Historic $60 Million Verdict Secured in Nassau County by Medical Malpractice Attorney Marijo Adimey

In a landmark victory for medical malpractice victims in New York, attorney Marijo C. Adimey of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf has obtained what is believed to be the highest medical malpractice verdict ever recorded in Nassau County. The jury awarded a unanimous $60,033,041.23 to a 65-year-old electrical mechanic who was left permanently paralyzed following a routine epidural steroid injection.

The procedure took place on November 18, 2019 at the Pain Institute of Long Island. The injection, intended to treat common lower back pain, was administered by Dr. Robert Iadevaio. Within minutes of awakening from the procedure, the plaintiff suffered a spinal cord infarction that resulted in irreversible paraplegia, neurogenic bowel and bladder, neuropathic pain, and incontinence.

The plaintiffs’ legal team presented compelling evidence during trial, including spinal angiogram imaging suggesting an embolic stroke, and inconsistent with the medication listed in the physician’s records. It was alleged that a different medication — one not recommended for use and commonly known to pose a high risk of spinal infarct if accidentally introduced into an artery — was used instead, pointing to a grave error during the administration of the injection. The plaintiffs called experts in the field of Interventional Pain Medicine and Interventional Neuroradiology, who testified that based upon the spinal imaging and known mechanisms of spinal infarct, the physician’s procedure note could not have been accurate.  The result was a life-altering injury that devastated not only the victim’s physical and mental health but also his family’s financial security and emotional well-being. Plaintiffs also called experts in the fields of Neurology, Life Care Planning, Psychiatry and Forensic Economics to present evidence of plaintiff’s profound damages. 

The three-week trial was conducted in Nassau County Supreme Court and concluded with a unanimous jury verdict. The $60+ million award includes damages for past and future medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and spousal loss of services. The case was second-chaired by associate attorney Aaron M. Ser.

“This was a routine outpatient procedure that should never have led to catastrophic injury,” said Ms. Adimey following the verdict. “The jury’s verdict recognizes the irreparable harm caused to the victim and his family and holds the physician accountable for the negligent conduct.”

About Attorney Marijo C. Adimey

Marijo C. Adimey is widely recognized as one of New York’s leading trial lawyers in the fields of medical malpractice and personal injury. Since 2015, she has been selected annually by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and New York Magazine’s Best Lawyers in the specialties of medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. She holds an “AV” Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

Her courtroom skills were acknowledged early in her career when she was named to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2013, followed by yearly selections to Super Lawyers thereafter. She has also received the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubbell — an honor awarded to less than 1% of the 900,000+ attorneys in the United States, based entirely on client reviews.

In addition to her trial work, Adimey is an active contributor to the legal community. She was appointed by the Administrative Judge for Civil Matters in the First Judicial Department to the Medical Malpractice Advisory Committee for the Supreme Court, New York County. She has also served on the Judiciary Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and was recently appointed to the Board of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, where she also sits on the Medical Malpractice and Labor Law Committees. She lectures frequently for the New York State Bar Association on trial practice and legal ethics.

Adimey is also the co-author of New York Medical Malpractice 2025, an authoritative legal reference published by LexisNexis. Her contributions to the book reflect her deep understanding of trial strategy, case development, and the evolving standards in medical malpractice litigation. The treatise is widely used by practitioners across the state and underscores her position as a leading voice in the field.

In just one year, Adimey secured two of New York’s top medical malpractice verdicts: a $2.5 million award for a Queens woman injured during a routine endoscopic procedure, and a $1.32 million verdict for a Brooklyn woman harmed during a colonoscopy. She has also negotiated numerous multimillion-dollar settlements on behalf of clients injured by medical negligence.

A Landmark in New York Medical Malpractice Litigation

The $60+ million verdict underscores the importance of accountability in medicine and the role of skilled trial attorneys in obtaining justice for victims of preventable harm. The New York Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf continues to lead the way in high-stakes medical malpractice litigation, with a long history of securing record-setting verdicts and settlements.