Multi-million dollar ruling in botched circumcision case

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - A Clayton County jury decided the pain and suffering from a botched circumcision should cost those involved nearly $31 million.

The decision came down Friday afternoon. The incident happened in October 2013.

Only FOX 5 News was there when mom Stacie Willis, supporters, and Willis' legal team gathered outside of the courthouse. The family lawyers said the case sends a message to those in healthcare.

"We have to be very careful and trained when we worked with our -- the healthcare of our people particularly infants," says attorney Neal Pope. "We think this sends a message that will teach us, if we're in the healthcare business to take each person carefully each time so that this kind of thing doesn't happen again."

Willis had taken her son to Life Cycle Pediatrics in Riverdale. A midwife performed the procedure because the doctor was not on the premises. By the end of the appointment, something went wrong. The boy's penis had been disfigured.

Willis rushed her son to urgent care. In fact, the family's legal team said in the days, weeks and years since the incident, the boy has undergone a number of surgeries. They say it's likely he will need more treatment in the years ahead.

"[It's important] to make people understand how somebody that's going to live for 70 years has a right to be compensated for intangible things like their psychiatric damage that they get from an injury like this," says Pope.

The $31 million included punitive damages and monies for future treatments.

FOX 5 News could not reach the defendants. It's likely some, if not all, of them will appeal the ruling.