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A Florida appeals court has reversed its decision after Maya Kowalski was awarded a $208 million payout over hospital blunders that resulted in her mom's suicide. Maya Kowalski - whose story is the subject of Netflix documentary 'Take Care of Maya'- won the case in 2023 after a jury ruled Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital was liable for her mom's death. Maya, 19, was just 10 years old when she was removed by the state after doctors accused her parents of faking symptoms for her rare condition - complex regional pain syndrome. After three months of separation, her mother Beata, died by suicide. Jurors originally ruled in Maya's favor, finding that the hospital had falsely imprisoned her and held them liable for Beata's death. Lawyers for St Petersburg hospital filed an appeal in 2024, arguing the damages were excessive and Maya's testimony created an emotional bias on the jury. Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal reversed the decision on Wednesday and found that the ‘hospital acted in good faith in its participation with child protection activities.’ 'Nothing in the record suggests that JHACH's participation in implementing the dependency court orders, as it was required to do, was not done in good faith,' the court document stated. The nearly 50-page document found the original verdict wrongly denied the hospital legal immunity under child protection laws. They added the trial court misapplied the Chapter 39 immunity- which protects institutions who report suspected child abuse out of good faith- and that the hospital should have been protected under that civil liability law. 'JHACH's actions were authorized or required by chapter 39, and there is no evidence that its participation was not in good faith,' court records stated. A final agreement found the Circuit Judge should have granted the hospital a new trial- adding the few remaining claims make this case eligible for a retrial. JHACH's attorney Ethen Shapiro said Wednesday's decision means the full $213 million verdict is no longer valid. 'This opinion sends a clear and vital message to mandatory reporters in Florida and across the country that their duty to report suspicions of child abuse and, critically, their good faith participation in child protection activities remain protected,' he said in a statement to the Daily Mail. He added the law always prioritized protecting children and they look forward 'to vigorously defending our doctors, nurses, and staff in a fair trial.' The Kowalski's family attorney released a statement about their disappointed with the decision. 'Judge Smith’s concurring opinion emphasized Johns Hopkins’ outrageous actions towards Maya, and the next jury will see things just like the first one did,' Nick Whitney with Childers Law wrote. 'Johns Hopkins was "in charge of caring for and treating Maya. Instead, they exploited their position with full knowledge that Maya, a ten-year-old child, would not be able to endure such outrageous conduct."' Maya was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition CRPS in 2016 and was recommended ketamine infusion treatments for the pain. The treatment noticeably helped but severe abdominal pain sent her to the ER at JHACH in St Petersburg. Her mother requested the ketamine treatment, but doctors refused. When she insisted it was doctor-recommended and demanded it, Maya was removed from her parents’ custody. Beata was then accused of having Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) - a mental health condition where the affected falsely acts like someone within their care is sick. Maya was confined to her hospital bed for almost three months and saw her family once during the separation. Beata died by suicide two days after the visit, believing that 'removing herself' was the only way to get her daughter better care. A Florida jury found the hospital had falsely imprisoned Maya and contributed to her mother's death - the Kowalskis were originally awarded $261 million in damages.
