Lawyer to seek $1 billion award in Las Vegas hepatitis C case

Fri, Apr 5, 2013 (3:58 p.m.)

A jury is slated to hear a lawyer's request to hold Nevada's largest health management organization liable for as much as $1 billion in punitive damages in a Las Vegas hepatitis exposure case.

Plaintiffs' attorney Robert Eglet plans Monday to ask the Clark County District to punish Health Plan of Nevada and Sierra Health Services for what Eglet calls "reckless disregard" for patient health.

The jury on Thursday awarded $24 million in compensatory damages to plaintiffs Helen Meyer and Bonnie Brunson for being infected with hepatitis C during outpatient procedures in 2005 at a clinic in the Health Plan of Nevada network.

Brunson's husband, Carl, received damages for loss of consortium.

The jury also found "bad faith" by the company, opening the door for the punitive damages award.

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