What Our Birth-Injury Team Can Do for Your Family
The diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) changes every part of family life. We understand the fear, the medical bills, and the search for answers. Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton have guided Montgomery County parents through this crisis for over four decades, turning questions into action and action into resources.
“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
Our first priority is compassion. Our second is accountability. When medical mistakes cause cerebral palsy, we work to secure the lifelong funding your child deserves. Call (443) 909-2792 or request a free case review online now. You pay nothing unless we secure funds for your child’s future.
What Is Cerebral Palsy and How Can Medical Negligence Cause It?
Cerebral palsy is a group of non-progressive brain injuries that impair muscle control, balance, and posture. The condition is permanent, but prompt and proper care during birth often prevents it. CP frequently develops when a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen, injured by excessive delivery force, or harmed by untreated infection. Each of those scenarios can stem from a preventable medical error.
Could My Doctor Have Prevented My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Many parents suspect something went wrong during labor but never hear the full story. Studies show a meaningful percentage of CP cases arise from sub-standard obstetric care. Below are common oversights we uncover:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress when heart-rate tracings showed danger.
- Delayed emergency C-section after prolonged labor or cord compression.
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum devices that caused cranial bleeding.
- Untreated maternal infections such as Group B strep or chorioamnionitis.
- Medication or anesthesia mistakes that lowered the baby’s oxygen supply.
Our Montgomery Village cerebral palsy attorneys investigate these red flags with leading neonatologists and obstetric experts. When records reveal preventable harm, we demand justice.
Common Birth-Related Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Brain injury can occur before, during, or shortly after delivery. The most frequent malpractice-related causes are:
- Intrapartum hypoxia: prolonged lack of oxygen from cord prolapse, placental abruption, or uterine rupture.
- Traumatic delivery: excessive force or misapplied instruments producing intracranial hemorrhage.
- Untreated jaundice: severe hyperbilirubinemia leading to kernicterus and athetoid CP.
- Neonatal infection: unrecognized meningitis or sepsis damaging the developing brain.
While congenital factors exist, we focus on events the medical team controlled. Our attorneys show how a timely response would have protected your child.
Uncommon Cerebral Palsy Cases We Handle
- Kernicterus-induced CP after a hospital ignored dangerous bilirubin levels.
- Twin-to-Twin Transfusion injuries where delayed delivery harmed the second infant.
- CP from emergency power failure during a Montgomery County hospital delivery.
- Post-surgical hypoxic events in fragile neonates kept off pulse-ox monitoring.
These rare scenarios require deep medical insight and aggressive litigation. Mr. Schochor and Mr. Staton have secured results in each.
How We Prove a Cerebral Palsy Malpractice Claim
A successful case rests on four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. We start by obtaining every prenatal, labor, and neonatal record. Independent specialists review whether caregivers met the accepted standard. Maryland law then requires a certificate of merit from a qualified expert. We prepare and file that certification at no cost to you. Detailed timelines, fetal monitor strips, and imaging studies let us show the exact moment negligence damaged the brain. Finally, we present the lifelong medical, educational, and home-care costs your child now faces.
Maryland allows most birth-injury suits to be filed until a child’s 21st birthday, but evidence fades quickly. Early action strengthens every claim.
What Compensation Can a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Recover?
Financial recovery is about covering real, predictable needs:
- Past and future medical bills, including surgery and equipment.
- Unlimited physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
- Special-education support and adaptive technology.
- Home and vehicle modifications for accessibility.
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life opportunities.
- Lost income for parents who become full-time caregivers.
Money cannot reverse the injury, but it can open doors to independence and dignity.
Why Montgomery Village Families Choose Jonathan Schochor & Kerry Staton
The attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A. have earned more than 90 regional and national honors, including Best Medical Malpractice Law Firm in Maryland. Kerry Staton, a Super Lawyers “Top 100” designee, has led multiple eight-figure birth-injury verdicts. Jonathan Schochor, twice named to the National Law Journal’s Elite Trial Lawyers list, brings unmatched investigative skill.
Our practice pairs big-firm resources with small-firm care. Nurse consultants analyze records the day we receive them. Trial lawyers prepare every file as if it will be heard by a Montgomery County jury tomorrow. Families reach us directly and we return calls within 24 hours.
“Kerry Staton and Josh Kahn handled my case extremely well. From the first contact up to the outcome, along with team (sic), they were very professional and provided great counsel.” –Laetitia M
When negligent hospitals deny responsibility, our courtroom reputation compels fair settlements. When settlement fails, we litigate without hesitation.
Do All Cerebral Palsy Cases Go to Trial?
Most do not. Our preparation persuades insurers to resolve claims before a jury sees damning evidence. If trial becomes necessary, the Montgomery Village cerebral palsy lawyers at our firm have the skill and stamina to finish the fight. Either way, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
What to Do Right Now
Gather every medical record you have, from prenatal visits to NICU discharge. Make notes of anything that seemed unusual during labor. Then call us at (443) 909-2792 or visit our Baltimore office at 1211 St Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21202 for a free, confidential consultation. We shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on your child’s progress.
Ready to Talk?
Speak with a Montgomery Village cerebral palsy attorney today. Call (443) 909-2792. We are honored to listen, to guide, and to fight for the secure future your child deserves.