The continued surge in the number of large medical malpractice jury verdicts and out-of-court settlements presents significant challenges for the medical community and insurers in New York and other parts of the country. With an increasingly complex medico-legal environment and high financial stakes, the need for strategic risk management and medical reform is more pressing than ever.

A Landmark Medical Malpractice Verdict in New York

In December 2023, a jury in New York ordered Westchester Medical Center Health Network to pay a staggering $120 million to a patient and his family. This verdict came after delayed stroke care resulted in significant brain damage. Such massive awards, termed “nuclear verdicts,” are becoming more common against physicians and hospitals across the United States, signaling a worrying trend for the medical community.