Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton have devoted their legal careers to helping families whose children live with cerebral palsy. At Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., we pair statewide medical-malpractice experience with the personal touch Bowie parents need when the future feels uncertain.
Take the Next Step: Schedule your free and confidential consultation with Jonathan Schochor or Kerry Staton today. Call (443) 909-2792 or message us now to start protecting your child’s future.
How Can Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. Help My Family?
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong motor-control condition that can overwhelm a household emotionally, physically, and financially. We understand those pressures because our Bowie cerebral palsy attorneys have guided families through them for decades.
When physicians, nurses, or hospitals do not meet the accepted standard of care, our team, led by Bowie birth-injury lawyer Jonathan Schochor and medical-malpractice attorney Kerry Staton, investigates, documents, and establishes liability. We work with pediatric neurologists, life-care planners, and vocational experts to project a child’s needs across a lifetime.
Our record of seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements shows insurers that we will go to trial if a fair agreement is not offered. Just as important, we return phone calls, arrange home visits, and explain each step so parents stay focused on their child’s well-being, not legal logistics.
What Exactly Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that impair muscle tone, movement, and posture. It results from damage to the developing brain, typically before, during, or shortly after birth.
The three primary types are spastic cerebral palsy, which causes stiff muscles; dyskinetic cerebral palsy, which triggers involuntary movements; and ataxic cerebral palsy, which leads to coordination and balance problems. While symptoms vary, early diagnosis and therapy are critical to maximizing independence.
Was My Child’s Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Negligence?
Medical negligence occurs when health-care providers deviate from accepted practices, and that deviation injures a patient. Telltale signs include unexplained oxygen deprivation during labor, failure to order a timely C-section, or a newborn who required prolonged resuscitation.
Common errors we uncover involve ignored fetal distress, misread heart-rate strips, and improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors. Establishing causation requires expert medical opinions, and our Bowie cerebral palsy lawyers retain respected specialists who connect each error to the brain injury that followed.
If you suspect mistakes were made, secure the delivery records immediately and contact us. A prompt legal review prevents loss of evidence and protects your child’s rights under Maryland law.
What Types of Cerebral Palsy Cases Do We Handle?
Common Types
- Birth Asphyxia – We show how prolonged oxygen loss can injure the basal ganglia and lead to spastic quadriplegia.
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) – Our team links delayed intervention to this acute brain injury, often proven by abnormal APGAR scores and MRI results.
- Erb’s Palsy – Although primarily a nerve injury, severe shoulder dystocia can coincide with cerebral palsy, and we pursue combined claims.
- Shoulder Dystocia – We illustrate how excessive traction or poor maneuvers can damage both the brachial plexus and the brain.
Less Common Cases
- Delayed C-Section-Related Cerebral Palsy – Jonathan Schochor has recovered damages where a thirty-minute decision-to-incision delay caused irreversible hypoxia.
- Improper Medication Dosages – Kerry Staton has litigated cases in which incorrect magnesium sulfate levels depressed a newborn’s respiration, leading to cerebral palsy.
- Vacuum Extraction Injuries – We expose how excessive pressure or multiple pulls can cause intracranial bleeding and cerebral palsy.
- Failure to Diagnose Maternal Infections – Untreated chorioamnionitis can inflame fetal brain tissue; we align lab data, fetal monitoring strips, and neonatal sepsis results to prove fault.
- Mismanaged Fetal Distress – Our Bowie cerebral palsy attorneys demonstrate how ignoring decelerations or meconium-stained fluid violates obstetric standards.
What Should I Do if I Suspect Medical Malpractice?
Time is of the essence. Obtain every prenatal, labor, delivery, and neonatal record before gaps appear. Keep a journal of your child’s diagnoses, therapies, and milestones.
Maryland generally requires medical-malpractice claims to be filed within three years of discovery or five years of the negligent act, whichever comes first (§ 5-109 Courts & Judicial Proceedings). Missing that deadline bars recovery, so contact a Bowie birth-injury attorney at our firm as soon as concerns arise.
What Kind of Compensation Can My Family Receive?
Economic damages cover past and future medical bills, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and around-the-clock care that can exceed several million dollars over a lifetime.
Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life. Parents may also claim lost wages if caregiving responsibilities reduce their earning capacity. Our Bowie cerebral palsy lawyers quantify each category with vocational and economic experts to ensure no cost is overlooked.
Why Choose Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A.?
We build compassionate relationships first and legal strategies second. Clients meet directly with Jonathan Schochor or Kerry Staton, never a case manager alone, because personal trust speeds communication.
Our firm holds multiple listings in Best Lawyers in America for medical-malpractice plaintiffs, and we have set precedents that other Bowie cerebral palsy attorneys cite today. Convenient video consultations, hospital visits, and an office less than thirty minutes from Bowie Town Center make top-tier representation accessible.
Local Insights and Connections for Bowie Families
Raising a child with cerebral palsy in Bowie often involves regular trips along Route 197 or Route 50 to specialists at Bowie Health Center or Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. We factor those travel demands into our settlement models.
Families can access support groups through the Bowie Citizens for Local Disability Advocacy and recreational programs at Allen Pond Park designed for adaptive needs. Our attorneys maintain relationships with local physical and occupational therapists, streamlining referrals for new clients.
Testimonials
“Thank you for your very skilled, legal advice along with your positivity, honesty, kindness, compassion, and support with my case during an incredibly stressful time. I am beyond grateful to you and your team of experts for bringing much-needed closure. I hope I should not have to, but in the future, I will recommend your professional services to anyone requiring legal expertise. I highly recommend Jim and his team!” – Ryan
“With Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea you receive exactly what’s needed…expert representation with integrity and professionalism at a time when you need it most.” – Stephanie
Meet Our Attorneys
Jonathan Schochor
Jonathan Schochor co-founded the firm in 1984 and has recovered $1 billion-plus for clients, filing more medical-negligence cases than any lawyer in Maryland and spearheading the state’s largest class-action settlement. A three-time “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” AV Preeminent-rated, and listed in Best Lawyers and the Top 100 Lawyers, he blends courtroom tenacity with a compassionate, client-first approach.
Kerry D. Staton
Kerry Staton, named “Lawyer of the Year” for Baltimore and “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by Top 100 Lawyers, drives many of the firm’s record birth-injury and mass-tort victories that anchor our $1 billion track record. Recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Top 1 % of Litigators, he pairs deep medical-malpractice insight with the personal attention families need after catastrophic harm.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Every conversation is confidential, and there is no fee unless we win compensation for you. Call us at (443) 909-2792 or visit us at 1211 St Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21202 to arrange a meeting with a Bowie cerebral palsy attorney committed to your child’s future.