A Florida appellate court has overturned the $200 million jury verdict against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in the high-profile Maya Kowalski lawsuit — the case that drew global attention and inspired a Netflix documentary.
In an opinion issued on October 29, the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that the trial court had made several key legal errors in its handling of the case.
“The trial court’s incorrect interpretation and application of section 39.203(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2016), and the immunity provided under that law, as well as its improper denial of JHACH’s motions for directed verdicts and for a new trial, require reversal of the final judgment,” the appellate judges wrote.
In 2023, a Sarasota County jury awarded the Kowalski family $211 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages after finding the hospital liable for negligence that contributed to the suicide of Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski, in 2017. The total award was later reduced to $213 million by the trial judge.
The case sparked intense public debate about how medical professionals should handle suspected child abuse cases — particularly when chronic pain, medical treatment disputes, and parental rights intersect.
Maya Kowalski, then 10 years old, was admitted to All Children’s Hospital in 2016 suffering from severe pain linked to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Her mother, a registered nurse, advocated for ketamine treatments, a drug sometimes associated with hallucinations, according to court documents and news reports.
The appellate court concluded that the trial judge allowed an overly narrow interpretation of Florida’s statutory immunity for those who report suspected child abuse.
“The final judgment in favor of the Kowalskis is reversed,” the opinion stated. “On remand, only the claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) brought on behalf of Maya, along with the remaining allegations of false imprisonment, battery, and medical negligence, may be retried.”
The panel also found that the trial court should have granted a directed verdict in favor of the hospital, noting that Jack Kowalski presented no evidence to support his allegations of fraudulent billing.
Hospital attorney Ethen Shapiro of Hill Ward Henderson called the ruling a “resounding reversal” and criticized the Netflix documentary for distorting the facts.
“This opinion sends an essential and powerful message to mandatory reporters in Florida and nationwide — that their duty to report suspected child abuse, and their good-faith participation in child protection processes, are shielded by law,” Shapiro said in a statement Wednesday.
He added: “The facts and the law have always emphasized protecting children — our most vulnerable citizens. We look forward to defending our doctors, nurses, and staff in a fair retrial of the remaining claims. We thank the appellate judges for their careful consideration and for recognizing that a one-sided film cannot replace due process in court.”