STATEMENT OF RAFAL AND MARIOLA ZAPALSKI
On behalf of myself and my wife, we would like to say a few words about the seven long years that we have been waiting for this day. We both came from Poland to America for a better life. My wife and I were very happy in the Chicago area and we trusted the doctors here. Instead, because a doctor did not take care of my wife properly, she is a different person for the rest of her life. We were so happy together. Now she cries all the time because she needs care all the time. I need to help her all the time with everything. I cry for her, too.
A jury found that this doctor should have known better. Our attorneys at Clifford Law Offices helped to show these 12 people that even though my English may not be the best, we still deserve the best medical treatment. Instead, he ignored the risk factors and the trust that we put in him, and he did this to my wife. I wish I had my wife back the way she was. I wish we could laugh and go on walks together. I wish we could spend the rest of our days in a country that we dreamed would be a wonderful life. Instead it is a nightmare as that will never happen.
I want to particularly thank my lawyers, Brad Cosgrove, Sarah King and Susan Capra who did such an excellent job on this case. They understand what is right and they showed that to the jury. They are outstanding lawyers and everyone at Clifford Law Offices did a tremendous job to help us through our darkest hours over the years. No one should have to go through what we did, and the jury sent a message to my wife’s doctor and to all doctors to pay closer attention to the medication they are prescribing. They have their patients’ lives in their hands, and they need to treat every single patient as an individual person. They need to be more careful when prescribing dangerous drugs to make sure they are right for the person. He didn’t take care of my wife, and now I have to do that for her. This verdict will allow me to get the help that she needs for the many years to come. Thank you.
The media in Chicago and around the state covered the $14 million verdict obtained by Clifford Law Offices’ partner Bradley Cosgrove and associate Sarah King late Friday. A Cook County jury in Chicago found against her doctor who had prescribed the birth control pill, Yasmin, for a 37-year-old woman from Elmwood Park. She suffered a debilitating stroke 13 days after starting the medication. She now is in a wheelchair and requires round-the-clock care with a paralyzed left side and permanent brain damage. To view some of this coverage, see below: The Chicago Tribune, April 18th, 2014, “Woman Who Suffered Stroke Awarded $14 Million In Birth Control Case”. The Chicago Sun-Times, April 18th, 2014, “$14 Mil. Awarded to Woman Who Suffered Stroke After Taking Medication”. ABC News, April 19th, 2014, “Suburban Woman Wins $14M Verdict in Yasmin Case”. Illinois News Network, April 18th, 2014, “Clifford Law Obtains $14 Million Verdict for Inappropriate Prescription of Yasmin in Chicago”. WGN-TV, April 19th, 2014, “Stroke Victim Wins $14M in Birth Control Case”. Via the Associated Press: Idaho Statesman Newspaper, April, 19th, 2014, “$14M Awarded in Suit Linking Contraceptive, Stroke”. Winnipeg Free Press, April 19th, 2014, “Suburban Chicago Woman Awarded $14M in Lawsuit Against Doctor Linking Contraceptive, Stroke”. The New Zealand Herald, April 20th, 2014, “$14M Awarded In Suit Linking Contraceptive, Stroke”. My Fox Atlanta, April 19th, 2014, “Suburban Chicago Woman Awarded $14M in Yasmin Case”. My Fox Houston, April 19th, 2014, “Suburban Chicago Woman Awarded $14M in Yasmin Case”. The Washington Post, April 19th, 2014, “$14M Awarded in Suit Linking Contraceptive, Stroke”. Yahoo! Finance, April 19th, 2014, “$14M Awarded in Suit Linking Contraceptive, Stroke”.