California birth-injury litigation.
The firm represents clients in claims arising from prenatal, labor, delivery, or neonatal care, including matters involving cerebral palsy, HIE, and brain injury. Based in Glendale, serving clients throughout California.
Distinguishing negligence from medical complication.
Not every poor outcome is caused by negligence. The inquiry is whether the medical record and qualified expert review support that the applicable standard of care was breached and caused the injury.
The firm frequently evaluates matters involving the following conditions:
Cerebral palsy
A motor and developmental condition that may, in some cases, be associated with oxygen deprivation or other events during labor and delivery. The medical record is central to that assessment.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
A brain injury associated with reduced oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. The records may help determine whether recognition and intervention were timely.
Brachial plexus injuries and Erb’s palsy
Nerve damage affecting the shoulder and arm that may be associated with excessive traction or complications during shoulder dystocia.
Neonatal brain injury
Harm to a newborn’s developing brain that may result from trauma, bleeding, oxygen loss, or other perinatal events.
Untreated maternal infection
An infection during pregnancy or labor can affect a newborn. The record is reviewed to determine whether signs should have prompted earlier diagnosis or treatment.
Untreated jaundice and kernicterus
Severe untreated newborn jaundice can cause permanent neurological injury. The assessment includes the timing of monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment.
A diagnosis is not, by itself, proof of negligence. Many of these conditions can occur without any failure of care. A reliable assessment requires examination of the medical record.
What a birth-injury claim requires.
A claim depends on the medical record, including fetal-monitoring strips, prenatal charts, nursing notes, timestamps, and any gaps between them. The records are then submitted to qualified physicians for independent review.
The standard of care
The legal question is not whether the outcome was tragic, but whether the care fell below what a reasonably careful provider would have done in the same circumstances. The medical record and expert analysis are evaluated against that standard.
Causation
The medical analysis must address whether an identified breach caused or contributed to the injury, rather than another condition or event. Causation is case-specific and ordinarily requires qualified expert testimony.
A lifetime of care
Depending on the claim, damages analysis may address medical and surgical care, therapy, equipment, home modifications, education, earning capacity, and family caregiving. Life-care planners and economists may be retained to evaluate long-term needs.
Independent medical experts
The firm works with qualified independent specialists as appropriate, including obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatric neurologists. Their analyses inform whether the standard of care and causation can be supported.
Review at different stages, from the NICU onward.
Some clients contact the firm while a child remains in the NICU. Others seek advice after a cerebral palsy or HIE diagnosis or after questions arise about an earlier delivery. An initial review begins with the medical history and available records and may lead to collection of the complete chart and expert review.
The Glendale office first reviews inquiries from clients throughout California in English and Spanish. If appropriate, the firm may then schedule a confidential consultation. Fee and cost terms are explained in writing before representation begins.
The firm’s record →How a birth-injury matter is evaluated and prepared.
Initial review
The firm reviews the account and available records to determine whether further investigation may be warranted.
The complete record
If the matter proceeds, the firm obtains the monitoring strips, prenatal charts, and nursing notes and reconstructs the relevant timeline.
Independent review
Retained specialists examine what the standard of care required, and what actually happened.
Resolution or trial
Accepted matters are prepared for litigation and trial. Any resolution is evaluated against supported long-term needs and the client’s objectives.
Maro Burunsuzyan
The lawyer who first hears your story is the same lawyer who stands in front of the jury.
About the founder →Questions clients commonly ask.
What does it cost to hire a birth injury lawyer?
If the firm schedules a consultation after initial review, it is free. If the firm offers representation, attorney-fee and case-cost responsibilities are explained in a written agreement before you sign anything.
How long do we have to file a birth injury case in California?
The deadlines in California medical negligence cases can be short and vary with the facts. Special rules may apply to claims brought for injured children, and different, sometimes much shorter, deadlines may apply when a public hospital is involved. Because the applicable deadline depends on the parties and circumstances, prompt legal review is important.
How do we know whether it was negligence or an unavoidable complication?
A diagnosis alone is not proof of negligence. The inquiry generally requires the complete medical record and review by qualified independent physicians. Their analysis helps determine whether the standard of care and causation can be supported by the evidence.
What should we bring to the consultation?
Whatever you have: discharge paperwork, any medical records, NICU records, the names of the hospital and providers, and the dates. Do not worry about gaps. Once we are engaged, we obtain the complete record ourselves.
Will we have to sue our doctor personally?
The potential defendants depend on the medical record, the providers involved, and the applicable law. Before a claim is filed, counsel explains which providers or institutions may be named and the reasons for that assessment.
Do you only take cases in Glendale and Los Angeles?
No. The office is in Glendale, and the firm represents clients throughout California. If the firm schedules a consultation after initial review, it is confidential and available in English or Spanish.