$1.25 Million Settlement for Shoulder Dystocia / Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

The firm secured a $1.25 million settlement for a child who sustained a severe brachial plexus injury at birth at an Elizabeth, New Jersey hospital. The baby’s shoulder became stuck on the mother’s pubic bone after the head was delivered (shoulder dystocia). The child, now 4 years old, has limited use of his left arm, despite surgery to repair the damaged nerves. When the nurse midwife could not deliver the baby, an obstetrician assisted and delivered the infant. Plaintiffs’ experts testified that one or both of the healthcare providers exerted excessive downward traction on the baby’s head in an effort to effect the delivery, causing the injury to the child’s brachial plexus nerves.