Reviewed By: Partner & Trial Attorney Miranda Soucie | Last Reviewed & Updated: September 24, 2026
Case Snapshot
- Case Type: Medical Malpractice / Birth Injury
- Jurisdiction: Coles County, Illinois (Mattoon)
- Verdict: $40,000,000 (Historic record for Illinois outside Cook County)
- Deliberation Time: Under 3 hours
- Plaintiffs: Kiera Campbell (19), Todd & Jaime Campbell
- Defendants: Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center & Attending Nurse
- Core Allegation: Delayed emergency C-section following placental abruption, leading to permanent brain injury
- Plaintiff Counsel: Spiros Law & Levin & Perconti
*Past results are not a guarantee or prediction of future results.
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 27, 2023) — A Coles County jury has awarded $40 million to 19-year-old Kiera Campbell and her parents, Todd and Jaime Campbell, described by plaintiff’s counsel as the largest medical malpractice verdict in Illinois history outside of Cook County.
Following a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon and an attending nurse liable for preventable birth injuries.
The Medical Failure
In May 2003, Jaime Campbell arrived at the hospital at 40 weeks pregnant experiencing bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and cramping caused by placental abruption.
Despite the critical emergency, staff delayed calling the attending physician to perform an immediate C-section. The oxygen deprivation left Kiera with:
- Severe executive functioning deficits and memory impairment
- Mild cerebral palsy
- Seizure disorder
- Speech and developmental delays
While intensive therapy and family support enabled Kiera to graduate high school and hold a part-time job, her permanent cognitive injuries require lifelong care and support.
The Trial & 15-Year Battle
The lawsuit was first filed 15 years ago when Kiera was four years old. Prior to trial, the defense offered a $3 million settlement, arguing Kiera’s injuries were not as severe as claimed.
During closing arguments, plaintiff counsel requested between $35 million and $37 million. The jury surpassed that request, awarding $40 million.
“The verdict shows that people in this country, whether in urban or rural communities, will not tolerate poor healthcare. On the outside, Kiera looks like a normal 19-year-old, but the damage to her brain has limited her potential… The verdict is just and reflective of complete compensation.”
— Mike Bonamarte, Managing Partner, Levin & Perconti
“This verdict is a great relief. We will never get what most people call normal, but we can finally put this behind us and move forward. We no longer have to worry about Kiera being taken care of if something ever happened to us.”
— Todd Campbell, Father
Verdict Breakdown
Trial Legal Team
The family was represented by Spiros Law and Levin & Perconti:
- Miranda Soucie (Partner, Spiros Law)
- Mike Bonamarte (Managing Partner, Levin & Perconti)
- Cari Silverman (Partner, Levin & Perconti)
- Seth Cardeli (Partner, Levin & Perconti)
Miranda Soucie, Partner at Spiros Law
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