Settlement Reached in Rosenbaum, Hospital Suit

WASHINGTON - The family of a murdered New York Times reporter has settled its multi-million-dollar lawsuit against a local hospital.

The attorney for David Rosenbaum's children confirms to WTOP the family has reached a settlement with Howard University Hospital. Rosenbaum was taken to that facility after he was attacked in upper Northwest, but was not seen by a doctor for more than 90 minutes and not given a neruological evaluation for at least another hour.

The attack occurred on Jan. 6 of 2006.

Attorney Patrick Regan will not disclose the terms of the settlement, but court records show the case was settled and dismissed late last month.

David's brother Marcus Rosenbaum says he hopes Howard University Hospital will make improvements but says he's "not convinced that has happened."

Some of the shortcomings of the emergency response were evident in a report from the District's inspector general in the summer of 2006.

Charles J. Willoughby concluded, "Multiple failures during a single evening by District agency and Howard (University Hospital) employees to comply with applicable policies, procedures, and protocols suggest an impaired work ethic that must be addressed before it becomes pervasive."

After interviews and reviewing documents, Willoughby's report focuses on how well each department performed, starting when a neighbor of Rosenbaum's called 911, at approximately 9:20 p.m., on Jan. 6, 2006, to report a "man down."

Willoughby determined the 911 call taker and dispatchers "carried out their duties appropriately."

The Inspector General says Fire and Emergency Medical Service firefighters and EMTs from Engine 20 did not properly assess Rosenbaum. Once first responders perceived an odor of alcohol coming from Rosenbaum, "they did not focus on other possibilities as the cause of his altered mental status."

Earlier, the Rosenbaum family reached a settlement with the District. The agreement called for no financial compensation, but required D.C. emergency services to demonstrate marked improvement.

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