A judge in Salem has approved settlements for four additional victims who suffered injuries as newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit of Henrico Doctors鈥 Hospital.
David Carson, a judge in Salem Circuit Court, approved two settlements Thursday and two Friday. Since last week, the hospital has agreed to pay nine children and is arranging settlements for two more. Carson has allowed the financial value of the settlements to remain private.
As part of the agreements, Henrico Doctors鈥 Hospital did not admit liability or negligence. The civil case is separate from the criminal case pursued by prosecutors in Henrico County, who have charged a former nurse, Erin Strotman, 27, with . Strotman was not a defendant in the civil case.
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John Owen, an attorney for the firm Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman who represents Henrico Doctors鈥 Hospital, said everyone in the case wishes authorities more quickly identified Strotman as the cause of the injuries.
鈥淲e鈥檙e sorry that our paths crossed in this manner,鈥 Owen told the mothers of two of the children who appeared in court Thursday. The hospital has taken steps to ensure such an incident will not happen again, he said.
In 2023 and 2024, Henrico Doctors鈥 Hospital discovered babies in its neonatal intensive-care unit had suffered unexplained fractures. Prosecutors say the nature of the fractures suggests the babies were victims of abuse.
The settlements were approved three hours west of Richmond in Salem court in an effort to avoid the spotlight. The Richmond Times-Dispatch and 色多多 are not naming the parents or children involved in the cases.
In 2023, administrators at Henrico Doctors鈥 Hospital discovered four newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit had suffered unexplained fractures. An outside physician said that the number and type of fractures suggested the babies had been abused. The unit treats infants born prematurely or with serious conditions.
Realizing Strotman had treated all four babies, the hospital placed her on leave. Henrico County鈥檚 office of Child Protective Services investigated but could not determine who was responsible. The hospital installed security cameras and allowed Strotman to return to work in 2024. Weeks later, three more babies suffered injuries. An investigation by the Virginia Board of Nursing determined that video evidence shows Strotman folding a child 鈥渋n half or crunching him.鈥
Police arrested her in January, and authorities have charged her in connection with nine infants. , she has not made a plea and is expected to go to trial in early 2026. Henrico Doctors鈥 has made settlements or plans to make settlements with 11 victims, even though Henrico prosecutors have charged Strotman in connection to only nine.
The judge kept the financial value of the settlements confidential, citing concerns about the 鈥渟afety and well-being鈥 of the children should the financial terms be made public.
Lawyers for the hospital approached the victims鈥 families in late 2024 and early 2025, before the families filed lawsuits. The hospital engaged in a 鈥減ositive dialogue,鈥 Owen said, that allowed the two sides to come to agreement without needing litigation. The money will be placed in trusts for the children to access when they are older.
The hospital also said it made operational changes to prevent another act of abuse from happening again, including implementing extra checks on babies and new training for how staffers should handle newborns.
Each case was different, Owen said, suggesting the children received different settlement amounts. Investigations from the Board of Nursing and Child Protective Services determined that the babies experienced varying levels of injuries.
Derrick Walker, a Richmond attorney who represents two of the victims, commended the hospital for agreeing to settle the case.
鈥淭hey stepped up to the plate and resolved these cases in a way that helps the families pick up the pieces,鈥 Walker said Thursday.
Stephanie E. Grana, who represented two families in court Friday, said the cases were 鈥渉eartbreaking鈥 and that the families are 鈥渞ightfully devastated.鈥 The case was personal to Grana, given that years ago, her child was treated in the same neonatal intensive care unit.
鈥淲hile no amount of money can undo the pain, these settlements are an important step toward healing now and into the future,鈥 Grana said.
The two victims whose families were in court Thursday are now nine and 22 months old and are doing well, the mothers said.
Coverage of the newborn babies injured at the Henrico Doctors' Hospital NICU
Prosecutors have accused Erin Strotman of abusing four newborn babies in 2023. They were the first victims the hospital identified, and their injuries triggered the initial investigation.聽
Prosecutors say they have discovered nine victims, all newborn babies.
A trial is tentatively scheduled for February 2026, but Strotman could be back in court next month facing new charges.聽
On Tuesday, prosecutors served Erin Strotman with six new charges of child abuse and malicious wounding as the case continues to expand.
On Monday prosecutors issued a direct indictment charging Erin Strotman with six counts of child abuse and malicious wounding. Prosecutors identified two new victims.
A prosecutor said Erin Strotman was taking medicine for panic disorders and indicated the nurse had a substance abuse problem.聽
Erin Strotman was charged with felony child abuse and malicious wounding after seven babies suffered unexplained fractures in the neonatal intensive care unit at Henrico Doctors' Hospital.聽
"We are both shocked and saddened by this development in the investigation and are focused on continuing to care for our patients and providing support to our colleagues who have been deeply and personally impacted by this investigation," a hospital official said.聽
