Tampa Jury Awards $30 Million After 23-Year-Old Dies From Untreated Ulcer at Kindred Hospital

In December 2014, Hannah Waite was transferred to Kindred Hospital in South Tampa after doctors at Tampa General Hospital discovered a severe erosive ulcer in her small intestine. The endoscopy report flagged the ulcer as her most pressing medical issue and called for a follow-up procedure by January 5, 2015. That follow-up never happened.

For two months, Waite remained at the long-term care facility without receiving the recommended endoscopy or any treatment directed at the ulcer. During that time the ulcer continued to erode, eventually perforating the wall of her small intestine. Waste began seeping into her bloodstream. She developed septic shock and died on February 14, 2015, nine years to the day before a jury would hold her doctors accountable. She was 23 years old.

Her parents, Lesley and Andrew Waite, filed a lawsuit in 2017 against the two hospitalists who managed their daughter's care at Kindred: Dr. Rabia Shaikh and Dr. Andrew Daley, both of Advanced Care Hospitalists. The case went to trial in February 2024. Over eight days, C. Steven Yerrid and David D. Dickey of The Yerrid Law Firm presented evidence that the doctors had clear notice of the ulcer and simply failed to act. Testimony included accounts of Waite reporting pain levels of nine out of ten in the weeks before her death.

No settlement offer was ever made. The jury deliberated and found both physicians liable. It assigned Dr. Shaikh 70 percent of the fault and Dr. Daley the remaining 30 percent. The panel awarded $15 million to Lesley Waite and $15 million to Andrew Waite for emotional pain and suffering, plus $7,205 for funeral expenses, bringing the total verdict to $30,007,205.

No reduction or remittitur has been reported following the verdict.