$5.7 million judgment • Healthcare negligent monitoring • Injury

Jones filed suit after his son, Lee Forbes Jones, a mental patient at the Hospital, eloped and committed suicide. A jury found the Hospital negligent, awarded Jones $750,000 in damages and Lee’s estate $5 million. The jury apportioned liability as 95% to the Hospital and 5% to Lee. After applying the statutory cap and apportioning the damages, the trial court entered judgement against the Hospital for $167,270.30 in favor of Jones and $1,118,975.60 in favor of Lee’s estate.The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the trial court. See West Oaks Hospital Inc. v. Jones, 2001 WL 83528 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2005). After addition of post-judgment interest, the value of the judgment exceeded $2 million. The attorneys’ fees were approximately $800,000 and expenses were $77,300. The remainder of the proceeds (over $1.1 million) were distributed to the clients.