A Florida appeals court has overturned a $200 million verdict against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in a high-profile negligence case involving Maya Kowalski. The family had won the massive award in 2023 after a jury found the hospital liable for the suicide of Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski, in 2017. The case drew wide attention and was even featured in a Netflix documentary.
Maya was just 10 years old when she was treated at the hospital in St. Petersburg in 2016 for severe pain linked to complex regional pain syndrome. Her mother, a registered nurse, pushed for the use of ketamine to relieve Maya’s suffering, though the anesthetic has been known to sometimes cause hallucinations.
The appeals court ruled that the trial judge had made errors, especially in how Florida’s laws protect healthcare workers who report suspected child abuse. The court said the original trial should not have let the jury decide on all claims and sent the case back for a new trial on only a few of the allegations. These include intentional infliction of emotional distress for Maya, and claims of false imprisonment, battery, and medical negligence.
The judges noted that the father’s claim about fraudulent billing was not supported by evidence and criticized the trial court for not granting a directed verdict in favor of the hospital earlier. The hospital’s lawyer called the ruling a “resounding” victory and criticized the Netflix documentary for presenting a one-sided view.
Ethen Shapiro, representing the hospital, said the decision reaffirms protections for those who report suspected child abuse in good faith. He emphasized that the focus should remain on protecting vulnerable children and that the hospital’s staff looks forward to continuing their defense under the law.
The Kowalski case highlights tough questions about how hospitals handle suspected abuse and the legal responsibilities of medical providers in such situations. With the appeals court’s decision, only a portion of the original claims will move forward in a new trial, bringing a fresh chapter to this closely watched case.