Episode 66
December 9, 2025
Collaborating to Win $25M for Wrongful Death, with Tracey Dellacona and Caleb Walker
Episode Summary
A pregnant woman’s blood pressure drops dangerously. An obstetrician never picks up the phone. A “Keystone Cop” situation that tragically leads to the death of an unborn baby. Tracey Dellacona and Caleb Walker combined forces to secure $25 million after a surgeon missed their client’s preeclampsia diagnosis. Tune in as host Brendan Lupetin explores the case with the team: Tracey, a nurse turned med-mal attorney who founded Dellacona Law Firm, and Caleb, litigator and appellate partner at McArthur Law Firm. Tune in for their insights about managing voluminous medical records, asking for non-economic damages, and developing collaborative law firm partnerships.
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- Tracey Dellacona brings a unique perspective as a nurse with critical care experience and an attorney, while Caleb Walker serves as the legal strategist handling complex appellate issues and pre-trial motions for the McArthur Law Firm trial team.
- The case involved a young mother who went to the emergency room at 37 weeks pregnant presenting with severe preeclampsia symptoms but was sent home without proper testing or monitoring.
- Despite clear warning signs of preeclampsia—including severe headaches, blurred vision, swollen ankles, and elevated blood pressure—the ER staff failed to run basic tests like a urinalysis or metabolic panel and never consulted with OB-GYN specialists available in the hospital.
- The patient delivered her baby through emergency induction, but the baby died from complications related to the delayed treatment.
- The jury awarded $25 million: $4 million for economic wrongful death (double what the experts projected), $6 million for the mother’s pain and suffering, and $15 million for the non-economic value of the baby’s lost life.
Tracey Dellacona
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