Our attorneys Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton have represented Maryland families in birth-injury cases for more than four decades. We have earned seven- and eight-figure recoveries for children facing lifelong challenges.
Parents value the personal attention of the Woodlawn cerebral palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. give every case. You always know which lawyer is fighting for your child. We balance relentless advocacy with genuine compassion—because we know your family’s future is at stake.
- Jonathan Schochor
Jonathan Schochor earned his J.D. from American University and has over 50 years of experience, recovering over $1.6 billion for clients, including a record $190 million class-action settlement for 8,000 sexual abuse survivors in Maryland.
- Kerry Staton
Kerry D. Staton earned his B.A. from Oberlin College and J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law (1980). With over 40 years in medical malpractice advocacy, he has achieved multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, earning recognition in the Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums and as one of the Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers.
What is cerebral palsy, and how can medical malpractice cause it?
Cerebral palsy is a permanent brain injury disorder that impairs movement, muscle tone, and sometimes cognition. Roughly 10,000 U.S. infants each year are diagnosed with CP; a significant share suffer injury during pregnancy, labor, or newborn care that proper medical treatment could have prevented. When oxygen deprivation, trauma, or untreated infection damages a baby’s developing brain, negligent healthcare providers may be responsible.
What medical mistakes commonly lead to cerebral palsy in newborns?
- Delayed C-section – ignoring fetal distress prolongs oxygen loss and brain damage.
- Missed fetal-monitor alarms – abnormal heart-rate strips must trigger immediate action.
- Excessive forceps or vacuum traction – poor technique can fracture the skull or bleed the brain.
- Untreated birth asphyxia – cord prolapse, nuchal cord, or failure to resuscitate deprives the brain of oxygen.
- Severe jaundice (kernicterus) – failure to treat high bilirubin can poison brain cells.
- Unmanaged maternal crises – infections, pre-eclampsia, or uterine rupture endanger the baby when staff react too slowly.
- Medication errors – overdosing Pitocin or mismanaging anesthesia reduces oxygen supply.
Could uncommon complications also result in cerebral palsy?
Yes. Rare events still devastate families when hospitals are unprepared.
- Undiagnosed placental abruption that suddenly cuts off oxygen.
- Newborn stroke or brain bleed triggered by traumatic delivery.
- Maternal infection such as chorioamnionitis that spreads to the fetus.
- Improper neonatal intubation or oxygen miscalibration in the NICU.
Our Woodlawn cerebral palsy malpractice attorneys work with top medical experts to uncover even these unusual failures.
Is cerebral palsy always caused by medical negligence?
No. Some CP arises from unpreventable genetic or developmental factors.
But whenever warning signs were ignored or protocols broken, the injury was avoidable.
If you feel answers are missing, the Woodlawn birth-injury lawyers at our firm will investigate the truth.
Who can be held liable for a cerebral palsy birth injury?
Potential defendants include the delivering obstetrician, labor-and-delivery nurses, anesthesiologists, pediatric staff, and the hospital itself. You don’t need to identify each party. Our Baltimore County cerebral palsy lawyers gather records, consult specialists, and pinpoint every breach of Maryland’s medical standard of care.
