Birth Injury

Preventable birth injuries due to medical malpractice can occur before, during, or after labor and delivery, placing both mother and baby at risk of life-threatening complications. Birth injuries are notoriously complex and contain many variables, including the form of negligence committed by a medical practitioner or facility, the injury itself, complications, and the devastating physical, emotional, and financial outcomes, including the possible death of a loved one. It is crucial to consult an experienced birth injury…

CHICAGO, IL (January 21, 2025) – Shannon M. McNulty and Susan A. Capra, partners at Clifford Law Offices, have been ranked among the top 50 women lawyers in the state of Illinois by Super Lawyers® “2025 Illinois Top 50 Women List.” For over twenty years, Shannon McNulty has litigated on behalf of individuals and families whose lives are impacted by complex cases involving concealment, conspiracy, whistleblowers, contract disputes, employment disputes, sexual harassment, environmental issues, and…

Despite being among the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world, the United States has some of the highest rates of birth and maternal mortality. An article by the Wall Street Journal exposed a massive spike in preventable maternal deaths occurring during and shortly after pregnancy from 2019 to 2021, calling attention to systemic healthcare concerns. Findings from data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that minority women, specifically…

A $27 million settlement was obtained for a girl (Twin A), now age 8, who suffered serious, permanent injuries during delivery at a Chicago area hospital. Her mother underwent a Pitocin induction of labor to deliver her twins due to an ultrasound finding of poor growth in Twin B. During the induction, Twin A’s fetal heart monitor strips were normal. On November 6, 2013, an emergency C-section was performed due to significant heart rate decelerations…

Clifford Law Offices’ partner Bradley M. Cosgrove obtained a $5.2 million dollar verdict on July 5, 2022, on behalf of a family for the loss of a fetus of 16 weeks gestation. The nine-man-three-woman jury deliberated two hours before reaching the record verdict in a miscarriage case. The previous record was $5 million obtained in 2005 for a one-month fetus. The trial, which took place in the Circuit Court of Cook County before Judge Israel…

Facial Nerve Palsy (Bell’s Palsy) can occur when the seventh cranial nerve is damaged. This nerve controls facial movements in a newborn baby. In the most severe cases, the entire side of a baby’s face is affected, preventing them from opening or closing their eyelid or sharing any facial expressions. However, in most cases, this condition only affects the mouth and surrounding muscles. In many newborns, Facial Nerve Palsy goes away in several months, but…

One uncommon but known condition that can occur after a baby is born is postpartum hemorrhage. When it happens, a woman has more bleeding than normal — usually about half a quart (500 ml) during vaginal birth or one quart (1,000 ml) after a cesarean birth. Stanford Children’s Health estimates that about 1 to 5 in 100 women experience postpartum hemorrhage, and that it is more likely to occur with a cesarean birth. Meanwhile, a…

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels develop during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after pregnancy. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 10 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. are affected by gestational diabetes each year. If timely diagnosed and properly managed, a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes, should have a good outcome for both the mother and baby. If gestational diabetes is not diagnosed and properly managed…

Getting regular prenatal care from a team of trusted obstetrical professionals is essential for a healthy pregnancy. A healthy pregnancy usually results in a healthy baby. During prenatal care, your obstetrician or midwife will recommend and perform testing on both you and your baby. Known as antenatal testing, or prenatal testing, these checkups, screenings, and procedures are designed to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery for both you and your baby. Antenatal testing…