On July 8, 2006 Frances Feinstein, a 75 year old patient at Norwegian Christian Home & Health Center (“Norwegian” – an assisted living facility in Brooklyn), was found on the floor with a knot on her forehead, evidently the result of a fall. The head trauma caused a brain injury requiring transfer to a hospital and then to a nursing home where Ms. Feinstein died 14 months later on September 14, 2007 without ever returning to Norwegian.

Ms. Feinstein’s children commenced a lawsuit against Norwegian and decedent’s personal physician. They claimed that the defendants were negligent in failing to properly assess their mother and and provide her with the appropriate level of care for her pre-existing medical conditions (dementia and limited vision) and that these failures resulted in her fall. There was no claim that defendants caused Ms. Feinstein’s death (which was from unrelated causes); their claim was that had she been assessed as needing a higher level of care and closer monitoring fall precautions would have prevented her fall and her resulting traumatic brain injuries.

The Kings County jury returned a verdict in plaintiffs’ favor apportioning liability 70% to the physician and 30% to the facility and awarding pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life damages in the sum of $1,500,000 (past – 14 months).

In Feinstein v. Norwegian Christian Home & Health Center, Inc. (2d Dept. 2016), the liability verdict was affirmed; however, the court ordered a reduction of the damages award to $550,000.

Here are the injury details:

• facial hematoma (described as “racoon eyes”)
• chronic subdural hematoma
• tonic clonic seizures
• bedridden (in fetal position due to contractures)
• pain
• unable to speak
• mental deterioration, hallucinations, anguish and emotional distress

Plaintiffs’ expert neurologist testified that the head injury caused all of the foregoing and that pain medication (Tylenol) was given thereafter because Ms. Feinstein appeared to be in pain and discomfort. He also testified that on occasions at the nursing home she was aware of her environment and went from “quite intact at points to quite out of touch at other points.”

Decedent’s children visited often and both testified at trial. Her daughter testified that when massaging her mother’s arms and legs she could not straighten them out and her mother, unable to coherently communicate, would cry out in pain when she tried.

The defense contended that the damages award was excessive because there was insufficient evidence that Ms. Feinstein was conscious for significant periods of time, none of the nursing pain assessments in the medical records noted that decedent was in pain and it did not appear that the prescribed Tylenol was ever given.

Inside Information:

• During trial, plaintiffs settled with Norwegian for $200,000. Therefore, plaintiffs’ judgment (against the physician) was in the principal sum of $385,000. (70% of $550,000).