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Ohio University Settles Lawsuit

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Ohio University has agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a medical malpractice lawsuit that was filed after a student afflicted with flesh-eating bacteria underwent an amputation.

University spokeswoman Katie Quaranta said most of the settlement will be covered by insurance, but she did not have details late Wednesday afternoon. The settlement was approved Friday by Judge Patrick McGrath of the Ohio Court of Claims.

The university was sued in the Ohio Court of Claims by former student Molly Millsop of Vandalia, who also had cases pending in the 10th District Court of Appeals. The settlement applies to all of the cases.

According to the settlement agreement filed in the Court of Claims, the university is not admitting liability. The settlement is to be paid to Millsop and her attorneys.

In her Court of Claims lawsuit, Millsop asserted that she was misdiagnosed at OU's Hudson Health Center in 2007, which led to her right arm, shoulder and shoulder blade being amputated due to flesh-eating bacteria.

Millsop also filed a lawsuit against Ohio University in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, but it was dismissed and Millsop appealed to the 10th District Court of Appeals. In addition, she filed a case in the 10th District Court of Appeals against the Ohio Court of Claims.

Millsop attempted to challenge the constitutionality of an Ohio law which established a $250,000 cap on non-econmic damages in Ohio Court of Claims cases brought against universities.