In a stunning turn of events, All Children's Hospital has filed for a retrial in the highly publicized Maya case, where the hospital was ordered to pay a staggering $261 million in damages. The hospital's attorneys have alleged misconduct by the jury foreman, throwing the outcome of the trial into question.

According to court documents filed in Sarasota County, All Children's Hospital claims that juror Paul Lengyel violated strict conduct rules during the trial. It is alleged that Lengyel shared case information with his wife, Yolanda Lengyel, who then posted it on social media platforms. What's more, Yolanda Lengyel also attended at least one day of the trial, potentially exposing her to attorney discussions with the judge outside of the jury's presence.

The case, which gained international attention due to its portrayal in a Netflix documentary series, saw the jury ruling in favor of the Kowalski family. They found that All Children's Hospital had falsely imprisoned and battered Maya Kowalski, a 10-year-old girl from Venice, and attributed her mother's tragic suicide to the hospital's actions.

During the trial, Yolanda Lengyel frequently posted on live YouTube feeds and in a Facebook chat group that strongly supported the Kowalski family. Screen captures of her social media activity submitted as evidence show her meeting with a social media influencer known as Jules, who is allegedly connected to the Kowalski family. A video posted by Jules on her TikTok page also mentioned giving Maya her rosary beads before her testimony. Yolanda Lengyel further shared information about her husband's intended questions to witnesses and a note sent by a juror during deliberation.

The hospital's motion for a retrial points out that jurors were repeatedly reminded not to discuss the case or read media coverage, making the alleged social media activity a breach of conduct. They have called for a comprehensive investigation into Lengyel's possible misconduct and are seeking a new trial.

In response to the hospital's filing, Nick Whitney, one of the attorneys representing the Kowalski family, stated that they will be submitting a response by the court's deadline. While he did not provide any further comments, it is clear that the Kowalski family will vigorously defend the verdict.

It is worth noting that the hospital had previously attempted to have Lengyel removed from the jury during the trial's final week. They argued that his questions to witnesses demonstrated bias and a predetermined stance on the case. However, the motion was denied by Judge Hunter Carroll, who found no evidence to support the claim.

The jury foreman, Paul Lengyel, has a background in law enforcement and has resided in Sarasota County for over a decade. Following the trial, he made social media posts, including one that depicted a Photoshopped image of Judge Carroll in battle gear in front of a damaged All Children's Hospital building, accompanied by a cryptic comment.

In a separate motion, All Children's Hospital also accuses the Kowalski family's attorneys of misleading jurors in regards to the amount of damages they should award. The hospital deems the wrongful death damages of over $100 million as "patently excessive."

The Kowalski family filed their lawsuit against All Children's Hospital in 2018, citing mistreatment during an emergency room visit in October 2016. The devastating outcome of the case, coupled with the widespread attention garnered by the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," has left both sides locked in a legal battle that shows no signs of abating. The court will now need to weigh the claims of juror misconduct and determine the future course of this contentious case.