A small boy of four in Virginia Beach is now a multimillionaire. A birth injury lawsuit filed by his mother after her son was permanently disabled due to birth injuries has netted $60,000 to the mother for medical expense reimbursement, and the amount of $2.3 million in damages to the boy. This award will allow the boy to have medical care, assistance, and compensation for difficulties and challenges he will face as an adult.
The defendants in the case included nurse-midwife Rhonda Bertholf, and the medical practice of Dr. Richard M. Valentine Jr. M.D.,PC. Because Valentine’s practice is associated with Bertholf he was named as a defendant in the birth injury malpractice suit even though he had no involvement in the actual delivery.
Information about the birth details, circumstances and the specifics of the birth injury were not disclosed except that the mother who filed the suit claims that her son’s right arm is permanently disabled. This case began on November 15th and the jury returned the verdict on November 19th after deliberating for 5 hours. At this time there could be an appeal of the verdict by either Dr. Valentine or Ms. Bertholf, however it is unknown whether either party has the intention to file an appeal.
Birth injury cases are tragic and often overwhelmingly expensive for parents who went into delivery expecting to go home shortly thereafter with a healthy happy baby, but instead find themselves dealing with disabilities, brain damage and a future of constant care for their child. Lawsuits and malpractice cases are often the only way these parents have a hope of providing the care their child needs.
