A jury in Aroostook County Superior Court returned a $23.1 million medical malpractice verdict on June 18, 2026, finding Northern Light AR Gould Hospital and Northern Light Health negligent in care that resulted in Robert Giordano’s permanent paralysis. According to a firm announcement, the award was characterized as the largest non-death medical malpractice verdict in Maine’s history and the largest medical malpractice verdict of any kind in the region north of Portland. The trial lasted nearly two weeks, featured testimony from thirteen expert witnesses, and concluded with approximately three hours of jury deliberations. The damages were described as addressing extensive past and future medical needs and significant noneconomic harms.
Trial Result and Liability Findings
The verdict followed a presentation centered on whether health system providers failed to identify and act on signs of spinal cord compression and whether those omissions were a substantial factor in the plaintiff’s catastrophic outcome. The jury found Northern Light AR Gould Hospital and Northern Light Health negligent, and it awarded $23.1 million in damages. The matter proceeded to verdict after nearly two weeks of trial, with thirteen expert witnesses testifying on issues that included radiology interpretation, outpatient assessment of neurological complaints, and causation related to spinal cord compromise.
In a statement attributed to counsel, the plaintiff’s trial team framed the verdict as confirming that the paralysis was avoidable with timely recognition and escalation of care. Attorney Travis M. Brennan said in a statement, “The jury’s verdict provided validation for our client that this tragic situation never should have happened.” While the record includes multiple points of alleged missed opportunity, the jury’s finding reflects acceptance of the plaintiff’s theory that earlier identification of a dangerous spinal finding and a more urgent response to worsening neurological symptoms would have changed the clinical trajectory.
Alleged Care Lapses Leading to Progressive Neurologic Decline
Court filings described the case as originating in December 2020, when Giordano, then 40 and living in Madawaska, presented to the emergency department at Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle after a fall. A CT scan was performed, but the plaintiff contended that the interpreting radiologist failed to identify a large bony calcification that had invaded the spinal canal and created concern for spinal cord compression. The plaintiff alleged he was discharged without being informed of the risk and without urgent follow-up, leaving an evolving spinal pathology unaddressed during a period when intervention might have prevented irreversible injury.
Over the next six weeks, Giordano’s neurological symptoms were described as progressively worsening. The day before the paralysis, the plaintiff reported being unable to stand without falling when he returned to his primary care provider, but the symptoms were allegedly dismissed and attributed to an attempt to obtain pain medication, with a diagnosis of chronic pain. An orthopedic specialist who evaluated him the same day allegedly failed to recognize the presentation as a neurologic emergency and did not direct him to seek immediate emergency evaluation. The plaintiff was represented at trial by Berman & Simmons, P.A., according to the announcement.
Damages, Ongoing Medical Needs, and Broader Implications
The damages were described as “record” damages intended to cover extraordinary past and future medical expenses and significant noneconomic losses, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, permanent impairment, and loss of consortium. The award’s size underscores the evidentiary weight juries may place on lifetime care costs and functional loss when paralysis results in extensive durable medical equipment needs, long-term clinical services, and major changes to housing and daily living support.
According to the case description, the paralysis occurred after Giordano called 911 the day after the outpatient encounters. He was transported to Cary Medical Center and then airlifted to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where an MRI confirmed spinal cord compression from the large bony calcification. Two surgeries performed over successive days did not restore function. The plaintiff was described as permanently paralyzed from the chest down, without bladder or bowel function, and requiring ongoing medical care for the remainder of his life. Beyond the parties, the matter highlights recurring risk points in medical negligence litigation: communication of critical imaging findings, adherence to internal escalation policies, and recognition of progressive neurological deficits as time-sensitive emergencies.
What Happens Next Procedurally
With a jury verdict entered, the post-trial phase typically involves potential motions challenging liability findings, damages, or trial rulings, as well as judgment entry issues that may affect accrual of interest and timing of enforcement. Depending on the relief sought, defendants may pursue motions addressing alleged legal errors, evidentiary rulings, or jury instructions, while plaintiffs may oppose any remittitur request or seek to preserve the full scope of the award as supported by the trial record.
Appellate options may follow final judgment, including review of whether the evidence supported causation and damages and whether the trial court’s management of expert testimony and other proof complied with governing standards. If the parties do not reach a negotiated resolution, enforcement proceedings and structured payment considerations can become relevant in cases involving substantial future care components. The outcome also illustrates how malpractice disputes involving delayed diagnosis and missed escalation can produce significant exposure when injuries are permanent and resource-intensive, even without a wrongful-death component.
