$400,000 Settlement for Shoulder Dystocia Injury

• Date: Spring 2007
• Attorney: David M. Fried
• Settlement: $400,000
• Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Birth Injury, Shoulder Dystocia, Brachial Plexus, Erb’s Palsy

Blume Goldfaden principal David Fried represented a child who sustained a brachial plexus injury at birth. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves located in the neck and shoulder which control shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and finger function. During birth, the baby’s shoulder became trapped behind the mother’s pubic bone after the head was delivered (shoulder dystocia). The obstetrician delivering the baby negligently exerted excessive downward traction on the baby’s head in an effort to free the trapped shoulder and effect the delivery, causing injury to the child’s brachial plexus nerves. The child has mild limitations in the use of one of her arms, but can participate in physical activity such as gymnastics.