Jury Awards $40 Million To Family Of College Student Who Died After Detroit Hospital ER Visit

DETROIT, MI — A Wayne County jury found that a 26-year-old college student’s death was the fault of Detroit Medical Center and awarded her family a $40 million, according the family’s attorney. Hospital officials, though, said they expect the settlement to be decreased, as required by Michigan law.

Regardless, attorney Geoffrey Fiegler said the hospital had a “mind-boggling” defense during the wrongful death case of Terrea Holly. The 26-year-old went to the Detroit Receiving Hospital Emergency Room on Oct. 17, 2013, with shortness of breath and showing signs of a pulmonary embolism. The ER staff said she had a virus and sent her home. The next day, she was brought back to the hospital unconscious and died.

“At different points during the trial, (Detroit Medical Center) defended the case on the basis that Terrea was fat, African American, and that it was reasonable to send her home despite all the signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism,” Fiegler said. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Detroit Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Detroit Receiving Hospital officials said they “are disappointed with the verdict” and remain committed to providing safe, quality care to patients, according to a report by the Detroit News. Hospital officials said Judge Annette Berry, who presided over the case, is considering a reduced settlement in the case.