Karen Evans from The Cochran Firm - D.C., assisted by her co-counsel Rabiah Abdullah and Kayann Chambers, also of the D.C. office, won a more than $18 million dollar verdict from a Prince George's County jury recently following a month-long trial for a Maryland woman whose left leg was amputated after delays in treatment following a fall on an icy sidewalk in 2020.

Jamie White, who was 23 at the time of the incident, was walking to work when she fell, injuring her elbow and leg.  A call was placed to Prince George's County 911 Center at around 7:30 a.m. and EMS personnel arrived to treat her.

After being treated at the scene she was taken by ambulance to Prince George's Hospital Emergency Department where she underwent a variety of tests and x-rays.  It was determined that Ms. White dislocated her left knee.

According to the lawsuit filed on Ms. White's behalf in Prince George's County against a number of parties, it is well-known that a dislocated knee may cause vascular injuries, which if aren't immediately identified and treated can be potentially limb threatening.

The complaint alleged that delays in treatment led to hours-long ischemia, a condition that causes oxygen deprivation to tissues and organs.

Seven hours later, Ms. White underwent a six-hour surgery to restore blood flow to her leg.  The repair initially worked but clotted within two to three hours.  Despite the loss of circulation, another seven hours passed before she was taken back to surgery.  By the time blood flow was restored, the two prolonged episodes of ischemia within 24 hours had caused irreversible muscle and nerve damage.  After months of additional surgeries attempting to save the limb, she ultimately required an above-the-knee amputation eight months later.

The complaint alleged medical negligence and a failure to timely diagnose and treat limb ischemia.

Because non-economic losses in Maryland medical malpractice cases are capped, Ms. White's $15 million non-economic losses award will be reduced to $830,000, and her total recovery will be approximately $4.5 million.