On Aug. 2, 2003, George Hoffberg was recovering from apparently successful brain surgery at UW Hospital. He fell from his bed, sustaining serious head injuries. He never spoke again. He died nine months later, at age 70.
Hoffberg’s widow, Donna, sued the hospital in July 2006, saying its “agents and employees” were negligent in failing to prevent George, a former health-care administrator, from falling “while he was vulnerable.” She wanted the UW to make changes to prevent similar falls.
“No money can replace George,” says Donna, who planned to give any payment to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, and several charities. “I miss him.”