The Biggest Wrongful Death Payouts of 2025

California: $31M Settlement in Child’s Death Linked to Defective Pool Drain

Represented by: Dordick Law Corporation

Dordick Law secured a $31 million partial settlement for the grieving family of a child who tragically died after becoming entrapped by a defective Jacuzzi drain. The litigation spanned multiple parties, including the property management team, pool maintenance contractors, and the product’s manufacturer. During the discovery phase, the legal team uncovered a troubling history of similar incidents and prior lawsuits involving the same drain model. This pattern of negligence strengthened the family's case, reinforcing claims that the defendants failed to mitigate known dangers associated with the product.

The outcome extended beyond financial restitution. As part of the settlement, the manufacturer agreed to notify over 4,000 distributors to remove and replace the hazardous drain, representing a rare and significant product safety reform achieved through civil litigation. The case illustrates the broader impact of strategic litigation—not only securing justice for individual victims but also catalyzing industry-wide change to prevent future harm.

California: $30.5M Jury Verdict in Fatal Traffic Stop Shooting by Deputy

Represented by: Dale Galipo, Toni Jaramilla

A federal jury has awarded $30.5 million to the family of Mickel Lewis Sr., who was fatally shot five times, twice in the back, by Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Ayala during an allegedly unwarranted traffic stop in October 2020. The civil lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of California, accused Ayala and the county of excessive and unreasonable force, battery, negligence, and violations of Lewis’ civil rights. The jury found in favor of the plaintiffs, allocating $5 million for the loss of life, $1 million for pre-death pain and suffering, and $24.5 million in wrongful death damages to Lewis’ children.

Attorneys representing the family, including lead counsel Dale Galipo and civil rights attorney Toni Jaramilla, described the verdict as one of the largest police shooting awards in California history—and the largest ever in Fresno. Evidence presented at trial, including forensic findings and witness testimony, contradicted the deputy’s account that Lewis had reached under his seat for a weapon. Further claims included that Ayala rendered no medical aid and that sheriff’s deputies harassed the family at Lewis’ memorial. Despite a prior internal review clearing Ayala’s actions, the jury’s swift decision—following just 4.5 hours of deliberation—reflects a powerful repudiation of the department’s justification for lethal force.

Connecticut: $22.8M Jury Award in Maternal Death After C-Section

Represented by: Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, P.C.

A Connecticut jury awarded nearly $23 million to the family of Maura Gallagher, a 38-year-old mother who died following childbirth at Stamford Hospital in 2017. The jury found that Dr. Maria Mazzeo and Stamford Anesthesiology failed to meet the prevailing professional standard of care in treating Gallagher, who was giving birth to twins via C-section. Despite symptoms indicating preeclampsia—including low platelet counts and new-onset hypertension—Dr. Mazzeo allegedly proceeded with surgery without awaiting critical test results. Gallagher later suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage and was declared brain dead just hours after delivery. The jury's award included $20 million in non-economic damages and $2.8 million in economic losses.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2018, accused several parties of negligence, mismanagement, and the destruction of medical evidence. While multiple defendants, including Stamford Hospital and Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, were dismissed or settled pretrial, Mazzeo and Stamford Anesthesiology were held responsible for $11.4 million of the total verdict. Plaintiffs’ counsel, Steve Errante, emphasized that the decision affirms the family's long-held belief that Gallagher’s death was preventable and caused by medical error. In a statement, Stamford Health expressed sympathy for the family but disagreed with the verdict, maintaining that appropriate care was provided.

South Carolina: $16M Verdict Over Infant Death Following Labor Delays

Represented by: McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC

A Spartanburg County jury awarded $16 million to the family of an infant who died shortly after birth due to alleged medical negligence during labor and delivery. Represented by attorney Ashley Creech of McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, the family claimed that medical providers failed to respond adequately to clear signs of fetal distress. Despite concerning fetal monitoring data and the presence of meconium, which indicated potential fetal compromise, the on-call physician delayed critical interventions, including the escalation of Pitocin and the decision to proceed with a cesarean section. After nearly 29 hours in the hospital, an emergency C-section was finally performed, but the delay proved fatal—the newborn suffered a brain injury and multiple organ failure before dying shortly after birth.

