A settlement in which medical professionals agreed to pay a combined $4.25 million to settle a suit over complications from a toddler's tonsillectomy was approved by an Essex County judge on June 26 in Charles v. Thomas.

On Feb. 26, 2013, two-year-old Mike Charles was admitted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for surgery to address snoring problems: tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy and a procedure to widen his airway. The surgery was performed by Samuel Engel, a otorhinolaryngologist, or ear, nose and throat doctor, said the Charles family's attorney, William Crutchlow of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow & McElroy in Red Bank.

Mike was brought to the pediatric intensive care unit after the surgery around 4 p.m., and, according to Crutchlow, immediately began showing signs of respiratory distress. At 5:10 p.m., Mike went into respiratory and cardiac arrest, was intubated six minutes later, and was revived, but by that time, he had sustained significant brain damage due to lack of oxygen, Crutchlow said.