Donna Molnar Settles

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A CHCH News exclusive. A settlement has been reached in a multi million dollar lawsuit filed by the Ancaster woman who spent three days buried under two feet of snow, in a botched suicide attempt. CHCH News was the only news outlet in the courtroom this morning when the settlement was announced.

It was on a cold, blustery day in December of 2008 ,when Ancaster mother and high school secretary, Donna Molnar did something that would forever change her life. The 62 year old high school secretary, who had been battling deep bouts of depression, drove to a desolate road, swallowed sleeping pills, walked out onto this snow covered field and lay down to die.

Search and rescue teams combed the area and then, three days later they found her alive. Her discovery was described as a Christmas miracle but for Donna and her family, it was the beginning of a very long nightmare.

Donna lost both her arms and legs. She suffered brain damage from a stroke brought on by severe hypothermia. Her family believes all of her injuries were preventable. They sued St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and her own family doctor Karen Antoniuk for 12 and a half million dollars. The lawsuit claimed the doctors treating her depression should have done more.

Evidence in the five week trial showed that Donna had tried to take her life at least three other times. On one occassion, she swallowed pills and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Her husband pleaded to have her admitted but she was released. Within days she would again swallow pills and walk out onto that farmers field to die. After five weeks of testimony, her lawyer Ken Morris announced a deal had been reached. “Donna and David had to look at a jury coming back not finding negligence and saying it may have happened in any event. And that was the fear.”

Details of the agreement were not released but donna and her family were clearly pleased with the settlement.

“No amount of money can change things they can’t put her back in a situation she would have been in if this hadn’t have happened but this is enough money to allow Donna and David to start a new chapter in their life.”

Donna Molnar did not want to go on camera but she did tell me that the settlement will allow her to have a personal assistant who can drive her to buy groceries and help her live a more normal life. David Molnar said he is hoping that hospital officials have learned from the experience and have changed their protocol to better treat patients with mental health issues.