Jury rules doctor will not have to pay additional damages

In the second portion of a two-part verdict, a King County jury on Thursday found that former pediatrician Bill Schnall did not communicate with minors for immoral purposes.

The verdict means that the jury did not award additional damages, or any attorneys' fees and costs, in a civil lawsuit against Schall brought by four patients. Plaintiffs' attorneys said their fees and costs totaled nearly $2 million.

The plaintiffs, now young adults, accused Schnall of abusing them sexually and emotionally while they were in their teens.

On Wednesday, the same jury ordered the former Shoreline pediatrician to pay about $630,000 to three of the four former patients and their families who sued the physician, alleging that his treatment involved years of abuse.

The jury found that Schnall, formerly a well-respected pediatrician and one-time president of the medical staff at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center, violated the standard of care for a health-care provider and that he negligently inflicted emotional distress on three of the four former patients who sued him in civil court.

Schnall's attorney said in a statement Thursday that the former doctor was pleased with the findings. "Given that plaintiffs asked the jury for over $20 million in damages ... it appears the jury considered the defense position strongly in deciding what this case was really about," said John Gagliardi.

Plaintiffs' attorneys said they were pleased that the jury found Schnall negligent, but were outraged by the sum awarded and by Thursday's verdict. "The damages could have been much higher," said Anne Bremner. "They didn't deserve this, especially from a pediatrician."

One juror said after being dismissed that there was a consensus that Schnall was guilty of violating the ethical boundaries of a physician, but that the jury didn't have enough evidence to prove that he communicated with the minors for immoral purposes.

"I feel bad for them," said Marcia Bennison, of Seattle, of the plaintiffs.

According to the complaint and testimony during the five-week trial, Schnall inappropriately touched the genitals of the plaintiffs and took nude photos of one. They also claimed he secretly provided some with money, sent them sexually explicit e-mails and discussed his sexual arousal with them.

Schnall vehemently denied the accusations, arguing that proper medical procedures were blown out of proportion by the boys.

The jury on Wednesday found that the clinic where Schnall worked, Richmond Pediatric Clinic, did not violate its duty to protect the boys but did negligently supervise Schnall. The jury did not order the clinic to pay damages.

Schnall surrendered his medical license in May 2006. He still works at the clinic as an office manager, according to testimony. He was investigated by the King County Sheriff's Office, but prosecutors determined there wasn't a criminal charge the office could pursue

Natalie Singer: 206-464-2704 or nsinger@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.