Cerebral Palsy

“Our son suffered a brain injury at birth which resulted in a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy... As a result of the incredible work of Hilik & Sommers and Roth we now have the financial resources to truly take care of our son, the way we want to! He can receive all the therapies and educational support he needs, to optimize his potential...despite his diagnosis. Our son’s financial needs will be taken care of for life, which is a relief beyond words.” – SRE Client

Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Cerebral palsy (“CP”) is a term coined by Dr.William Osler describing a group of permanent movement disorders leading to difficulties with speaking, eating, seeing, walking, or performing other everyday tasks caused by abnormal brain development or brain injury.

Cerebral palsy manifests itself in early childhood. Individuals with CP may also suffer from developmental delay, intellectual disability, behavioural problems, learning disabilities, poor adaptive skills, scoliosis, and often suffer from secondary syndromes such as seizure disorders. Symptoms may include poor coordination, weak or stiff muscles, and tremors or seizures.

A common misconception is that cerebral palsy is inevitable or genetic. In fact, in a very large proportion of cases, cerebral palsy is caused by a specific brain injury, often at birth. Even if treating physicians believe that a child’s CP is genetic, a thorough investigation of the pregnancy, labour and delivery may prove that the ‘genetic’ label is incorrect. If you had complications during your pregnancy, labour and delivery, or birth, and your child suffered a brain injury such as cerebral palsy, you may have legal recourse.

For over 40 years, the dedicated medical malpractice lawyers at Sommers Roth & Elmaleh have been helping patients and families affected by birth injuries or medical negligence, and especially cerebral palsy. We have set ground-breaking legal precedents and have regularly been at the forefront of developments in medical malpractice litigation. We are consistently recognized by both the legal and medical community as being among the top medical malpractice lawyers in the country.

Cerebral Palsy Due to Medical Negligence

The most common cause of cerebral palsy due to birth injury is oxygen deprivation (hypoxic insult) to the brain of the newborn during the labour and delivery/childbirth process (intrapartum). Cerebral palsy can also be caused by malformation or damage to the brain during pregnancy or immediately after birth during the neonatal period. A fetus’ brain oxygen can be restricted in a number of ways, including constriction or occlusion of the umbilical cord, constriction of the neck, pressure on the cranium or skull, poor oxygen exchange in the placenta, or other trauma.

The additional stresses of labour may exacerbate these issues or even cause them, making it crucial for doctors and nurses to monitor the fetus throughout the labour process by monitoring the fetal heartrate using an electronic fetal monitor (EFM), shift the fetus if needed to prevent constriction, and, where necessary, to perform a timely C-section.

In cases of fetal distress or a high-risk birth, the neonatal team should be called. If the baby isn’t breathing, a Code Pink or Code Blue should be called immediately on delivery. If a baby is delivered ‘flat’, with low APGAR scores or acidosis, common neonatal interventions include intubation of the airway, suction of meconium, resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, administering sodium bicarbonate and epinephrine, and brain cooling (therapeutic hypothermia) protocols. If the baby experiences seizures, anticonvulsant medications, such as phenobarbital, dilantin, and Lorazepam/Ativan, are administered.

Neonates (newborns) with cerebral palsy often experience sequelae (or symptoms) of brain dysfunction shortly after birth called neonatal encephalopathy or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This manifests in low APGAR scores (hypotonia, depressed reflexes, decreased consciousness, absent Moro’s reflex, difficulty respiring, poor colour and low heart rate) and seizures. The ‘SARNAT’ classification scale is a tool used to measure the severity of HIE, ranging from SARNAT 1 (mild) to SARNAT 3 (severe).

Developments in delivery practices have made the process of childbirth safer, and have decreased the number of children with cerebral palsy, but mistakes are still made by obstetricians, other doctors, midwives, nurses, and other healthcare professionals which can permanently affect children.

Risk factors during pregnancy for encephalopathy and/or cerebral palsy include maternal hypothyroidism, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or small for gestational age (SGA), hypertension or preeclampsia, oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios and uteroplacental insufficiency, among others.

Common Problems During Labour and Delivery

Common problems during labour and delivery (intrapartum) that can have a lasting impact on your child include:

  • Breech presentation;
  • Perinatal or birth Asphyxia or hypoxia-ischemia;
  • Umbilical cord compression/occlusion, umbilical cord prolapse, umbilical cord tangle, nuchal cord;
  • Preterm labour;
  • Premature labour;
  • Failure to progress in labour;
  • The passage of meconium;
  • Instrumental/operative delivery;
  • Forceps delivery;
  • Vacuum delivery;
  • Induction/induced labour using Misoprostol or Dinoprostone (such as Cervidil or Prepidil Gel);
  • Uterine hyperstimulation or tachysystole (excessive contractions), especially after administration of oxytocin/pitocin/syntocin to augment contractions or labour;
  • Fetal distress;
  • Abnormal fetal heart rate or non-reassuring fetal heart rate (eg: bradycardia, low variability and decelerations) requiring caesarean section;
  • Maternal loss of blood or hemorrhage (for example, due to Uterine rupture or abruption);
  • Artificial rupture of membranes (breaking the waters artificially);
  • Low amniotic fluid;
  • Potter’s syndrome;
  • Infection or chorioamnionitis.

