$261 Million Verdict in Medical Kidnapping Case Sends a Message, Says Attorney

A 17-year-old and her family at the center of a medical kidnapping case showcased in a documentary on Netflix received a $261 million judgment from a Florida jury—but most of all they got vindication. “Take Care of Maya” chronicles the story of Maya Kowalski and her parents, Jack and Beata Kowalski, as they navigated Maya’s rare illness, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). The story ended with the suicide death of the girl’s mother, Beata Kowalski, in January 2017 after the state accused her of Munchausen by Proxy and took custody of Maya. In this rare mental disorder, caregivers seek attention through made-up illnesses of children or others in their care....