Jury: Hospital must pay $6M

SANDUSKY — An Erie County jury awarded damages to a Sandusky man who claimed Firelands Regional Medical Center failed in its duty of care to him. The lawsuit, filed by Michael P. Johnson, alleged that, during a March 2018 hospital stay, he was started on seven new medications and subsequently fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The trial began on Sept. 19 and concluded on Thursday when the eight-member jury voted 6-2 to side with Johnson and his wife. Jurors determined Johnson should be paid more than $2.1 million for past and future medical expenses, $650,000 for pain and suffering, $1.2 million for loss of enjoyment of life and $1.2 million for mental anguish. Johnson's wife, Melissa, was awarded a little more than $1 million for loss of consortium. The total award topped $6.1 million. "The jury's verdict sent a very clear message to all of Erie County and beyond: Policies matter, patient safety rules matter and everyone deserves the same standard of medical care," according to a news release Tittle & Perlmuter, the law office who represented the Johnsons. Firelands Health, in a statement, said it was disappointed in the verdict. "We have complete faith and confidence in our excellent nursing team who serve Firelands Health and the region," the statement read. "We do appreciate the service of the jury and are pleased that this issue has been resolved for both parties. We wish the Johnson family well."