Atlee Hall resolved case against obstetrical providers

Written by Atlee Hall

Atlee Hall recently resolved a case against several obstetrical providers on behalf of a minor for injuries she sustained at birth. The child’s delivery was complicated by a shoulder dystocia, which occurs when a child’s shoulder becomes impacted behind the mother’s pubic bone. In this particular case, given the mother’s medical history, there was an increased risk of a shoulder dystocia occurring during this child’s birth. As a result, an obstetrician-gynecologist should have been present at the time of delivery. This did not occur, and instead, the delivery was managed by a nurse midwife and a second year resident with very limited experience. Once the shoulder dystocia was encountered, the nurse midwife and resident attempted various maneuvers to deliver the child. They were ultimately able to do so, but only after using significant force, which fractured the child’s arm and led to a brachial plexus injury. Our experts opined that as a result of the mismanagement of the delivery, our client sustained a permanent and severe nerve injury, which has left her with limited range of motion in her right arm. The case was able to be resolved short of trial after significant negotiations with the defense. The amount recovered will be held in a trust for the child’s benefit and will enable her to receive additional therapies and treatments to improve her functional ability and quality of life.