A Delaware County jury has awarded a woman $2.78 million for having a tracheostomy placed too high, which allegedly caused her to no longer be able to breathe without the tubing.

On Aug. 21, the jury found the defendant doctor, Mohammed Budeir, and Crozer-Chester Medical Center were negligent in treating plaintiff Bonnie Semple, and caused her to permanently require a tracheostomy tube to be installed. The jury awarded more than $1.6 million in loss of earnings and pain and suffering, as well as nearly $1.2 million in future medical expenses.

Attorneys Michael A. Trunk and Garabet M. Zakeosian of Kline & Specter handled the case for Semple, a 56-year-old Aston resident. Benjamin A. Post and Cynthia L. Brennan of Post & Post represented the defendants.