Suffering a traumatic brain injury at birth through medical negligence often leads to a life of challenges. Not getting paid the $30.8 million awarded to you by a jury for your injury makes a challenging life even harder. This is just what has happened to a 14-year-old teenager thanks to the reticence of Florida legislatures, according to the teen’s attorneys.
Aaron Edwards was born at the Lee Memorial Health System in Florida in 1997. A jury determined in 2007 that Lee Memorial was negligent and failed to follow standard hospital rules and regulations, awarding the young victim $30.8 million.
Four years later, the family has been unable to collect the money.
The medical institution, a governmental entity, must have its claims reviewed by the Florida legislature before payments are made.
“It has become common practice with this Florida legislature to just sit on these claims bills so that they are rarely concluded,” said Edwards’ attorneys.
“My Christmas wish this year is for the state of Florida to give me a fair hearing so that we can have the money for my injuries that the court said we should have,” Edwards wrote, using a rudimentary communications board over a three week period.
We hope he gets his wish.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – birth trauma attorneys