Common Problems Following Labour and Delivery

Common problems during the neonatal period that can have a lasting impact on your child include:

  • Pre-term, low gestational age, low birthweight;
  • Birth Asphyxia, hypoxia-ischemia or cerebral hypoxia (anoxia hypoxemia) including diffuse cerebral hypoxia (DCH), focal cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarction, and global cerebral ischemia;
  • Low APGAR scores;
  • Seizures;
  • Neonatal encephalopathy (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy);
  • Infection such as meningitis and encephalitis;
  • Cerebral edema, Intrventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and Periventricular leukomalacia/ encephalomalacia (PVL);
  • Skull fractures or broken neck (cervical spine injury);
  • Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia;
  • Jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia;

Effects of Cerebral Palsy

The long-term effects of cerebral palsy include:

  • Cognitive disorders; including intellectual delay, developmental disability and learning disabilities (learning exceptionality with an Independent Education Plan or IEP);
  • Behavioural and emotional (psychological) problems such as social skill issues, anger issues, anxiety, and depression);
  • Global Developmental delay;
  • Symptoms that mimic ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and poor concentration;
  • Delayed adaptive functioning skills and inability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs);
  • Microcephaly (abnormally small head);
  • Sleep disorders;
  • Dysmorphism;
  • Cortical visual impairment, speech impairment and hearing loss;
  • Epilepsy or seizures.

Several different cerebral palsy classification systems exist to define the type of cerebral palsy that a child has, and assess their gross motor function. These systems include the Gross Motor Functioning Classification System (GMFCS), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and the Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF).

The classification of cerebral palsy is additionally complicated by the wide range of clinical presentations of the condition, as well as the degree of activity limitation that children may have. Treatment depends on the severity and type of cerebral palsy present.

    If you have been affected by medical malpractice anywhere in Canada contact us for a free consultation.
    You pay us nothing unless we win.



    A lawyer from Sommers Roth & Elmaleh will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Please note that no lawyer-client, advisory, or fiduciary relationship is created by your inquiry. All information provided is confidential.

    The above information is not legal advice. Past results of cases and recoveries by our medical malpractice lawyers against hospitals, doctors, midwives, nurses and other healthcare professionals are not necessarily indicative of future results. The amounts recovered and other litigation outcomes will vary according to the facts in individual cases.


    Common Types of Cerebral Palsy

    The most common types of cerebral palsy are:

    • Spastic or Hypertonic Cerebral Palsy- Stiff muscles/ increased muscle tone:
    • Spastic diplegia/diparesis (Little’s disease)- the lower body is primarily affected
    • Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis- One side of the body is affected
    • Spastic triplegia- Three limbs are affected
    • Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis- All four limbs, trunk and face are affected
    • Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy- Uncontrollable movements
    • Athetoid
    • Choreoathetoid
    • Dystonic
    • Ataxic Cerebral Palsy- Poor balance and coordination
    • Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy- Low muscle tone

    Birth Injury Lawsuits: Doctors Must Always be Prepared for a Potential Emergency

    A landmark case affecting birth injury lawsuits was the Ontario Court of Appeal’s 2004 decision in Crawford v. Penney, a precedent-setting case in which Sommers & Roth represented a family significantly affected by a birth injury. In that case, a mother of a child with severe brain damage sued her OB-GYN for failing to properly respond after the fetus’ umbilical cord became constrained. The case was also famous for being the largest Canadian personal injury (medical malpractice) award in history.

    The case centered on the issue of whether doctors can be held accountable for not foreseeing potential emergencies during pregnancy. Our firm representing the mother, argued that the doctor should have detected and anticipated possible problems before her labour and sent her to a specialist. The Court of Appeal agreed and awarded the mother $10 million in monetary compensation.

    The case was critical for parents of children with birth injuries because it established the level of care expected of OB-GYN’s. It is not sufficient for a doctor to try to react to emergencies at birth, he or she is also responsible for preparing for potential emergencies, taking into account any risks or complications that may manifest earlier in the pregnancy. The Crawford case significantly widened the range of possible grounds for a lawsuit and made it easier for patients injured at birth and/or parents of patients injured at birth to seek compensation for medical negligence.

    Compensation for Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Negligence

    As a person with cerebral palsy or the parent of a child with cerebral palsy, you may seek damages (compensation) if a doctor or other medical professional failed to:

    • Predict and respond to probable emergencies during childbirth;
    • Properly monitor a fetus during childbirth;
    • Notice if the umbilical cord was compromised;
    • Respond to fetal distress, asphyxia or hypoxic-ischemic insult;
    • Perform a timely caesarian section;
    • Resuscitate an asphyxiated neonate;
    • Treat seizures in a newborn.

