Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton are Maryland Erb’s palsy lawyers who have dedicated over 35 years to protecting children across Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and beyond. Their attorneys have achieved record-setting verdicts and settlements for birth-injury clients by combining meticulous investigation with heartfelt advocacy.
If you suspect that your child’s brachial-plexus injury could have been prevented, call (443) 909-2792 now for a free consultation.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is a brachial-plexus nerve injury that weakens or paralyzes an infant’s shoulder and arm.
The condition, Erb-Duchenne palsy, appears in roughly 1 – 2 of every 1,000 U.S. births and often announces itself with an arm hanging limply, a weak grasp, or limited shoulder movement.
Because those nerves power critical muscle groups, even mild damage may require months of physical therapy. Severe tears may need surgery and can cause lifelong disability.
Why Does Erb’s Palsy Happen, and Could Doctors Have Prevented It?
Erb’s palsy almost always results from excessive stretching of a newborn’s neck or shoulder during delivery.
- Shoulder dystocia – baby’s shoulder lodges behind the pelvic bone and the provider applies too much force.
- Breech or face-first births – awkward extraction angles strain nerves.
- Fetal macrosomia – large babies become stuck in the birth canal.
- Improper forceps or vacuum use – traction exceeds safe limits.
- Prolonged or stalled labor – tired staff hurry and pull.
Experienced obstetricians are trained to perform McRoberts maneuvers, order timely cesarean sections, and summon extra help rather than pull forcefully. When these steps are skipped, Maryland medical malpractice law calls that negligence.
Risk Factors Maryland Doctors Must Recognize
Obstetric teams in Baltimore, Annapolis, and across the state know certain red flags demand extra caution.
- Birth weight above 8 lbs 13 oz
- Gestational diabetes
- Breech position late in pregnancy
- History of shoulder dystocia in a prior birth
- Labor that lasts more than 20 hours
When a delivery team ignores these warnings and injury follows, our Maryland Erb’s palsy attorneys stand ready to hold the hospital accountable.
Can Maryland Parents Sue for an Erb’s Palsy Birth Injury?
Yes. Maryland law lets parents pursue a malpractice claim when medical negligence causes a preventable brachial-plexus injury.
To prevail, you and your lawyer must show that a healthcare provider owed a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the injury, and left your family facing real damages.
Jonathan Schochor and our trial team secure those proofs through delivery-room records, fetal monitor strips, and independent expert opinions.
What Compensation Can Erb’s Palsy Families Recover?
Financial recovery aims to secure every resource your child will ever need.
- Past and future medical bills – surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, assistive devices
- Long-term care costs – in-home aides, modifications to vehicles or bathrooms
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life enjoyment
- Parents’ lost income if a caregiver must leave the workforce
- Diminished future earnings for the child if permanent impairment limits careers
Kerry Staton and our birth-injury lawyers at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. negotiate aggressively but prepare every claim for trial to maximize these damages.
How Long Do You Have to File an Erb’s Palsy Lawsuit in Maryland?
Maryland’s statute of limitations generally requires malpractice actions within five years of the injury or three years from when it was discovered, whichever comes first.
Because your child is a minor, the clock is tolled, yet a lawsuit must still be filed before the child’s twenty-first birthday, and vital evidence can vanish long before then. Acting quickly lets our attorneys secure records, interview witnesses, and meet every procedural deadline.
Why Choose Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea for Your Child’s Claim?
Families statewide trust our Baltimore birth-injury team because experience, resources, and compassion converge here.
Jonathan Schochor has been named a Maryland Super Lawyer for medical-malpractice plaintiff work every year for over a decade, while Kerry Staton is a board-certified civil-trial specialist known for multi-million-dollar verdicts.
Our firm partners with leading pediatric neurologists and labor-and-delivery experts, invests in day-in-the-life videos, and advances every cost so parents pay nothing up front.
“I had a great experience with Mr. Jim Cardea and his team. They were very knowledgeable of my situation and provided great service to me and my family from beginning to end. I highly recommend them for any medical malpractice lawsuit. Satisfaction guaranteed!” – Kiantay P.
Those results and relationships explain why other lawyers often refer their toughest birth-injury cases to the Maryland Erb’s palsy attorneys at our firm.
What Should You Expect During an Erb’s Palsy Lawsuit?
Every step is handled by our legal team so you can focus on your child.
- Free consultation. We review records and explain options.
- Investigation and filing. A qualified physician signs a certificate of merit and we file in the proper Maryland circuit court.
- Discovery. We depose doctors, serve subpoenas, and calculate life-care costs.
- Negotiation or trial. Most claims settle. When they do not, our trial lawyers present a compelling story to a Baltimore jury.
We advance all expenses and only charge a fee if we secure compensation, making justice accessible to every family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Erb’s palsy the same as cerebral palsy?
No. Erb’s palsy stems from nerve damage in the shoulder. Cerebral palsy results from brain injury and affects muscle control throughout the body.
Will my child improve over time?
Many mild cases recover with therapy inside the first 24 months, yet severe avulsion injuries can leave permanent weakness. Early intervention is critical.
How much does a Maryland Erb’s palsy lawyer cost?
Our firm works on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation Today
Your child’s future deserves every opportunity. Call (443) 909-2792 or visit us at 1211 St Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202 for a free, no-obligation consultation with a dedicated Maryland Erb’s palsy attorney.
We proudly serve families in Baltimore, Columbia, Rockville, Annapolis, and throughout Maryland. We are ready to fight so your child can thrive.