Hospital found liable, family awarded $211 million in ‘Take Care Of Maya’ trial.
A Landmark Verdict: Florida Children’s Hospital Found Liable in Lawsuit
In a groundbreaking decision, a jury in Florida has held a children’s hospital accountable for its actions in a high-profile lawsuit featured in the Netflix documentary, ”Take Care of Maya.” The hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, has been found liable for a series of charges brought by Maya Kowalski and her family, including false imprisonment, medical negligence, and wrongful death.
“The evidence clearly showed that Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital followed Florida’s mandatory reporting law in reporting suspected child abuse and, when those suspicions were confirmed by the district court, fully complied with Department of Children and Families (DCF) and court orders.”
A Tragic Chain of Events
The trial revolves around the hospital’s actions in 2016 when staff reported Maya’s parents to children’s services. They suspected Maya’s mother, Beata, of suffering from Munchausen by proxy, a condition in which a caregiver exaggerates or fabricates a child’s illness for attention. Tragically, Beata took her own life shortly after, and Maya was released from the hospital to return home.
The jury’s verdict holds Johns Hopkins responsible for falsely imprisoning Maya, fraudulently billing her family, and causing them immense emotional distress. The jury also found that a social worker had physically harmed Maya and that a doctor had neglected her medical needs.
A Landmark Verdict and Substantial Damages
Following the hospital’s liability, the jury awarded the Kowalski family a staggering $211 million in damages. This decision marks a significant victory for the family and sends a powerful message about accountability in the healthcare system.
“We thank the jury for their time and attention during this trial and intend to pursue an appeal based on clear and prejudicial errors throughout the trial and deliberate conduct by plaintiff’s counsel that misled the jury.”
Howard Hunter, the hospital’s representative, has announced their intention to appeal the verdict, citing alleged errors and misleading conduct during the trial.
A Journey of Pain and Advocacy
Maya’s medical journey began when she was just nine years old, experiencing asthma attacks, headaches, and debilitating pain. Despite initial skepticism from some physicians, her parents persisted in finding answers. Eventually, they discovered Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, who diagnosed Maya with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a rare nervous system disorder.
While there are critics of the diagnosis and treatment, the Kowalski family found hope in monthly ketamine infusions, which provided relief for Maya’s condition. However, their ordeal was far from over.
A Heartbreaking Separation
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, acting on suspicions of child abuse, separated Maya from her mother for a grueling 87 days. The family was threatened with arrest if they attempted to remove Maya from the hospital. Tragically, Beata, desperate to regain custody of her daughter, took her own life.
Only after Beata’s death and the subsequent dropping of the case did Maya finally leave the hospital. The heart-wrenching phone calls between Beata and Maya, recorded during their court-ordered separation, are featured in the Netflix documentary.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.