$15 Million Jury Verdict for Failure to Timely Call for Emergency Medical Services

William Keck III, 48, was playing in a paddle tennis tournament at the Bel-Air Bay Club on a hot and humid day. He entered the club’s locker room, which was not air conditioned, and told an attendant that he had cramps in his leg. The attendant began to massage Keck on a locker room bench and later on the floor. However, Keck’s cramps continued and spread to his other leg and to an arm.

This cramps persisted for several hours. Keck began to turn red despite drinking ice water. The locker room attendants called the club’s athletic director, a manager, and the head of security to check on Keck.

More than four hours after Keck entered the locker room, the athletic director of the club called 911 when Keck began to suffer breathing difficulties and turned blue.

Paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital where he suffered arrhythmia and died within an hour. He had been a philanthropist and is survived by his mother.

Keck’s mother sued the club, alleging that its staff chose not to timely call 911 or to provide the needed and proper medical care given Keck’s condition, which was consistent with a heat-related illness.

The Keck lawsuit asserted that the club had violated its own policies and procedures, as well as the standard of care by choosing not to call paramedics for over four hours and by deciding not to move Keck to a cool place.

The defendant argued that Keck had declined medical services and that he had chosen to hydrate himself during the tournament.

The jury signed a verdict for $15 million, but found Keck was 20% at fault.

At trial, the Keck lawyers presented an expert in health and fitness.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case were Bruce Broillet and Alan Van Gelder.

Keck v. Bel-Air Bay Club Ltd., No. BC 704134 (Cal. Super. Ct. Los Angeles County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling emergency medicine negligence cases, catastrophic injury lawsuits, and wrongful death cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Western Springs, Hinsdale, LaGrange, Highlands, Stickney, LaGrange Park, Riverside, Maywood, Oak Park, Melrose Park, River Grove, Elmwood Park, Bensenville, Niles, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Kenilworth, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Palatine, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Winnetka, Chicago (North Mayfair, Hermosa, Lincoln Park, Near North Side, West Loop, Noble Square, Tri-Taylor, Little Italy, Homan Square, Little Village, McKinley Park, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Washington Park, Gage Park, Avalon Park, Pullman, Hegewisch, Morgan Park, Mount Greenwood), Calumet City, Chicago Ridge, Palos Heights, Forest Park, Bridgeview and Evanston, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.