Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

Fact Checked

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that can cause permanent disabilities and complications. Sometimes cerebral palsy develops after medical negligence.[1] If your baby has cerebral palsy because of medical mistakes, you can file a cerebral palsy lawsuit and fight for justice.

What Is a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit, And Should I File One?

Cerebral palsy lawsuits are legal actions against hospitals, doctors, and other medical professionals negligent in causing a child’s birth injury. It is a type of medical malpractice lawsuit.

There are many good reasons to file a lawsuit over your child’s cerebral palsy:

• To hold negligent medical professionals responsible
• To get justice for your family
• To potentially prevent a doctor or other caregiver from making the same mistake with another mother and child
• To get the compensation your child will need for treatment and lifetime care

Whether or not it makes sense to file a lawsuit depends on the particulars of your case. Only an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer can give you the expert advice needed to make that decision.

Do I Have a Valid Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit?

A case for a lawsuit depends on what caused your child’s cerebral palsy. Medical malpractice often causes cerebral palsy through a doctor’s or other medical professional’s mistakes or errors in judgment.

You probably have a valid cerebral palsy claim if medical experts can show that a medical professional’s actions directly led to your child’s condition.

Some of the most common preventable medical mistakes that can lead to cerebral palsy are:

• Failing to perform a C-section or scheduling the procedure after it’s too late
• Inadequate monitoring of fetal vital signs and distress, or failure to act on monitored danger
• Failure to treat jaundice, which can trigger kernicterus, which is a type of brain damage
• An excessive force with birth-assisting tools, like forceps
• Failure to diagnose and treat infections in the mother or to monitor her health during pregnancy
• Not delivering an infant promptly resulting in oxygen deprivation
• Mistakes in anesthesia administration
• Surgical errors during a C-section

If you feel your baby is now disabled because of medical mistakes, contact an experienced and reputable lawyer specializing in medical malpractice.[2] An attorney who has worked with families of children with cerebral palsy can help.

What Does it Cost to File a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit?

With the right lawyer, a lawsuit won’t cost you anything unless and until you win your cerebral palsy case and recover damages from the defendants.

Most cerebral palsy attorneys sue on your behalf. They then work with you on a contingency basis. You only pay a percentage of the compensation if you win the lawsuit.

Typical contingency fees for a lawyer in a medical malpractice case are between 15 to 40 percent of the money you receive from the defendants. Always talk about costs before hiring a legal team.

Will My Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Go to Trial?

Most of these lawsuits end in a settlement, which takes place instead of a trial. But the defense may refuse to admit wrongdoing or settle for an amount your lawyer feels is fair.

You may also decide not to settle for the amount offered, in which case you can go to trial.[3]

There are some downsides to going to trial. It typically takes longer to get compensation this way. A trial is also a risk, as it may result in no damages award if the jury doesn’t decide in your favor. On the other hand, a jury award is almost always higher than a settlement amount. 

Steps in a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

Once you file your lawsuit, your lawyer will start investigating the incident to find evidence to prove medical negligence.

You can help by providing all your medical records, including prenatal care, your baby’s medical care during pregnancy, and childbirth records.

• Filing a Lawsuit. With all the information gathered, your lawyer files the lawsuit and sends it to the defendants. They will have a certain amount of time to respond to the complaint, usually 30 days.
• The Discovery Period. Discovery begins once the defendant has responded to the complaint. During the discovery phase, both sides’ legal teams prepare documents, evidence, and depositions to prove their side of the lawsuit. Both sides can exchange information during this period.
• Negotiations and Settlement. Your lawyer will try to resolve your case with a settlement negotiation. Your attorney will lay out the evidence against the defendant to negotiate a settlement amount for your family. The goal is to settle now instead of going through a lengthy trial.[4]
• Trial. Most defendants agree to settle out of court in medical malpractice cases, even if they are unwilling to admit negligence. It is usually less expensive because juries tend to award more significant amounts. If your cerebral palsy lawsuit goes to trial, your attorney will present the evidence before a jury. The board decides if the defendants are negligent and the amount of any monetary award you are entitled to receive.[5]

How Much Can I Get from a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Settlement?

Cerebral palsy compensation varies by case. The amount you may be able to get for your child depends on factors unique to your situation:

• The severity of your child’s condition, disabilities, and symptoms
• How much care and support your child will need in the future
• Current and expected future medical bills and related expenses
• Lost wages if you must stay home to care for your child
• The costs of early educational interventions
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Your child’s reduced independence

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits?

If a medical professional’s mistakes caused your baby harm, take legal action as soon as possible. Each state has a statute of limitations that sets a date, after which it is too late to file.

Since many children with cerebral palsy don’t receive a diagnosis until several years after the incident, you may have extra time to file your case. Your attorney will be able to explain the laws in your state.

Because your child needs therapy and treatment, which can be costly, it’s a good idea to get started on a case as soon as possible.

Recent Notable Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits

In 2017, a family won a $14.2 million lawsuit against Salina Regional Health Center after a federal jury returned a verdict in their favor. According to court documents, “Dr. Carnevale and Clearfield Hospital improperly administered the drug Pitocin” to plaintiff Nicole Welker while in labor, resulting in her baby developing neurological disorders and cerebral palsy.[6]

The jury ultimately agreed that the family’s cerebral palsy attorney provided enough evidence to determine the defendants were at fault.

On July 2, 2019, Erica Byrom and her daughter, Zubida, won $229.6 million in what was called “the largest medical malpractice verdict ever awarded in the United States,” according to the Baltimore Sun.[7]

Byrom went to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Maryland with high blood pressure, brought on by preeclampsia. At only 16, Byrom decided not to undergo a C-section, and the attending physician didn’t carry out an emergency C-section. However, there were warning signs that the unborn baby was in dire condition.

Because of lack of oxygen during delivery, Zubida developed cerebral palsy and now requires “around-the-clock” care. The jury decided that the plaintiff’s team presented enough evidence of negligence to determine that the hospital contributed to the causes of the infant’s birth injuries.

In April 2019, a Wisconsin family was awarded a $22.5 million settlement payment after their infant son developed cerebral palsy following surgery at the UW Health’s American Family Children’s Hospital.

According to court documents, the infant developed permanent brain damage after losing oxygen while undergoing surgery. The plaintiffs’ attorneys said that Dr. Michael Chalifoux, the physician who performed the surgery, didn’t take the appropriate measures when the baby’s blood pressure readings dropped too low.

The case was preceded by another Wisconsin case in 2012 when a jury awarded $22.5 million to the family of a baby who developed cerebral palsy after Dr. Donald Baccus at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Milwaukee “used two kinds of forceps and a vacuum” during delivery.[8]

The state Medical Examining Board showed that the doctor should have ordered and carried out an emergency C-section, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

For cerebral palsy lawsuit information specific to your state, see our list below:

• • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming