Silver Golub & Teitell Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Death of High School Athlete

Silver Golub & Teitell has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the estate of Henry L. Farmer, V, a 16-year-old athlete who died in April 2022 after doctors at Stamford Hospital Emergency Department failed to diagnose his pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis, despite several opportunities to do so. 

Henry Farmer’s parents, Sima Farmer and Henry L. Farmer, IV, have pledged to donate the entirety of any funds due to the estate of their son to athletic and academic programs for underserved children in the Fairfield County area. 

Henry Farmer was taken to the Stamford Hospital Emergency Department twice on April 8, 2022, and again on April 11, 2022, with a persistent cough, shortness of breath and lethargy.  Doctors at the hospital failed to order additional testing that would have revealed his condition, the lawsuit alleges. He died on April 12, 2022. 

“The defendants were negligent in sending him home without ordering additional tests, which would have shown that he had a pulmonary thromboembolism,” said Silver Golub & Teitell partner Ernie Teitell, who represents the estate of Henry Farmer along with SGT partner Marco Allocca. “If they had recognized and treated the condition, Henry Farmer would be living his life today,” Mr. Teitell said. 

The lawsuit, Farmer v. Stamford Health, was filed in Superior Court in Stamford on June 30, 2023, seeking damages for Henry Farmer’s death and for the pain and suffering he underwent. The defendants include Stamford Health, Inc., and Emergency Medicine Physicians of New Haven County, LLC. 

Henry Farmer started playing hockey at age 5 and played for 11 seasons with Darien Youth Hockey, and most recently played for Darien High School on the JV team. He was also a keen golfer. Henry Farmer’s parents created the Henry L. Farmer, V Charitable Foundation on September 30, 2023, as a trust to receive funds resulting from the lawsuit and distribute them for athletic and academic purposes. 

“We created this foundation in memory of our son, in the hope it can benefit underserved children in their academic and athletic pursuits,” Sima Farmer said.