Woman Wins AIDS Suit, Dies Before Verdict

Jurors who did not know that a woman had died the day before ordered a blood bank Saturday to pay her $6.6 million for providing a transfusion tainted with the AIDS virus. Her husband was awarded $1.5 million.

Susie Quintana, who was 56, had contracted AIDS from a 1983 transfusion that came from United Blood Services of Albuquerque. She died Friday as her attorney was presenting closing arguments.

Attorney Art Downey said he would appeal. He said the judge should have declared a mistrial when she learned of the death.

Instead, Rice sequestered the eight jurors, believing that if they learned Quintana had died it might affect their deliberations.

The jury awarded Quintana $6.5 million in negligence damages and $105,000 for emotional distress. It awarded her husband, Chris, $1.5 million for loss of companionship. Her estate would receive her money if the verdict is upheld.