$1 MILLION AWARD IN MELANOMA CASE

$1 MILLION AWARD IN MELANOMA CASE

Lawyers for St. James Hospital and Medical Center and the family of a man who died 12 years after the hospital allegedly failed to detect a malignant skin lesion have settled a wrongful-death lawsuit for $1 million. In December 1988, the hospital’s pathology department allegedly failed to diagnose a malignant melanoma that spread to Jarrett Stitak’s lungs and brain. He died in March 2001.

Cook County Circuit Judge William D. Maddux, presiding judge of the Law Division, approved the settlement. Robert J. Napleton represented the plaintiff.

Patricia Stitak v. Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc., d/b/a St. James Hospital, No. 00 L 3506.