- Location: Cook County, Illinois
- Type of Case: Birth Injury / Medical Malpractice
- Verdict Amount: $17,000,000 (Post-trial judgment increased to $32,000,000 with interest; later resolved for a confidential amount following appeal)
Case Overview & Firm Perspective
Skolnick Weiser Law Firm obtained a landmark jury verdict on behalf of a child and family whose lives were permanently altered by preventable medical errors during labor and delivery at a Cook County hospital. This case involved a catastrophic birth injury that resulted in cerebral palsy and moderate cognitive impairment—injuries that require a lifetime of care, support, and accommodation. From the firm’s perspective, the case exemplifies the importance of holding medical providers accountable when failures in monitoring and timely intervention cause irreversible harm at the very start of life.
Geography & Venue Considerations
Cook County, Illinois, is known for its complexity in medical malpractice litigation, particularly in birth-injury cases where hospitals and physicians often mount aggressive defenses. While Illinois does see significant malpractice verdicts, many birth-injury claims still resolve through settlement for amounts well below eight figures—especially when liability is contested. Statewide, many cerebral palsy and birth-injury settlements fall in the mid-six-figure to low-seven-figure range. Against that backdrop, the $17,000,000 jury verdict in this case stands well above typical Cook County and Illinois outcomes, reflecting both the severity of the injury and the compelling presentation of evidence.
Injuries Sustained
As a direct result of the defendants’ failure to timely detect placental abruption and fetal distress, the child suffered a hypoxic brain injury during labor. The injury led to cerebral palsy accompanied by moderate mental impairment. These conditions are permanent and life-altering, affecting mobility, communication, learning, and overall independence. The child will face lifelong challenges in daily functioning, education, and employment potential, with limitations that extend far beyond childhood and into adulthood.
Treatment, Care, and Lifetime Expenses
The child’s injuries necessitate extensive and ongoing medical care, including neurological treatment, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and specialized educational services. In addition, long-term care planning includes assistive devices, potential home modifications, and future attendant care. Skolnick Weiser Law Firm presented detailed life-care planning and economic testimony to demonstrate that the true cost of the injury is not confined to early medical bills, but rather spans decades. The parents also incurred substantial emotional and financial burdens as caregivers, advocates, and planners for their child’s future.
Cause of Injury & Medical Fault
The evidence established that the obstetrician and hospital failed to timely recognize clear signs of placental abruption and fetal distress during labor. Despite warning indicators that required immediate action, appropriate intervention—specifically an emergency cesarean section—was not performed in time. This delay deprived the fetus of adequate oxygen, directly resulting in brain injury. The jury found that these failures constituted medical malpractice and that timely detection and intervention would have prevented the child’s injuries.
Legal Process & Timeline
After a thorough investigation and expert review, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm filed suit against the responsible medical providers. The litigation involved extensive discovery, expert testimony from obstetrics, neonatology, neurology, and life-care planning specialists, and a hard-fought trial. Following trial, the jury returned a $17,000,000 verdict—allocating $15,000,000 to the child and $2,000,000 to the parents. Post-trial interest increased the judgment to approximately $32,000,000. After appellate oral argument, the case was ultimately resolved for a confidential amount, securing long-term protection and resources for the family.
Verdict Amount & Comparative Value
Compared to average Illinois and Cook County birth-injury settlements, this result represents a significant outlier in favor of the injured family. Many cerebral palsy cases settle quietly for amounts that fail to fully account for lifelong care needs and parental losses. The hidden value in this case was Skolnick Weiser Law Firm’s ability to clearly connect delayed obstetrical decision-making to permanent neurological injury—and to quantify the real, lifelong consequences of that failure. The verdict underscores the firm’s ability to achieve outcomes that exceed regional norms by refusing to undervalue catastrophic injuries and by presenting juries with the full human and economic impact of medical negligence.