Take Care of Maya: CRPS, $208M Verdict & 2025 Reversal

Few documentaries have sparked as much discussion as Take Care of Maya, a film that turned a family’s medical nightmare into a national legal battle. The story of Maya Kowalski and her family took another dramatic turn in October 2025 when a Florida appeals court overturned a $208 million jury verdict against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Documentary Release: 2023 (Tribeca Film Festival June 10) ·
Original Verdict: $208M (later $211M) awarded to Kowalski family (Nov 2023) ·
Appeals Court Ruling: October 2025: verdict reversed ·
Hospital Named: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL ·
Maya’s Diagnosis: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

The Take Care of Maya case in one glance – nine key facts that anchor the entire story.

The pattern: a medical dispute escalated into a legal case that redefined child-protection immunity.

What disease did Maya have in Take Care of Maya?

What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?

• CRPS is a rare chronic pain condition that typically affects a limb after an injury or surgery.
• It involves prolonged pain, swelling, changes in skin color, and sensitivity to touch.
• The diagnosis remains controversial; some clinicians argue it is rarely seen in children, while others accept it as a documented disorder.

Maya Kowalski was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in 2016, a fact that became central to the legal battle. According to Wikipedia (medical reference), CRPS is “a form of amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome” that can be triggered by a minor injury. The hospital’s doctors questioned whether Maya’s symptoms matched typical CRPS presentations, leading to a conflict that eventually escalated to child-protection intervention.

What happened with Maya Kowalski?

Why was Maya taken into state custody?

• In October 2016, Maya’s parents brought her to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for severe pain.
• Hospital staff suspected Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski, was exaggerating symptoms – a condition called Munchausen syndrome by proxy (now Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another).
• A child-abuse investigation was launched, and a court ordered the state to take temporary custody of Maya, restricting visitation from her parents.

According to WUSF (Tampa Bay’s NPR affiliate), the hospital filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Children and Families, alleging medical child abuse. Maya was placed in foster care for nearly three months, during which time her mother was only allowed supervised visits. The separation took a severe emotional toll on the family.

What role did the hospital play?

• The hospital’s Child Protection Team led the investigation.
• They argued that Maya’s pain was not organic and that her mother was intentionally causing illness.
• After Maya’s mother died by suicide in January 2017, the hospital’s actions became a focal point of public outrage.

FOX 13 News (Tampa Bay) reported that the hospital maintained its actions were in good faith and required by Florida law to report suspected abuse. The appeals court later agreed, citing Chapter 39 immunity.

What was the verdict in the Take Care of Maya case?

What did the jury decide in 2023?

• In November 2023, after a five-week trial, a jury found the hospital liable for false imprisonment, medical negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• They awarded the Kowalski family $208 million in damages, later adjusted to $211 million with interest.

The trial included testimony from Maya herself, now a teenager, which reportedly deeply affected the jury. WUSF (Tampa Bay’s NPR affiliate) noted that the hospital argued in its appeal that Maya’s testimony was overly emotional and prejudicial.

Why did the appeals court overturn the verdict?

• On October 29, 2025, the Second District Court of Appeal in Florida reversed the judgment in a nearly 50-page ruling.
• The court ruled that the hospital was immune under Florida’s Chapter 39, which protects good-faith reporting of suspected child abuse.
• It also found that the trial judge erred by not granting a directed verdict on certain counts and that the evidence was insufficient for punitive damages.

FOX 13 News quoted the appeals court as saying the hospital “was entitled to immunity for its participation in the child-protection process.” The court vacated the entire $211 million judgment and ordered a new trial on remaining claims of false imprisonment, battery, and medical negligence.

Did Maya Kowalski get the money?

What is the status of the legal award?

• The $211 million award was never paid; the hospital posted a bond and appealed soon after the 2023 verdict.
• With the appeals court reversal, the Kowalski family receives nothing from that judgment.
• The family’s attorney has indicated they will seek review by the Florida Supreme Court.

Burning Nights CRPS Support (UK charity) reported that the reversal means the family now faces the possibility of a retrial, where they would have to prove their case without the previous jury’s damages award.

The implication: the family’s legal fight is far from over, and no compensation has been received.

What is the Take Care of Maya documentary about?

Who directed Take Care of Maya?

• The documentary was directed by Henry Roosevelt.
• It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2023.

IMDb (film database) lists Henry Roosevelt as director and producer. The film covers the Kowalski family’s legal battle from 2016 through the 2023 trial, weaving in expert interviews and emotional testimony from Maya.

Where can I watch the documentary?

• Take Care of Maya is available for streaming on Netflix globally.
• It is also available for purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

Netflix (streaming platform) lists the documentary as part of its library. The film has maintained a strong presence on the platform since its release in June 2023.

What this means: the documentary continues to reach new audiences even as the legal case evolves.

Timeline of key events

The pattern: each step in this timeline deepened the legal and emotional stakes for all parties.

The hospital was entitled to immunity for its participation in the child-protection process, even if that participation later turned out to be mistaken.

– Second District Court of Appeal, as reported by FOX 13 News

This is a devastating blow to a family that has already suffered unimaginable loss. We will fight on.

– Kowalski family attorney, quoted by WUSF

We are pleased that the court recognized the hospital acted in good faith and in compliance with Florida law.

– Hospital spokesperson, as reported by Burning Nights CRPS Support

The film was never about taking sides – it was about showing a family’s pain and asking hard questions about how we protect children.

– Henry Roosevelt, documentary director, in an interview with Tribeca Film Festival

For the Kowalski family, the next battle is either at the Florida Supreme Court or in a new trial. For Florida hospitals, the appeals court ruling provides a shield – but the debate over how far that shield extends is far from over.

For those wanting to understand the background before the appeal, the full story of the case provides a detailed timeline of events.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• WUSF: Appeals court reverses judgment against All Children’s Hospital
• FOX 13 News: Take Care of Maya appeals court reverses $208M judgment
• Burning Nights CRPS Support: Maya Kowalski appeal court reverses verdict