If your newborn was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy after delivery at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center or another Montgomery County facility, you do not have to face the future alone. Olney Erb’s Palsy Lawyer Jonathan Schochor and Olney Erb’s Palsy Lawyer Kerry Staton at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. devote their practice to helping children harmed by medical negligence.
Call (410) 234-1000 today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We advance every cost, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your child.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy, also called Erb-Duchenne palsy, is a birth injury that weakens or paralyzes the upper arm because nerves in the brachial plexus are stretched or torn during delivery. Typical signs include a limp arm held against the body, limited shoulder movement, and decreased sensation on one side. Most infants improve with early physical therapy, yet severe cases may require nerve-graft surgery and can leave permanent disability.
How Does Erb’s Palsy Occur?
Erb’s palsy often occurs when a baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia) and the clinician applies excessive traction to the head or neck. Forceps, vacuum extractors, prolonged labor, and large birth weight increase risk. Proper obstetric care, such as repositioning maneuvers or timely Caesarean delivery, usually prevents nerve damage, so avoidable medical errors frequently underlie the injury.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
Any medical professional involved in the birth owes a duty of care. Obstetricians who pull forcefully, nurses who miss warning signs of fetal distress, or hospitals that lack protocols or adequate staff can all share liability when their negligence causes Erb’s palsy. Maryland law allows parents to pursue claims against doctors, nurses, midwives, or the hospital system itself to secure justice for their child.
Types of Birth Injury Cases We Handle
- Erb’s palsy / upper brachial plexus injuries – arm paralysis and sensory loss.
- Cerebral palsy and brain injuries – oxygen deprivation leading to lifelong mobility and cognitive challenges.
- Birth asphyxia / hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy – lack of oxygen during labor, often producing developmental delays.
- Shoulder dystocia complications – fractures, nerve damage, or emergency C-section injuries.
- Fractured clavicle or humerus – bone trauma from difficult extractions.
Parents turn to Montgomery County birth injury attorney Jonathan Schochor and birth injury advocate Kerry Staton because we coordinate cutting-edge medical evaluations and fight for every resource a child needs.
Uncommon Birth Injuries We Also Investigate
- Klumpke’s palsy – lower brachial plexus damage producing hand weakness.
- Cephalohematoma or skull fractures – pressure-related bleeding beneath the scalp.
- Facial nerve paralysis – forceps or positional injury causing one-sided droop.
- Phrenic nerve damage – diaphragm paralysis leading to breathing difficulty.
- Spinal cord trauma or neonatal stroke – exceptionally rare but devastating events.
Even these unusual outcomes may stem from preventable delivery mistakes. Olney brachial plexus lawyer Jonathan Schochor investigates each case to expose systemic failures.
