Kristin Myatt, the plaintiff walked into the hospital with an extreme headache five years ago. She had dangerously high blood pressure; however, Jeffrey Updegraff, the doctor, simply gave her pain medication for a migraine and discharged her. He did not run any further tests or do any further due diligence. Unfortunately, she was actually experiencing a small brain bleed. This bleed could have been easily detected with a CT scan. However, none was performed. As a result of his negligence, she was paralyzed on her right side. This mother's life has now been turned upside down as she could no longer experience a normal life or provide for her children.
Interestingly, Updegraff did not want to go to trial, rather he urged his insurance provider, COPIC Insurance, to pay Myatt the policy limit of $1 million. Regardless, COPIC forced him to go to trial. Five years later, COPIC is now forced to pay $3.9 million, much more than the policy limits that Updegraff urged them to pay. This is the largest jury verdict ever made in Larimer County, CO. This should provide some support to the injured and her family, but will never make up for the loss she and her family sustained.
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