MALONE — A jury has awarded a Fort Covington woman $2.9 million for injuries suffered during an X-ray examination at Alice Hyde Medical Center.
Lawyers for Kathryn Brethour say it is the biggest personal-injury award ever in Franklin County.
In 2002, Brethour was at Alice Hyde Medical Center for a routine barium swallow.
As the technician was positioning the X-ray tube over Brethour, a cord caught the machine's keypad, causing it to fall onto Brethour's forehead.
She suffered traumatic brain injury, according to Stephen R. Coffey, one of Brethour's attorneys.
Brethour filed a personal-injury lawsuit against both Alice Hyde and the X-ray company, S&W X-Ray, claiming negligence.
MANUFACTURER CLEARED
An Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court decision denied Brethour's motion for summary judgement against S&W, saying that the company had installed the equipment correctly to manufacturer's specifications and the Medical Center's instructions and that no issues had occurred related to the keypad's attachment in six years of operation.
AWARD
On Oct. 28, a six-person Supreme Court jury in Franklin County found in favor of Brethour. She was awarded $2.85 million.
About $1.8 million of the funds were for future medical costs, and more than $1 million was awarded for pain and suffering and loss of earnings.
"The hospital offered nothing to settle this case," Coffey said.
'ISOLATED CASE'
Cathlyn Lamitie, communications director at Alice Hyde, said the hospital wants to assure the community that it does everything it can to keep patients safe.
"This was an unfortunate and isolated occurrence that happened almost 10 years ago," Lamitie said.
"Alice Hyde Medical Center is disappointed in the decision."
Lamitie said the hospital will be considering their next steps over the coming weeks.
Email Rebecca Webster at: rwebster@pressrepublican.com
