Jurisdiction Intelligence Report

Medical Malpractice Case Values in Florida (2026)

Data-driven verdict and settlement analysis for Medical Malpractice cases in Florida. Median outcome: $45.0M across 7 tracked cases.

Verdicts Tracked
7
Median Outcome
$45.0M
Mean Outcome
$46.8M
Range
$4.0M–$100.0M

Verdict Distribution

RangeCasesPercent
$1M–$5M229%
$5M+571%

Key Valuation Factors

Severity and permanence of injury or wrongful deathLifetime future medical care and economic damages calculationsInstitutional defendant vs. individual physician (hospital system liability)Strength of causation link between negligence and harmNon-economic damages cap applicability and exceptions

Key Trends & Insights

Florida medical malpractice verdicts and settlements in this dataset reflect remarkably high valuations, with a median of $45.0M and a mean of $46.8M, suggesting that juries and defendants are resolving cases involving severe injuries or death at substantially elevated figures despite the state's $500,000 non-economic damages cap on negligence claims. The presence of verdicts reaching $100.0M, such as Lubben v. Lopez in 2024, indicates that plaintiffs' attorneys are successfully pursuing economic damages—including lifetime care costs and lost earnings—that far exceed the capped non-economic component, particularly in cases involving catastrophic or permanent harm. The concentration of large verdicts in 2024–2025 against major institutional defendants like Tampa General Hospital, Orlando Health, and Cleveland Clinic Florida suggests an emerging trend of plaintiffs targeting hospital systems with deep pockets and juries being receptive to holding large healthcare organizations accountable.

Notable Cases

Chiaka Stewart v. Tampa General Hospital $70.8M
2025 · Expert Institute

The plaintiff alleged she presented with severe headache and stroke risk factors but was discharged without appropriate imaging or neurologist involvement. She later suffered a severe stroke (CVST), resulting in permanent neurological disability.

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James Sada family v. Orlando Health (South Seminole Hospital) $45.0M
2025 · Expert Institute

A jury awarded $45 million to the family of James Sada after allegations that clinicians delayed transferring him to a facility capable of emergent cardiac care while he was experiencing a heart attack. The plaintiffs contended the delay was driven by keeping him within the hospital system rather th

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Stewart v. Tampa General Hospital (Brandon Healthplex) $70.8M
2025 · Expert Institute

$70.8M verdict after ER staff failed to diagnose a life-threatening brain condition. 42-year-old patient presented with the worst headache of her life with known stroke risk factors but was discharged with only a "headache cocktail." Resulted in catastrophic and permanent injuries.

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Lubben v. Lopez $100.0M
2024 · TopVerdict.com

A medical malpractice case listed by TopVerdict among the top U.S. personal injury verdicts of 2024. TopVerdict provides counsel and malpractice-related tags but not the court or detailed narrative.

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Estate of Sasso v. Cleveland Clinic Florida, et al. $31.9M
2024 · TopVerdict.com

A Florida jury awarded $31,946,000.00 in a medical malpractice wrongful death case described as involving delayed treatment and failure to diagnose.

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