Family Wins $50 Million Wrongful Death Verdict

Jury finds cardiologist failed to properly treat patient, leading to his death

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:04pm

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A jury in Mobile, Alabama has awarded a $50 million verdict to the family of a man who died after his cardiologist failed to properly treat a life-threatening heart blockage, instead sending him home from the hospital and clearing him for elective eye surgery a week later. Top cardiology experts testified the man had over a 99% chance of survival if the doctor had simply kept him in the hospital and given him routine blood thinners.

Why it matters

This case highlights the critical importance of proper medical care and the devastating consequences that can occur when doctors fail to meet the standard of care. It also underscores the challenges families face in seeking justice and accountability when medical malpractice leads to a preventable death.

The details

On December 24, 2020, Dan Haas returned home from a hunting trip with severe chest pain and shortness of breath. After calling his cardiologist, Dr. John Galla, on Christmas Day, Haas was told to come in for a stress test on Monday, December 28. The test showed abnormal results, and on December 30, Dr. Galla performed a heart catheterization that revealed a serious, life-threatening blockage. Instead of immediately treating the blockage, Dr. Galla sent Haas home from the hospital, cleared him for elective eye surgery a week later, and told him to start blood thinners after the surgery. Tragically, Haas died that very night in his sleep. Cardiology experts testified Haas had over a 99% chance of survival if he had been properly admitted and treated.

  • On December 24, 2020, Haas returned home from a hunting trip with severe chest pain and shortness of breath.
  • On Christmas Day, Haas called his cardiologist, Dr. John Galla, to inform him of his symptoms.
  • On December 28, 2020, Haas went to Cardiology Associates for a stress test, which showed abnormal results.
  • On December 30, 2020, Dr. Galla performed a heart catheterization that revealed a serious, life-threatening blockage.
  • Instead of immediately treating the blockage, Dr. Galla sent Haas home from the hospital and cleared him for elective eye surgery a week later.

The players

Dan Haas

The patient who tragically passed away after his cardiologist failed to properly treat his life-threatening heart condition.

Dr. John Galla

The cardiologist who performed the heart catheterization on Haas but failed to properly treat the serious blockage, instead sending him home from the hospital.

Cunningham Bounds

The law firm that represented Haas' family and secured the $50 million wrongful death verdict.

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What they’re saying

“The Haas family - Barbara, Sarah, Carrie, and Daniel - have been fighting to expose the truth of what happened to them for more than five years. This verdict affirms what they've known all along - that Dan should have been admitted to the hospital. And if he had been, he'd be alive and here with them today.”

— Lucy Tufts, Attorney, Cunningham Bounds

“On behalf of the family, we repeatedly tried to settle this case before trial. The defense made it clear they had no interest in resolving the case and forced the family to take this case to a jury. We relied on the contemporaneous medical records-they were accurate. The defense and their experts took the position these records were wrong. The jury spoke loudly about this, and the lack of care Dan received and the attempts to cover up the mistakes that were made.”

— Skip Finkbohner, Attorney, Cunningham Bounds

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Dr. Galla to remain free on bail pending appeal.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of proper medical care and the devastating consequences that can occur when doctors fail to meet the standard of care. It also highlights the challenges families face in seeking justice and accountability when medical malpractice leads to a preventable death.