Attorney Creech argued that the tragic outcome was entirely preventable had the medical team responded appropriately and in a timely manner to the fetal warning signs. The jury’s decision to award $16 million reflects both the magnitude of the loss and a call for accountability in South Carolina’s healthcare system. “No amount can fully restore what our client has lost, but this jury has taken a critical step toward justice and accountability,” Creech said following the verdict. As one of the largest medical malpractice awards in the state, the case sends a strong signal to providers about the consequences of ignoring standard care protocols in high-risk pregnancies.

Georgia: $13.75M Verdict in Fatal Sedation Error During Outpatient Procedure

Represented by: McArthur Law Firm

The family of Bennie Moore, a 337-pound woman who died from anesthesia complications during a diagnostic procedure, was awarded $13.75 million by a Bibb County jury. Represented by attorney Katherine McArthur, the plaintiffs argued that both an anesthesiologist and his assistant failed to follow basic safety protocols for a high-risk patient. Moore, who had obstructive sleep apnea and other health issues, was a poor candidate for deep sedation without enhanced monitoring. The assistant allegedly administered too much anesthetic too quickly, causing Moore to stop breathing. The lack of timely intervention led to a hypoxic brain injury and cardiac arrest, leaving Moore in a vegetative state until her death weeks later from sepsis and cardiac complications.

The jury apportioned 82.5% of the fault to the anesthesiologist’s assistant, Ginny Trogdon, and 17.5% to supervising anesthesiologist Dr. David McKinney. The verdict included $10.5 million for wrongful death, $2.5 million for pain and suffering, and $775,000 for medical expenses. The lawsuit emphasized failures in communication and oversight—McKinney never informed Trogdon of Moore’s critical health risks, and was supervising another procedure on a different floor. Expert testimony suggested that earlier recognition of the airway obstruction could have prevented the fatal outcome. McArthur described the verdict as a significant step toward accountability, underscoring the importance of vigilance in anesthetic care for vulnerable patients.

Illinois: $10.5M Verdict After Fatal Truck Crash Involving Unlicensed Driver

Represented by: Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

A Cook County jury awarded $10.5 million to Krzysztof Jarosz, the husband of Sylwia Jarosz, a suburban kindergarten teacher who was fatally struck by a dump truck while biking to work in September 2022. The truck, operated by an unlicensed and inexperienced driver, was carrying unsecured construction debris when it collided with another vehicle and veered into Sylwia. She was critically injured and died six hours later. The jury's award included compensation for past and future loss of society, grief, mental suffering, and loss of financial support. Although AJD Construction Concrete Corp., the employer of driver Nicolas Moreno, admitted liability shortly before trial, the case proceeded to a two-day damages trial.

The lawsuit alleged egregious hiring and oversight failures by AJD, including hiring Moreno without conducting a background check or confirming his commercial driving credentials. Moreno had a history of serious traffic violations—including reckless driving and prior collisions—yet was still allowed to operate a heavy dump truck with an attached trailer. Plaintiff’s counsel, Lance Northcutt, emphasized that the tragic outcome was entirely preventable and underscored the profound ripple effect Sylwia’s death had on her family, her students, and the community. “Those children were there waiting for her only to never see her again,” Northcutt said, calling the incident a “truly preventable tragedy.”

Conclusion

The year’s largest wrongful death awards highlight a judicial climate increasingly focused on accountability and systemic reform. Whether involving medical negligence, law enforcement misconduct, or product liability, these verdicts reflect a broader demand for justice and institutional responsibility. In each case, juries responded decisively to preventable loss, reinforcing the legal system’s role in deterring future harm.