On September 24, 2025, Sunitha Madasu was awarded $7 million in a jury trial against Donald J. Bowling, M.D. and Lauderdale Radiology Group, L.L.P. (“Lauderdale Radiology”). Attorneys Ty Brown and J.D. Marsh of Marsh | Rickard | Bryan, LLC tried the 10-day trial with the immense help of Attorney Kerrian Jaudon.
At the time of her debilitating brain bleed, Ms. Sunitha Madasu was a healthy, 46 year old dentist who had lived in Lauderdale County and practiced there for over 20 years.
Ms. Madasu had been experiencing nausea, vomiting, and a severe headache. She went to the ER at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Lauderdale County where she was examined by a doctor who ordered a CAT scan of her brain.
The defendant, Dr. Bowling read Ms. Madasu’s scans and despite the clear sign of an acute blood clot, which shows up on CAT scans as a bright spot, he reported that the study was “normal” without any mention of the area in question. This spot that Dr. Bowling did not report on or make any mention of can be seen in a blood vessel on twenty consecutive slides of the imaging.
Based on Dr. Bowling’s report, the ER doctor sent Ms. Madasu home. Three days after being discharged from the ER, Ms. Madasu suffered a massive brain bleed that resulted in lifelong, debilitating injuries.
During trial, the jury found that Dr. Bowling was working as an agent of Lauderdale Radiology. Both defendants and their experts ultimately admitted that the bright spot in a blood vessel in Ms. Madasu’s brain — the one that is clearly visible on her CAT scan — was in fact, a clot. They further admitted that if the finding had been reported and a simple follow up test had been ordered by Dr. Bowling, it would have confirmed the diagnosis. Despite all this, the defendants denied any wrongdoing.
The skilled team for Marsh | Rickard | Bryan, LLC presented their evidence to show that the reasonable duty of care required by physicians was not performed by Dr. Bowling because a competent radiologist would have seen the bright spot, recognized it as a potential acute blood clot, and recommended further testing. It was undisputed that if these things had happened, it would have been a simple fix. Ms. Madasu would have been prescribed medication and would have made a full recovery.
After the verdict was announced and the jury had awarded Ms. Madasu $7 million, Attorney Ty Brown said, “With their verdict, the jury enforced basic standards of safe medical care, defended Ms. Madasu’s dignity, and held the defendants responsible for the independence, mobility, and professional career they took from her. We are truly grateful for their service.”
Attorney J.D. Marsh went on to say, “It was an honor and a privilege to be able to tell Sunitha’s story. I am thankful for the 12 members of the jury who listened to the evidence, followed the law, and spoke the truth.”
