Gideon Asen Secures $25 Million Verdict for Mother of Teen Who Died After Preventable Misdiagnosis

Attorneys Meryl Poulin and Ben Gideon deliver justice for family of Jasmine “Jazzy” Vincent:

We are proud to announce a record breaking $25 million verdict in a medical-malpractice case that underscores our unwavering commitment to clients who have faced life-altering harm. On October 30, 2025, a Cumberland County jury awarded $25 million to our client, Lyndsey Sutherland, in connection with the tragic death of her daughter, 15-year-old Jasmine “Jazzy” Vincent of Gray–New Gloucester, Maine. The case stands as the largest medical-malpractice verdict in Maine history and a powerful affirmation of accountability in the face of preventable loss.

“There are so many and yet so few words to capture the impact of this result. Watching Lyndsey continue to push year after year, uphill, against the odds, to get justice for her daughter was beyond inspiring. This result was possible because of her unbelievable perseverance and determination to obtain justice for Jazzy.”
– Meryl Poulin

“I hope that this verdict will finally bring some peace and closure for the tragic loss of this beautiful, innocent 15 year-old girl. And I hope that it will send a clear message that Maine juries are willing to hold medical providers accountable when they fail to meet minimum standards of care.”
– Ben Gideon

The Trial and Verdict

During trial, attorneys Meryl Poulin and Ben Gideon demonstrated that Jazzy’s death was entirely preventable. Through extensive expert testimony and medical evidence, the team showed that Mid Coast Medical Group failed to meet even the most basic standards of care.

The jury heard evidence that Mid Coast:

• Failed to review Jazzy’s prior medical history, failed to perform a thorough examination, including obtaining a full set of vital signs, and failed to order basic imaging to investigate Jazzy’s highly unusual symptoms.
• Instead, Mid Coast diagnosed Jazzy with a condition reserved for adult men and boys.

Ultimately, the jury found Mid Coast Medical Group negligent and held the practice responsible for Jazzy’s wrongful death. The $25 million verdict represents both the magnitude of the loss suffered by Jazzy’s family and the community’s recognition that her death could and should have been prevented.

A Tragic Chain of Missed Opportunities

On July 26, 2021, Jazzy’s mother brought her to Mid Coast Medical Group to be seen for an unusual set of symptoms. Jazzy had developed enlarged, swollen, firm, and discolored breasts, along with visible distended veins across her chest and a prominent vein in her neck. Jazzy developed these symptoms in the setting of worsening cough and shortness of breath, which her primary care doctor had attributed to pneumonia.

Despite requesting Jazzy’s medical history from her primary care doctor, Mid Coast never reviewed it before making a diagnosis. Mid Coast failed to obtain a full set of vital signs from Jazzy and did not perform a complete physical examination of her. Most critically, the doctor ordered no imaging to investigate the cause of Jazzy’s symptoms—imaging that would have revealed the true cause of Jazzy’s symptoms and led to life-saving treatment.

Instead, the doctor—who had never before seen this type of presentation in a child—attributed Jazzy’s symptoms to a reaction from steroid medication prescribed for pneumonia. She diagnosed Jazzy with gynecomastia, a condition known to occur in males who use anabolic steroids, despite having never previously seen or diagnosed gynecomastia in her career.

Without conducting further testing the Mid Coast sent Jazzy home. In the days that followed, Jazzy’s condition continued to worsen. Five days later, on July 31, 2021, Jazzy’s mother took her to the emergency department, where imaging revealed a significant accumulation of fluid in her chest. She was urgently transferred to Maine Medical Center and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Despite desperate efforts, it was too late to save her. Jazzy went into cardiac arrest and passed away at 3:45 a.m. on August 1, 2021, two weeks before her 16th birthday.

Why This Verdict Matters

• Accountability Restored: The jury’s decision sends a message that medical providers will be held accountable when reasonable standards of care are not met.
• Awareness Raised: This case underscores the devastating impact of medical misdiagnosis, especially when it involves a highly treatable illness
  
• Justice Delivered: For Lyndsey Sutherland, this verdict brings long-awaited recognition of the failures that led to her daughter’s death.

This verdict is more than a financial award, it is a powerful statement about justice, accountability, and the value of every patient’s life. It affirms that when medical providers fail to uphold their duty, the truth will come to light and families will be heard. For our client, it brings a measure of peace and recognition that her daughter’s story has meaning.

This verdict underscores Gideon Asen’s unwavering commitment to our clients and our standard of elite advocacy in every case we pursue.