Judge awards $752K in bench trial after panel reverses $1.5M verdict

By Lauraann Wood Law Bulletin staff writer

Posted July 28, 2016 2:46 PM

A Kankakee County judge awarded $752,000 to the family of a woman who died after her doctor failed to diagnose a case of chickenpox.The ruling came in the 21st Judicial Circuit Court after a 3rd District Appellate Court panel reversed a jury’s previous $1.5 million verdict in plaintiff Rita Steele’s medical-malpractice case.The parties waived their right to a jury trial ahead of their second go-around, opting for a two-week bench trial before Circuit Judge Adrienne W. Albrecht that ended July 21.Steele sued Dr. …

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