Five families of babies hurt, neglected in Henrico NICU reach settlements with hospital

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Henrico Doctors' Hospital has settled with five families whose babies reportedly had their bones broken or experienced other forms of neglect while in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

In late December 2024, the Henrico hospital temporarily closed its NICU to new admissions after multiple premature babies were found with "unexplainable fractures."

Multiple investigations into this incident were launched and, as of the time of reporting, a total of nine babies are known to have been abused and/or neglected by staff.

State agencies like the Virginia Department of Health reported that Henrico Doctors' Hospital failed to protect its NICU patients from this abuse. It was also found to be in violation of several state standards.

MORE: Nurse’s license suspended with new details of abuse, neglect of NICU babies

A civil suit was filed against HCA Healthcare -- the operator behind Henrico Doctors' Hospital -- on behalf of multiple involved families, who were seeking damages. This legal matter is separate from the criminal proceedings involving former NICU nurse Erin Strotman. She still faces 20 charges in connection with the nine injured babies.

The attorney who represented HCA Healthcare in the civil case, John Owens, confirmed to 8News that five involved families reached settlements on Friday, June 20.

Owens' statement to 8News read, in part:

"As I stated in Friday’s proceedings, 'All involved (hospital, board of health, and local investigators) wish Strotman had been identified as cause sooner.' It was also stated during Friday’s proceedings that 'As a hospital and healthcare provider, this is the last thing we would expect to occur under our roof – it will not happen again. Training has been enhanced; Proctoring and oversight has expanded; Video monitoring is more robust.'

We were grateful to have worked with some of the best lawyers in Virginia to appropriately address these matters. As you suggest, we have been able to confirm the resolution of matters with five respective families. We remain hopeful that the same will occur with the remaining families impacted by these events." John Owens, attorney representing HCA Healthcare

Owens did not specify which families, nor did he state the settlement amounts.

Regarding Strotman's criminal case, her trial is set for February 2026. As she waived her right to a trial by jury, the decision on her case will be made by the presiding judge.

ALL COVERAGE: Babies injured, abused at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital’s NICU

Strotman was also scheduled to stand before the Virginia Board of Nursing on July 23 for a hearing on the suspension of her nursing license.