City Council Approves $1.75M Settlement

Thursday, August 2, 2012

City Council Approves $1.75M Settlement

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

It has been a decade since 13 year old Arielle Starks passed away as a result of city paramedics who allegedly botched her emergency care during an asthma attack.

The Chicago Tribune reports, “Paramedics in July 2002 incorrectly inserted a tube meant to help Arielle Starks breathe, said Jeffrey Levine, deputy corporation counsel.

The trip to Advocate Trinity Hospital was delayed for 16 minutes by a crash when another car tried to beat the ambulance through an intersection at 87th Street and Langley Avenue, Levine said. During that period, the girl suffered a heart attack, he added.”

After the car accident, Arielle had to be transferred into another ambulance to transport her to the hospital as the ambulance involved in the traffic altercation was not allowed to leave the scene of the accident.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Arielle was declared dead and a doctor discovered that there was en error with the intubation.

Malman Law assembled a team of lawyers that has been working with Arielle Starks’ family for several years to help them receive the justice they deserve for their daughter. While no amount of money is able to bring back Arielle or lessen the grief her family feels over their loss, the Malman Law team knows it is important to hold the city accountable for her wrongful death.

Arielle would be 23 this year.