Jury Awards $20M in Middletown Surgical Death Case
Table of Contents
The Patient and the Surgery
On January 24, 2019, Scott Stillwell Wilson died during a surgical procedure at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut. Heather Rueda, appointed as administratrix of his estate by the Middletown Probate Court on December 4, 2019, filed a wrongful death suit. The case named Middlesex Hospital and Anesthesiologists of Middletown, P.C., as responsible for Wilson’s care. Their clinical staff, including anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), were directly involved in the surgery.
Where Things Went Wrong
The lawsuit alleged that both medical providers failed to respond appropriately to Wilson’s high-risk condition. Despite clear signs of surgical complications, they proceeded with anesthesia and surgery. Staff allegedly overlooked circulatory instability, significant adhesions, and the urgent need to abort the procedure. They delayed critical actions, including administering blood and fluids, and failed to notify the surgical team of abnormal signs. According to the complaint, the care lacked urgency, coordination, and basic safety protocols.
What He Endured
During the procedure, Wilson suffered extensive injuries. These included hemorrhagic shock, cardiac arrest, metabolic encephalopathy, and respiratory failure. The medical record listed a series of serious events—hypotension, hypothermia, arrhythmia, and pulseless electrical activity. He underwent CPR and defibrillation, but died on the operating table. The complaint described significant pain, distress, and physical decline leading up to his death.
What the Estate Is Seeking
The estate claimed Wilson’s death resulted in the permanent loss of his earning capacity and enjoyment of life. The lawsuit also cited financial losses from medical care and funeral expenses. In addition, it sought compensation for the pain and suffering Wilson experienced prior to death. Rueda, acting on behalf of the estate, asked the court for damages exceeding $15,000, consistent with Connecticut’s wrongful death statute.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiffs: Heather Rueda, Administratrix for the Estate of Scott Stillwell Wilson (Deceased)
Counsel for Plaintiff: Kelly A. Fitzpatrick
Expert Witness for Plaintiff: Wajahat Mehal | Edward Andrew Ochroch | Stephen Cohen
Defendants: Middlesex Hospital | Anesthesiologists of Middletown, P.C. | Judith Dawe | Matthew Scoggins | Kristen Martinez
Counsel for Defendants: Ellen M. Costello | Thomas G. Cotter
Expert Witness for Defendant: Michael Cerullo | John G. Antonakakis | Candace Jaruzel | Nizar Zein | Robert M. Shavelle | William John Schirmer
The Legal Accusations
The suit brought two counts of negligence. The first count targeted Anesthesiologists of Middletown, P.C., blaming its staff for poor monitoring, delayed interventions, and lack of skill. The second count focused on Middlesex Hospital, citing failures in staffing, supervision, and surgical decision-making. Both counts claimed that the providers’ combined negligence directly caused Wilson’s fatal injuries.
Defense
The Defendant, Anesthesiologists of Middletown, P.C., largely denied the allegations brought in both counts of the complaint. For the majority of paragraphs, the Defendant stated it lacked sufficient knowledge to form a belief and therefore left the Plaintiff to her proof. It specifically denied any claim that it or its employees undertook the care, treatment, monitoring, or supervision of Scott Stillwell Wilson or acted negligently in any way.
The Defendant admitted only limited factual points, such as its corporate status and the employment of certain individuals, but it denied that a formal care relationship existed between its staff and the decedent. It also explicitly denied all allegations of carelessness, negligence, or liability. With respect to claims under Count Two involving Middlesex Hospital, the defendant declined to respond, noting it does not represent that entity. However, it answered allegations referencing its own role, again asserting lack of knowledge or issuing denials.
Jury Verdict
On July 9, 2025, a Bridgeport jury found Middlesex Hospital and Anesthesiologists of Middletown, P.C. negligent in the death of Scott Stillwell Wilson. The jury assigned 85% fault to the hospital and 15% to the anesthesiology group. They awarded $20 million in damages—$15 million for loss of life’s enjoyment and $5 million for death—allocating $3 million to the anesthesiologists based on their share of responsibility.