ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County jury awarded a $48.1 million verdict to the Simon Law Firm in a lawsuit against Mercy Hospital.

The verdict came on March 25, which involved a malpractice case that left a child permanently brain-damaged after doctors insisted that the baby’s mother continue pushing for 12 hours. 

The mother who gave birth on May 3, 2020, was also a cardiac nurse at Mercy. The lawsuit claimed that there were warning signs that the child was distressed.

Before the baby boy was 24 hours old, he had seizures and spent 46 days in the NICU. The mother is now a full-time caretaker for her son and does not work for Mercy.

In the verdict, about $28.1 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages were awarded against Mercy Hospital, Mercy Clinic and Dr. Daniel McNeive.

With the verdict delivered, Simon Law Firm celebrated the announcement in a social media post on Facebook.

“After working with this family for four years, I’m happy justice was served in this case,” said Simon Law Attorney Liz Lenivy. “We’re very pleased the jury took so much time and care in listening to the evidence and delivering a just result.”

The trial lasted for about three weeks.