Journalist Maricruz Leiva and physician Jennifer Fallas reached a confidential settlement in the Goicoechea Courts of Justice on Monday, October 12, ending a years-long legal battle stemming from a 2018 cosmetic procedure, according to reports by La Teja and La Nación.
Settlement Reached in Goicoechea
Mauricio Brenes, the attorney representing Leiva, stated that the agreement satisfied both parties and fell under a strict confidentiality obligation.
While the exact financial terms remain sealed by the court, a source close to the proceedings told La Teja that the agreed-upon sum approaches the total calculated in a judicial expert report. That official report evaluated the physical and moral damages experienced by the former television presenter following the surgery.
Surgical Complications and Judicial Report
The underlying legal dispute originated on August 27, 2018, when Leiva underwent a laser-assisted lipoplasty on her arms, back, and abdomen at Clínica Splendor, which was owned by Fallas, who is widely known as the “doctor to the beauty queens” (Infactcr.com).
📢 Así llegó a su fin el caso entre Maricruz Leiva y la doctora Jennifer Fallas 👇 https://t.co/426nb5CEiu
Following the intervention, Leiva suffered severe third-degree burns and a pseudomonas bacterial infection, requiring multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and blood transfusions at the San Juan de Dios Hospital Burn Unit. Court-appointed expert Luis Fernando Rivas filed a judicial assessment detailing that the journalist was temporarily incapacitated for five months and experienced a 35% reduction in her general organic capacity.
Financial Valuations and Expert Findings
The judicial report calculated physical damages at ¢182,081,084 and estimated moral damages at ¢204,081,084, totaling ¢386,162,168. Although media sources indicated the final conciliation amount stayed below that total, the valuation served as the basis for the civil indemnification claim before the judge ordered the negotiations to proceed under confidentiality.
Reactions Outside the Courtroom
Leiva expressed satisfaction and peace with the resolution, while Fallas also noted that she felt calm and positive following the conclusion of the proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the exact financial payout of the settlement?
The exact monetary figure remains undisclosed. A source close to the case indicated to La Teja that the final sum closely approached the judicial expert appraisal of ¢386 million without fully reaching it, but the terms are protected by a court-mandated confidentiality agreement.
When did the legal proceedings begin?
The dispute stems from a surgical procedure performed on August 27, 2018, which led the Costa Rican Prosecutor’s Office to order five raids as part of an investigation into alleged negligent injuries, as reported by La Nación.
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