- Location: Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Type of Case: Birth Injury / Medical Malpractice
- Verdict Amount: Confidential Jury Verdict Following Trial
Case Overview & Firm Perspective
Skolnick Weiser Law Firm represented a family whose child suffered a devastating and permanent brain injury as a result of substandard medical care during labor and delivery in Cuyahoga County. The injury ultimately culminated in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, a lifelong condition requiring extensive medical treatment, therapy, and support. From our firm’s perspective, this case exemplifies the profound consequences that can result when medical providers fail to meet accepted standards of care at the most critical moment—birth—and underscores the importance of pursuing accountability through trial when necessary.
The case proceeded to a nearly three-week jury trial, reflecting both the complexity of the medical issues involved and the defendants’ refusal to accept responsibility. Skolnick Weiser Law Firm remained committed throughout the process to ensuring that the jury fully understood not only the medical failures, but also the lifelong impact those failures would have on the child and family.
Geography & Venue Considerations
Cuyahoga County is one of Ohio’s most active venues for medical malpractice litigation, yet birth-injury cases remain particularly challenging. Hospitals and physicians often mount aggressive defenses, and many claims resolve before trial for amounts that do not reflect the true lifetime costs of catastrophic injury. In Ohio, average cerebral palsy birth-injury settlements are frequently reported in the mid-six-figure to low seven-figure range, particularly when cases resolve before trial.
Against this backdrop, taking a cerebral palsy case through a multi-week jury trial represents a significant undertaking. The outcome achieved by Skolnick Weiser Law Firm stands well above what many families recover in similar Ohio cases, highlighting the firm’s willingness to litigate complex medical malpractice claims to verdict when justice demands it.
Injuries Sustained
As a direct result of negligent medical care, the child sustained an irreversible brain injury that led to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. This condition permanently affects muscle control, mobility, and neurological function, and may also impact communication, cognitive development, and independence. The injury altered the child’s developmental trajectory from the very start of life, imposing lifelong limitations and challenges that will extend into adulthood.
Treatment, Care, and Lifetime Expenses
Children with cerebral palsy often require a lifetime of medical and supportive care. In this case, treatment needs included ongoing neurological care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other specialized interventions aimed at maximizing function and quality of life. In addition, the child will require adaptive equipment, potential home modifications, and long-term care planning.
Skolnick Weiser Law Firm presented evidence demonstrating that the true cost of this injury extends far beyond initial medical bills. Lifetime care expenses, lost earning capacity, and the emotional and financial burdens placed on the family were all critical components of the damages presented to the jury.
Cause of Injury & Medical Fault
The evidence at trial established that the defendants failed to provide care consistent with accepted medical standards during labor and delivery. Warning signs requiring timely intervention were either missed or inadequately addressed, resulting in prolonged oxygen deprivation to the child’s brain. This failure directly caused the permanent neurological injury.
The jury concluded that the child’s cerebral palsy was preventable, and that appropriate monitoring and timely medical intervention would have avoided the devastating outcome. These findings confirmed that the injury was not an unavoidable complication of birth, but the result of medical negligence.
Legal Process & Timeline
After a comprehensive investigation and consultation with qualified medical experts, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm filed suit on behalf of the family. The litigation involved extensive discovery, expert testimony, and detailed presentation of medical and life-care planning evidence. The case ultimately proceeded to a jury trial lasting nearly three weeks.
Following the presentation of evidence and testimony, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the injured child and family. The outcome reflected both the severity of the injury and the strength of the evidence presented regarding medical fault and lifelong damages.
Verdict Amount & Comparative Value
While the exact verdict amount remains confidential, the result significantly exceeded what many cerebral palsy cases in Ohio resolve for prior to trial. Many birth-injury settlements in the state fall well below the level necessary to fully address lifelong care needs, particularly when liability is contested. The hidden value in this case was Skolnick Weiser Law Firm’s ability to clearly connect substandard care to permanent neurological injury and to convey the full, long-term human and economic impact to the jury.
This verdict underscores the firm’s commitment to pursuing full and fair compensation for catastrophically injured children—and its proven ability to achieve outcomes that surpass regional norms by refusing to undervalue life-altering injuries.