Goldenberg Lauricella had the privilege of representing the Jennings family in a medical malpractice birth injury trial in St. Croix County, Wisconsin earlier this year. The St. Paul Pioneer Press recently spoke with the Jennings family and Goldenberg Lauricella partner Noah Lauricella to chronicle the case.
In September 2018, what was expected to be a joyful day for the Jennings family quickly turned into one of uncertainty, fear, and heartbreak. When August Jennings entered the world that day in Hudson, Wisconsin, he was near death. His parents, Breauanna and Anthony Jennings, watched helplessly as medical staff rushed to save their newborn son. And while August was eventually resuscitated, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy caused by oxygen deprivation during the minutes leading up to his delivery. He now struggles with all aspects of daily life, including communicating, moving, and eating.
August’s family eventually came to Goldenberg Lauricella and filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging August’s situation at birth would have been avoided had he received proper medical care and seeking accountability as well as the resources to ensure August will get the lifetime of care he needs. The lawsuit focused on the failure of the certified nurse midwife responsible for Breauanna and August’s care to contact the on-call obstetrician despite warning signs throughout labor and delivery, including August’s heart rate plummeting prior to his birth.
In March 2025, a St. Croix County jury awarded the Jennings family over $29 million — a record-setting amount for the county — for pain and suffering, medical care, and loss of earning capacity. Under Wisconsin law, however, awarded damages for pain and suffering in such cases are capped at $750,000. The jury’s verdict was therefore reduced to around $17 million, with roughly $1.5 million paid by Hudson Physicians and the remainder covered by the Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund.
Goldenberg Lauricella is truly honored to have had the opportunity to tell the Jennings family’s story and seek justice on their behalf.
Read the article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press here.