Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton have dedicated nearly four decades to holding negligent doctors and hospitals accountable when preventable brain injuries change a child’s life forever. 

We serve Clinton families with the knowledge, resources, and empathy needed to turn heartbreak into hope, recovering more than $1 billion for injured clients to date. Reach out now for a no-cost consultation. Dial (443) 909-2792 to schedule your free case evaluation. One conversation could unlock the resources your family needs

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of motor-control disorders caused by brain damage or abnormal brain development. The condition affects muscle tone, balance, and movement, and it is permanent, making early answers and lifelong support crucial.

What Causes CP?

  • Prenatal factors. Maternal infections, toxic exposures, or fetal stroke can injure the developing brain.
  • Perinatal events. Oxygen deprivation, prolonged labor, or traumatic tool use during delivery frequently trigger CP.
  • Postnatal injuries. Severe jaundice, meningitis, or accidental head trauma in the newborn period also create risk.

Why This Matters

Identifying the true cause distinguishes unpreventable tragedy from medical negligence. When substandard care is to blame, financial recovery is the only path to secure a child’s medical future.

Common Medical Errors That Lead to CP

Doctors and nurses must swiftly detect and correct problems in labor and delivery. The Clinton cerebral palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. repeatedly see these preventable mistakes:

  1. Delayed C-section. Every lost minute of fetal distress increases brain-injury risk.
  2. Improper tool use. Excessive force with forceps or vacuum extractors can cause skull fractures and bleeds.
  3. Missed heart-rate warnings. Ignoring monitor alarms allows prolonged oxygen loss.
  4. Mishandled resuscitation. Failure to clear airways or start ventilation in the first minute of life can be catastrophic.

Uncommon but Serious Negligence

Our Clinton birth-injury lawyers uncover less obvious errors that still devastate families:

  • Misdiagnosed maternal infections (GBS, rubella, toxoplasmosis).
  • Faulty or uncalibrated fetal monitors that hide distress.
  • Anesthesia overdoses causing maternal hypotension and fetal hypoxia.
  • Untreated severe jaundice leading to kernicterus.
  • Botched breech or shoulder-dystocia maneuvers that injure the spinal cord or brain.

Even rare scenarios demand accountability when professional standards are breached.

Why Early Legal Action Matters

Maryland generally requires malpractice claims within five years of injury or three years from discovery, whichever is sooner. Parents’ economic claims follow the same rule. Although a child may sue until age 21, evidence fades and hospital records disappear quickly. Prompt investigation preserves proof and positions your family for the strongest result.

How Our Clinton Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Help

  • Free case review. Attorney Jonathan Schochor or Kerry Staton personally evaluates your story.
  • Medical-expert analysis. We secure opinions from obstetric, neonatal, and neurological specialists to prove causation.
  • Full-damage calculation. Life-care planners estimate therapy, equipment, education, and home-modification costs that can exceed $3 million over a lifetime.
  • Aggressive negotiation. Our record of multi-million-dollar verdicts signals insurers that we will try the case if they refuse fair payment.
  • No fees unless we win. Families pay nothing up front. Our fee comes from the recovery we obtain.

Maryland Birth-Injury Law at a Glance

  • Pre-suit certificate. A qualified physician must attest that care violated standards, filed within 90 days of the initial claim.
  • Non-economic cap. Pain-and-suffering damages are capped (about $860,000 in 2025), but medical and life-care costs are uncapped.
  • Contributory negligence. Maryland bars recovery if a plaintiff is even 1% at fault. This seldom affects an infant but shapes strategy in maternal-injury claims.

Understanding these rules helps our Maryland medical-malpractice attorneys move your case efficiently.

Compensation Your Child May Receive

  • Lifetime medical and therapy expenses
  • In-home nursing, adaptive equipment, and home modifications
  • Lost future earnings and reduced earning capacity
  • Pain, suffering, and loss of life’s pleasures
  • Parents’ out-of-pocket costs and emotional distress where allowed

Our cerebral palsy legal team fights for every dollar because adequate funding means better treatment, mobility, and independence for your child.

Local Insight: Clinton, MD Birth Care

Most Clinton deliveries occur at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center on Surratts Road, serving neighborhoods from Woodyard to Camp Springs. When protocols fail here, or in any Prince George’s County facility, families need lawyers who understand local medical practices and can subpoena staff quickly. Attorney Kerry Staton routinely consults hospital policies to expose systemic safety gaps and demand reform.

Client 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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if malpractice caused my child’s CP?

We review prenatal, labor, and NICU records with independent specialists to spot deviations from accepted care.

What costs will your firm cover while my case is pending?

We advance expert-witness, filing, and investigation expenses so financial strain never blocks justice.

How long will the case take?

Most birth-injury claims resolve in 18–30 months. Complex trials can extend longer, but early settlement is possible when liability is clear.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Your child deserves every advantage. Call (443) 909-2792 or fill out our quick form today. Attorney Jonathan Schochor or attorney Kerry Staton will personally review your case at no cost. If negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy, we will fight to secure the resources that give them a brighter future, and you peace of mind.