BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — A Kern County jury has awarded a $9.25 million judgment in a wrongful death civil trial against former OB-GYN Arthur Park.
The verdict comes seven years after 23-year-old Demi Dominguez and her newborn son, Malakhi, died after Dominguez was discharged from a hospital where she had been admitted for high blood pressure while nearly eight months pregnant.
Dominguez's parents sued Park, alleging that his care contributed to the deaths of their daughter and grandson.
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Dominguez died in 2019, three days after she was released from Mercy Southwest Hospital.
The Dominguez family argued that Park missed warning signs of severe preeclampsia and that Dominguez should have remained hospitalized. Park disputed that claim, saying he did not believe her condition had severe features.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that can lead to seizures. The family's medical expert testified that five of Dominguez's blood pressure readings reached the severe range and that she should have remained hospitalized and received IV magnesium.
Park, who represented himself, testified that Dominguez had preeclampsia, but not its severe form. He questioned some of her blood pressure readings, saying stress or problems with the cuff could have affected them.
The reaction from Demi's family was immediate when the verdict was read.
"I'm definitely relieved for sure. Over the past seven years, it's felt like a cloud has been over my life." Ruben "Xavier" DeLeon said.
For DeLeon; Demi's fiancé and Malakhi's father; the verdict follows a loss that changed everything.
Jurors found Park negligent, determining his negligence was a substantial factor in the deaths of Demi and Malakhi.
After the verdict, I spoke with Park and asked whether he could afford to pay the damages.
"Absolutely not. Absolutely not. There's nothing I got. I have no job. I haven't worked in five years." Arthur Park said.
Despite the $9.25 million verdict, the family may receive far less. Their attorney says an older California law could limit the damages. Tracy Dominguez fought to change that law, knowing she wouldn't benefit, so that future families could.
"Tracy knew that. And she fought anyway." Patrick Logan said.
For DeLeon, the verdict brings relief, but it cannot bring back the family he lost. When I asked him what he would say to Demi if she could be here for this moment, he became emotional.
"Thank you for being part of the strength that I have." DeLeon said.
At the heart of this case are two lives, a young mother and the baby boy she never got to watch grow up.
