Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Settled for 1.2M

Christina Cole

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A Texas woman has settled a medical malpractice lawsuit against Belvidere Bariatric Clinic to the tune of $1.2 million.

The claimant alleged negligence by the clinic led to her husband's death. On Tuesday she agreed to a settlement of 1.2 million with the Bariatric Treatment Center, Northwest Suburban Community Hospital and the surgeon involved.

Another doctor, a defendant included in the case, settled in a separate, confidential agreement.

James "Joe" Bonwell had bariatric surgery in March 2001 at Northwest Suburban Community Hospital in Belvidere. He died March 26, four days after surgery; he would have turned 40 Wednesday. He had two children, Chandler and Michaela, who were 9 and 7 at the time of his death.

The settlement "had nothing to do with what we believe are the merits of the case," said Laurence Lenz, executive vice president of Barix Clinics, which owns Northwest Suburban. "We stand by our program."

Bonwell's attorney, Cynthia Szymanski Koroll, said two other wrongful-death cases against the facility have been settled by her firm. Two additional cases are pending.

A settlement was reached prior to the start of a 4 week trial that was scheduled to start.

The bariatric clinic closed up shop last month, citing a decline in patients.