Welcoming a baby should bring pure joy, yet a cerebral palsy diagnosis can replace excitement with fear. At Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A., Columbia cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and Columbia birth-injury attorney Kerry Staton understand that anguish. With more than four decades of birth-injury litigation and over $1 billion recovered for clients, we pair legal muscle with genuine empathy. If medical negligence caused your child’s condition, our Columbia cerebral palsy attorneys will fight for justice, answers, and a lifetime of security.

“They outsourced the best experts to help every step of the way. I never had to wonder what was happening which was very calming during this stressful process. If you are looking for an Attorney who is kind and compassionate then look no further. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed if I ever need attorney in the future, I will be contacting Jim!” – Terri

Call us anytime at (443) 909-2792 or send a message through our confidential online form to schedule your free case review.

What Is Cerebral Palsy and How Does It Affect Children?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent neurological disorder that disrupts muscle control, movement, and posture. The damage occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. Symptoms range from mild motor delays to severe spasticity and cognitive impairment. Because CP is lifelong and incurable, families must plan for ongoing therapy, medical supervision, and assistive technology. Proper compensation is critical to meet those needs.

Can Medical Malpractice Cause Cerebral Palsy?

Medical negligence can and often does lead to cerebral palsy. Roughly one in five CP cases is tied to preventable delivery errors. Common mistakes include:

  • Missed fetal distress. Ignoring abnormal heart tracings or delaying an emergency C-section can allow oxygen deprivation that injures the brain.
  • Mishandled delivery tools. Excessive force with forceps or a vacuum extractor may cause bleeding or trauma that results in CP.
  • Untreated infections. Prenatal or neonatal infections such as chorioamnionitis or meningitis can damage a newborn’s brain if doctors fail to act quickly.
  • Kernicterus from severe jaundice. High bilirubin levels require prompt phototherapy; delay can cause permanent brain injury.
  • Poor prenatal risk management. Failure to address pre-eclampsia, breech positioning, multiple births, or pre-term labor creates dangerous conditions that competent care could have prevented.

Not every CP diagnosis stems from malpractice, yet too many arise from these avoidable errors. When families suspect negligence, they should consult one of the Columbia cerebral palsy lawyers at our firm without delay.

Do You Need a Columbia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?

Families benefit enormously from legal counsel. We investigate records, hire medical experts, and pinpoint each breach of the standard of care. Columbia CP attorney Jonathan Schochor often uncovers multiple liable parties from physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, even the hospital itself.

Without legal guidance, parents risk missing strict procedural deadlines or undervaluing lifelong damages. Our Columbia medical-malpractice attorneys shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on your child.

How Does a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Work in South Carolina?

  1. Free case review. We listen, collect preliminary records, and explain your options. No cost, no obligation.
  2. Expert evaluation. Obstetric, neonatal, and neurological specialists scrutinize every decision surrounding pregnancy and delivery.
  3. Filing the complaint. Once experts confirm negligence, we file suit within three to four months of intake to preserve evidence and beat the statute of limitations.
  4. Discovery. Both sides exchange documents and take sworn depositions. Our Columbia birth-injury legal team uses this phase to expose protocol violations and link oxygen-deprivation timelines to MRI findings.
  5. Negotiation or trial. Armed with expert reports and life-care plans, we pursue settlement. If the defense refuses fair compensation, we try the case before a jury. Our courtroom record speaks for itself.
  6. Structured recovery. After victory, we help set up special-needs trusts or structured settlements so funds last your child’s lifetime.

What Compensation Can a Columbia Cerebral Palsy Claim Recover?

  • Past and future medical bills. Surgeries, medications, specialist visits, and hospitalizations.
  • Therapy and rehabilitation. Physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy, often lifelong and costly.
  • Assistive devices and home or vehicle modifications. Wheelchairs, communication tablets, ramps, widened doorways, and adaptive vans.
  • Special education and in-home care. Individualized education programs and attendant care to maximize independence.
  • Lost earning capacity. Economic experts calculate wages your child cannot earn because of disability.
  • Pain, suffering, and loss of life’s pleasures. South Carolina caps non-economic damages at $350,000 per provider (up to $1.05 million total), unless gross negligence removes the cap. We always explore that possibility.
  • Punitive damages. In egregious cases, intoxicated delivery doctors, and cover-ups, punitive awards punish wrongdoing and deter future harm.

How Long Do You Have to File in South Carolina?

Most medical-malpractice actions must be filed within three years of the negligent act and never later than six years after it occurred. Birth-injury claims for minors toll, but only up to the child’s tenth birthday. Missing these deadlines is fatal to a case. Columbia cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea files quickly to protect every family’s rights.

Columbia-Area Resources for Families Living With CP

  • Prisma Health Children’s Hospital – Midlands. Comprehensive pediatric rehab and spasticity management.
  • The Therapy Place. Non-profit offering PT, OT, speech therapy, and parent support groups on Covenant Road.
  • Bright Start. Early-intervention specialists providing in-home services for infants and toddlers.
  • United Cerebral Palsy of South Carolina. Advocacy, assistive-technology grants, and respite programs.
  • Family Connection SC. Peer mentors, training workshops, and resource navigation.
  • Richland & Lexington County school districts. Individualized Education Program evaluations and special-education services.
  • Columbia DART paratransit. Door-to-door accessible transportation for medical and therapy appointments.

Our Columbia cerebral palsy legal advocates maintain a current list of these organizations and gladly connect clients to them.

Why Choose Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea for Your Columbia Cerebral Palsy Case?

  • Depth of experience. We have handled birth-injury litigation since 1984, trying hundreds of cases nationwide.
  • Record of success. Verdicts and settlements exceed $1 billion, including multi-million-dollar CP recoveries.
  • Medical mastery. Our Columbia malpractice lawyers work with in-house nurses and a vetted network of OB/GYN, neonatology, and neurology experts.
  • Client-first culture. Parents praise our accessibility, compassion, and clear explanations. We treat every family as our own.
  • Local insight, national firepower. Although headquartered in Baltimore, we litigate throughout South Carolina, partnering with local counsel when necessary and absorbing all travel costs.
  • No fee unless we win. Our contingency model means legal help costs you nothing up front. You risk nothing but stand to secure everything your child deserves.

Jonathan Schochor is the Chairman and founding partner of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A., bringing more than 50 years of courtroom experience to medical-malpractice, sexual-abuse, and mass-tort cases. A Penn State graduate with a J.D. from American University, where he served as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Jonathan is widely sought for lectures at Johns Hopkins and MedStar, expert commentary in the media, and testimony before the Maryland Legislature on tort reform. His relentless advocacy has made him a trusted voice for victims of negligence and abuse nationwide.

Ready to Protect Your Child’s Future? Contact Us Today

The sooner you act, the stronger your case. Call (443) 909-2792 or complete our secure form for a free consultation. We take calls 24/7, offer virtual meetings, and travel to Columbia homes or hospitals when needed. Justice starts with one conversation. Let Columbia cerebral palsy attorney Kerry Staton and Columbia CP lawyer Jonathan Schochor guide your family forward.

Take the first step now. With our Columbia birth-injury lawyers by your side, you gain relentless advocates and compassionate allies committed to securing the resources your child needs to thrive.