VENTURA : Woman Settles Suit Over Transfusion

A former Ventura woman, who contracted the AIDS virus from a blood transfusion, has settled a lawsuit with the nonprofit agency that provided the blood.

Sabrina Crawford, 24, who has not yet developed symptoms of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, now lives in Portland, Ore. She will receive an undisclosed sum from United Blood Services of Ventura County.

The Ventura-based agency provided Crawford with blood for an emergency transfusion in May, 1984. Crawford’s representatives charged that the agency was negligent in giving blood that was tainted with the human immunodeficiency virus. But the executive director of United Blood said that the first reliable HIV test for donated blood was not available until March, 1985.

“We didn’t even have any way of testing for the virus at that time, and if we took this case to trial, I believe our position would have prevailed,” said Michael Hayward, executive director of United Blood.

He said the case was settled for an amount comparable to what the agency would have spent in legal fees if the case went to trial. Hayward added that part of the reason for settling “was due to humanitarian concerns” because Crawford had used all her money on legal expenses and had no money left for medical needs.

Stephen Ball, a Los Angeles attorney representing Crawford, said tests were available at the time of the transfusion that could check for the presence of other blood-borne viruses which are correlated with the HIV virus. In addition, the agency did not question people about their sexual habits before letting them donate blood, he said.

“I also think this case was settled partially because the Crawfords are such brave, terrific people,” Ball said. When Sabrina Crawford and her husband, Merritt, were married in 1987, both knew she was infected with the virus. She gave birth to a healthy son a few years ago, Ball said.

Terms of Monday’s settlement are being kept confidential.

In November, both sides agreed that Crawford’s present and future losses due to the infection, such as medical expenses and loss of earnings, totaled about $1.5 million.