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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFamily of Liberian man who died of Ebola in Dallas settles with hospital
The settlement, reached with Texas Health Resources (THR), Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and the emergency physicians group involved in Duncans care, will be divided among his four children, aged 12 to 22, as well as his mother and father, the familys lawyer announced on Wednesday. Two children live in the US, one in Liberia and the youngest in Ghana. His mother lives in North Carolina, and his father in Liberia.
"The family lawyer said the deal was as good or better than what they could have won had the case gone to court, given the states strict medical malpractice laws."
Full Story at Link: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/12/thomas-eric-duncan-family-settlement-dallas-hospital
hlthe2b
(102,101 posts)got NOTHING--ya know Texas law and all
I surely hope the family helps her.
onenote
(42,530 posts)LeftInTX
(25,084 posts)According to the family's attorney:
The law in the state of Texas and everywhere would require that there be an actual spouse to recover or that it be a child or a parent of a deceased.
I don't know what "everywhere" means. I do know that they were wise to file a suit ASAP. Even worse: Texas has a freaking 30 day rule.
gvstn
(2,805 posts)That is ridiculous on its face. One can't even get the facts in 30 days let alone comprehend their loss and whether there is negligence and get an attorney etc. That seems a giveaway to the insurance companies beyond reason.
I'm glad that a decent attorney stepped in to help Eric Duncan's family.
On their own, I'm sure they would have waited until they had settled into a new living quarters and gone through the grieving process etc. Then it would have been too late.
LeftInTX
(25,084 posts)Apparently expert witnesses need to be deposed within 30 days of filing. Some poor woman lost a case a few years ago and I interpreted that it needed to be filed within 30 days.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"given the states strict medical malpractice laws..."
Bear in mind, capping civil settlements was due to Texas Attorney General Gov Greg Abbott. The same Greg Abbott who, in 1984 sued a homeowner for, and received, ten million dollars and a monthly stipend for life in civil settlement. Abbott said the reforms he had backed and helped cement in court rulings had been necessary to curb a rash of frivolous lawsuits.