Families dealing with a cerebral palsy diagnosis deserve swift answers and experienced legal help. Potomac cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and Potomac birth-injury attorney Kerry Staton have advocated for injured children since 1984, recovering over $1 billion for clients. We have filed more medical negligence cases than any other firm in Maryland, and our results include record-setting verdicts for birth injury survivors.
Montgomery County welcomes roughly 11,500 births each year. Although most deliveries are safe, a single preventable mistake can change a child’s life forever. We understand the fear, anger, and uncertainty parents feel, and we are ready to investigate, explain what happened, and fight for the resources your child will need.
Reach out to (443) 909-2792 or complete our brief contact form for a complimentary consultation with no strings attached. We’re available around the clock, can come to your home, and there’s no charge unless we secure a win for you. Let us advocate for the justice and protection your child needs.
What Is Cerebral Palsy and When Does Negligence Play a Role?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. The condition stems from damage to a developing brain, often around the time of birth. While genetic or unpreventable factors can cause CP, thousands of cases each year arise because medical professionals ignore warning signs, delay critical interventions, or apply dangerous delivery techniques. When sub-standard medical care is a substantial factor, parents have grounds for a malpractice claim to secure compensation and accountability.
Common Birth Errors That Cause Cerebral Palsy
How Can Lack of Oxygen at Birth Cause Cerebral Palsy?
A baby deprived of oxygen, even for a few minutes, can suffer irreversible brain injury. If an umbilical cord is compressed, a placenta detaches, or fetal heart monitors flag distress, doctors must act immediately. Potomac cerebral palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor has repeatedly proven that delayed emergency C-sections at local hospitals led to hypoxia and permanent disabilities.
What Delivery Mistakes Lead to Cerebral Palsy?
Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors, excessive traction during shoulder dystocia, or rough manipulation in a breech delivery can bruise or bleed a newborn’s brain. Potomac birth-injury lawyer Kerry Staton secures expert testimony to show juries how correct technique would have prevented trauma.
Can an Infection Lead to My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Yes. Maternal infections such as Group B strep or chorioamnionitis, or neonatal infections like meningitis, can inflame brain tissue. When caregivers fail to screen, diagnose, or treat infections promptly, inflammation can destroy healthy cells and cause CP.
Other preventable factors
- Mismanaged prolonged labor
- Umbilical cord around the neck left unaddressed
- Inadequate newborn resuscitation or oxygen after birth=
A competent medical team anticipates these dangers. When they do not, the Potomac cerebral palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea step in to protect families.
Uncommon but Serious Medical Mistakes That Lead to CP
Some tragedies fall outside typical patterns, yet they are equally preventable:
- Delayed emergency C-section despite clear fetal distress.
- Mismanaged high-risk pregnancy untreated preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or multiple gestations.
- Severe untreated jaundice (kernicterus) leading to bilirubin-induced brain injury.
- Medication or anesthesia errors that depress a baby’s oxygen levels.
- Maternal medical emergencies (e.g., stroke) ignored, delaying delivery.
Whatever the scenario, we enlist top obstetric, neonatal, and brain-injury specialists to pinpoint exactly where care failed and when the injury occurred.
Why Choose Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton for a Potomac CP Case?
Our credentials translate into leverage at the negotiation table and credibility in the courtroom.
- Nearly 40 years of Maryland birth-injury litigation – our track record shows hundreds of successful CP cases.
- $1 billion+ recovered – we know how to value lifelong care costs that often reach millions of dollars.
- Comprehensive resources – in-house nurse consultants, life-care planners, and a dedicated medical investigator build every file.
- Client-centered service – we meet with families at their homes in Potomac, arrange translation when needed, and connect parents to therapy and support groups.
- Local insight – the Potomac cerebral palsy lawyers at our firm understand Montgomery County juries, judges, and medical systems, providing a strategic advantage.
- No fee unless we win – parents never shoulder financial risk.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have a malpractice case if my child has cerebral palsy?
Possibly. If substandard medical care contributed to oxygen loss, trauma, or infection, you likely have a claim. Maryland generally allows suits up to the child’s 11th birthday for birth injuries, but the sooner evidence is preserved, the stronger the case.
How can I prove a medical mistake caused my baby’s CP?
We secure and review prenatal, labor, and neonatal records with specialists. A Maryland-required Certificate of Merit confirms negligence. Experts then link each error, such as a 20-minute delay in a C-section, to the specific brain injury shown on MRIs.
What compensation can a cerebral palsy lawsuit provide?
Damages cover past and future medical bills, therapy, adaptive equipment, special education, home modifications, lost parental income, and non-economic suffering. Economic damages are uncapped in Maryland, ensuring funds last for your child’s lifetime needs.
Why hire a Potomac cerebral palsy lawyer?
Local counsel knows regional hospitals, expert witnesses, and court procedures. The Potomac birth-injury attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea command respect from defense firms and insurers, often leading to quicker, higher settlements.
How much does it cost to hire your attorneys?
Nothing upfront. We advance all litigation costs and charge a percentage only if we secure compensation. If we do not win, you owe no fees and no case expenses.
Meet Your Attorneys
Jonathan Schochor
Co-founder of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., Jonathan Schochor has passionately represented victims of medical malpractice since 1984. Recognized nationally among The Best Lawyers in America, he is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Maryland Trial Lawyer of the Year award, and repeatedly named among the Top 100 Lawyers and Super Lawyers. Under his leadership, the firm secured Maryland’s largest-ever class-action settlement and has recovered over one billion dollars for clients, establishing Schochor as a leading advocate for justice in medical negligence cases.
Kerry D. Staton
Kerry Staton, co-founder of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., is distinguished for his groundbreaking work in medical malpractice litigation, particularly involving cerebral palsy and birth injuries. Named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America (Baltimore), and Trial Lawyer of the Year by Top 100 Lawyers, he has earned a national reputation for successfully fighting complex birth injury cases. His extensive courtroom experience, combined with compassionate advocacy, continues to provide victims and families with life-changing settlements and verdicts.
The Potomac cerebral palsy legal team at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea blends courtroom tenacity with deep compassion for children and parents.
Client Testimonial
“SSGC provided exceptional service with a perfect balance of professionalism and personable care. Their knowledgeable team explained every detail clearly, leaving no question unanswered. Their attention to detail and commitment to client success set them apart. Highly recommended for anyone seeking expert, legal guidance. Unmatched representation!” – David V.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Parents should not bear lifelong care costs caused by medical negligence. Potomac cerebral palsy attorney Kerry Staton, Maryland cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor, and the entire team stand ready to guide you through every legal step.
Call (443) 909-2792 or fill out our quick contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We answer 24/7, can visit your home, and charge no fee unless we win. Let us fight for the justice and security your child deserves.