Free Newsletter
Disoriented patient died after slipping out of hospital — $1M settlement
Virginia Lawyers Weekly//October 10, 2022//
Type of action: Medical malpractice
Injuries alleged: Death
Name of judge or mediator: Judge Diane M. Strickland (Ret.)
Date resolved: 3/4/2022
Verdict or settlement: Settlement
Amount: $1,000,000
Attorney for plaintiff (and city): Les S. Bowers, Charlottesville
Description of case: A man with dementia, a recent head injury, a possible stroke, and ongoing confusion and disorientation, eloped from the hospital in the middle of the night. A prolonged search was unsuccessful. He was ultimately found deceased. Breaches were alleged against the hospital that it allowed the patient to elope and it delayed reporting of the elopement to the authorities. The defense argued that the hospital took reasonable measures to prevent the elopement and such measures were within the standard of care. The defense also maintained that the hospital’s response to the elopement was timely and appropriate. The case resolved confidentially prior to filing of suit.
Les S. Bowers, plaintiff’s counsel, provided case information. [022-T-119]
Related Content
Verdicts & Settlements
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Unicycle rider dies after being hit by car
- Premises Liability – Delivery driver injured by porch decking collapse
- Premises Liability – Fall down stairs at resort results in injuries, death
- Medical Malpractice – Jurors side with doctor in suit over rescue surgery
- Workers’ Compensation- Seasonal worker paralyzed in tobacco baler accident
- Medical Malpractice- Death from cancer followed stomach pain misdiagnosis
- Workers’ Compensation – Struck in face by forklift, woman suffers brain injury
- Negligence and Tort – Group home resident falls, sustaining femur fracture
- Medical Malpractice – Nursing facility patient dies after fracturing ankle in fall
- Medical Malpractice- Patient has bladder injury during colostomy reversal
- Premises Liability- Apartment guest burned by gas grill spewing fire
Opinion Digests
- The Most Important Opinions, January-June 2026
- Criminal – Court of Appeals wrongly vacated murder conviction
- Tort – U.Va. prevails on former professor’s claims
- Constitutional – Company’s due process claim against county is dismissed
- Administrative – Plaintiffs’ effort to enjoin ITC proceeding fails
- Patent and trademark – Amazon patent infringement suit transferred to New Jersey
- Tort – Chesterfield County dismissed from wrongful death suit
- Consumer Protection – Lawsuit over kratom survives motion to dismiss
- Criminal – Defendant convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a child
- Evidence – Motion to exclude transmission expert is rejected
- Damages – Court awards pre-judgment interest following parties’ acquiescence
- Employment – Court approves overtime wage collective action settlement
