdict of nearly $116.7 million for compensatory damages a few days earlier, following testimony in a three-week civil trial.

Family attorney Steve Yerrid said he'll pursue damages from the insurance company, which is now claiming in a lawsuit that it has no duty to defend Austin because the doctor breached his contract.

"We're coming after them next,'' vowed Yerrid, who was part of a team of lawyers that brought Florida's landmark suit against tobacco companies and has won numerous other multimillion dollar verdicts.

"For all those people who believe in tort reform, they better find a new day job,'' Yerrid said. "We're here to stay.''