In a dramatic twist to a case that captured national attention, a Florida appeals court has overturned the multi-million-dollar payout awarded to Maya Kowalski after a jury found a hospital responsible for her mother’s tragic death.

The young woman’s story, which has been documented in the Netflix series Take Care of Maya, initially saw her win a $208 million verdict after her mother, Beata Kowalski, died by suicide following what the jury deemed hospital mismanagement.

The Original Case and Heartbreaking Backstory

Maya was only 10 years old when she was removed from her family by state authorities.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg accused her parents of fabricating her symptoms for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare and painful neurological condition.

After spending three months separated from her family, Maya’s mother tragically died by suicide.

A jury originally sided with Maya, concluding that the hospital had falsely imprisoned her and played a role in her mother’s death, awarding the family $208 million in damages.

Hospital Appeals the Verdict

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital challenged the ruling in 2024, arguing that the damages were excessive and that Maya’s emotional testimony had unduly influenced the jury.

This week, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal sided with the hospital, ruling that the institution had acted “in good faith” while cooperating with child protection authorities.

The court concluded that the hospital was legally shielded under Chapter 39 immunity, which protects institutions that report suspected child abuse in good faith.

Court Finds Original Verdict Misapplied the Law

The nearly 50-page opinion stated that the original trial court erred by denying the hospital legal immunity.

The judges emphasized that nothing suggested the hospital’s involvement in implementing dependency court orders was anything other than good faith participation.

A new trial was deemed appropriate for the few remaining claims, and the original $213 million verdict is no longer valid.

Hospital Responds to the Ruling

Ethen Shapiro, the hospital’s attorney, said the decision reinforces protections for mandatory reporters nationwide.

“This opinion sends a clear and vital message to mandatory reporters in Florida and across the country that their duty to report suspicions of child abuse and, critically, their good faith participation in child protection activities remain protected,” he said.

Shapiro also stressed that the law’s priority is always the safety of children and expressed confidence in defending the hospital’s staff in the upcoming trial.

Kowalski Family Reacts

The Kowalski family expressed disappointment with the ruling but promised to continue fighting.

Nick Whitney, representing the family, emphasized the hospital’s alleged wrongdoing toward Maya.

“Johns Hopkins was in charge of caring for and treating Maya,” Whitney said.

“Instead, they exploited their position with full knowledge that a ten-year-old child would not be able to endure such outrageous conduct. The next jury will see this just as the first one did.”

Maya’s Medical Struggle and Family Tragedy

Maya was diagnosed with CRPS in 2016 and had been recommended ketamine infusions to manage her pain.

While the treatment helped, severe abdominal pain led her to the ER at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Her mother advocated for the treatment, but doctors refused.

When Beata insisted on the doctor-recommended therapy, the hospital removed Maya from her parents’ custody.

Beata was accused of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition in which a caregiver falsely portrays a child as ill.

Maya spent nearly three months confined to a hospital bed, with only one brief visit from her family.

Her mother died by suicide two days later, believing that removing herself was the only way to ensure her daughter received proper care.

The Original Jury Verdict

In 2023, a Florida jury found that the hospital had falsely imprisoned Maya and contributed to her mother’s death.

The Kowalski family was originally awarded $261 million in damages, a figure that is now nullified pending the new trial.