A jury in Lucas County Common Pleas Court awarded more than $10.9 million in damages to a Toledo man and his wife who suffered a stroke during her pregnancy after consulting with a physician who told her she didn’t need to go to the hospital.

The verdict was handed up Wednesday afternoon following a jury trial before Judge Gary Cook and about four hours of deliberations.

Jennifer and Al Billups, Sr., of Toledo had sued Dr. Dayna Mohammadione and Maumee OB/​GYN Associates, which is a part of ProMedica Central Physicians LLC, alleging medical malpractice.

Tony Turley, attorney for the Billupses, said he was “ecstatic for the family.”

“Jennifer and Al Billups are wonderful people with three beautiful kids, and Jenny suffered a serious injury,” he said. “The jury, I think, listened very attentively to the evidence that was presented over the course of seven days, and I think their verdict is just in light of the evidence that was presented.”

According to court documents, Mrs. Billups was 26 weeks pregnant in March, 2012, when she developed severe abdominal pain and a severe headache. She called Maumee OB/​GYN and received a call back soon after from Dr. Mohammadione, who was on call although she was not Mrs. Billup’s primary obstetrician.

Mrs. Billups described her symptoms and was advised that her symptoms were likely caused by a gastric condition and that she did not need to come to the hospital. The next day, Mrs. Billups suffered a stroke at home.

Her baby was safely delivered by emergency Cesarean section, but Mrs. Billups suffered permanent physical, cognitive, and emotional injuries from the stroke, Mr. Turley said.

John Wasung, attorney for the defendants, said he could not comment “on active litigation.”

In a trial brief, the defendants contended Mrs. Billups was having a normal pregnancy at the time and there was “nothing in her prenatal course that would have, or should have, alerted Dr. Mohammadione or anyone that Jennifer Billups would go on to suffer a stroke.”

The jury’s verdict totaled $10,928,188, which included damages for past and future economic and noneconomic losses.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.

First Published January 16, 2015, 5:00 a.m.