    In addition to damages that may be awarded to victims and families in recognition of the injuries suffered, families may also be eligible to receive other compensation. This includes funds for home accessibility modifications (such as the addition of an elevator, therapy pool, therapy room or modified bathroom) and attendant care services (including those that are in addition to any covered by the provincial government, such as private nursing care, personal support workers (PSW), disability support workers (DSW) or rehabilitation support workers (RSW).

    At Sommers Roth & Elmaleh, our objective is to ensure that our clients have financial security and will not have to rely on government subsidies, sponsorship or external funding in order to afford the cost of the goods, services, therapies, attendant care, equipment, and programs they will need- and deserve- over their lifetime.

    Sommers Roth & Elmaleh: Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers Helping Clients Obtain Compensation in Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Cases

    If you are struggling with medical and care bills for a child with cerebral palsy, contact the respected and dedicated cerebral palsy lawyers at Sommers Roth & Elmaleh to find out what options are available for you and your family. We have represented parents, children and their families in a number of ground-breaking medical malpractice lawsuits and have obtained significant compensation for many individuals with cerebral palsy. Call us at 1-844-777-7372 or contact us online for a free consultation.

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      If you have been affected by medical malpractice anywhere in Canada contact us for a free consultation.
      You pay us nothing unless we win.



      A lawyer from Sommers Roth & Elmaleh will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Please note that no lawyer-client, advisory, or fiduciary relationship is created by your inquiry. All information provided is confidential.

      The above information is not legal advice. Past results of cases and recoveries by our medical malpractice lawyers against hospitals, doctors, midwives, nurses and other healthcare professionals are not necessarily indicative of future results. The amounts recovered and other litigation outcomes will vary according to the facts in individual cases.


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      Hilt this Tamrate
      Hilt this Tamrate
      23 May 2023
      Dear Mr Hilik Y. And Jeremy Syrtash. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you and Sommers Roth and Elmaleh Professional Corporation staff for all you have done with respect to my wife case. My wife was a victim of Medical Malpractice after giving birth to our daughter. She become legally disabled both physically and mentally. The entire family devastated emotionally as my wife struggle to cope with the new reality. The case of Medical Malpractice is quite often a complex case to prove. However, due to your strong commitment, knowledge and dedication combined with strong professionalism the case was successfully won after a long arduous fight. The victory would not have been possible without your dedication and thorough research in the implementation of the standards of the Sommers Roth and Elmaleh Professional Corporation. Justice prevailed at last which in turn allowed my vulnerable wife to feel more optimistic about her future and that of our family. The positive outcome of this case has changed our lives forever. It would not have been possible without the excellent representation of Sommers Roth and Elmaleh Professional Corporation and its legal counsel. My wife and I will be deeply grateful for the successful outcome of this case for many years to come. Solomon Regassa
      Hector Cardenas
      Hector Cardenas
      4 January 2023
      I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude towards Sommers Roth & Elmaleh, from the day I met with Hilik and his team, they been not only highly knowledgeable but also extremely sensitive towards me and my family, providing us with the best legal service possible. It goes without saying, that I strongly recommend them to anyone looking for a charismatic, quality and result oriented legal team.
      JERRY ZHOU
      JERRY ZHOU
      10 October 2022
      We deeply appreciate Sommers Roth & Elmaleh for their professional skills and hard-working through the whole process of my son’s case. I still remember the first conversation we took with Mr. Hilik Y Elmaleh in his lawyer office sixteen years ago. From then on, your dedication, patience, understanding and continuous communications kept our encouragements and expectations for my son and our family. With the case settled down, my son can receive the full financial support, continuous therapies and finishing his university course. It is no doubt to say that Sommers Roth & Elmaleh not only changed our family’s life but also did contributions to the society, because my son can grow in a happy and health way in his teenage and receive university education from this autumn. Again we hereby strongly recommend the services provided by the lawyer office Sommers Roth & Elmaleh to those who needs the similar legal consultation and support. Even the door of your family was closed by some unfortunate events, there are more windows can be opened. The lawyers in Sommers Roth & Elmaleh are exactly the people who can open the windows and convert the sun-shine again to your family: Mr. Hilik Y Elmaleh,Mr.Jeremy Syrtash, Miss Fanny Peter ...etc. Finally, we express the deepest gratitude and appreciation again to Mr. Hilik Y Elmaleh and lawyer office Sommers Roth & Elmaleh. Wish a brighter future of Sommers Roth & Elmaleh !
      Meggie Zhangkrk6hdjybfjt
      Meggie Zhangkrk6hdjybfjt
      6 October 2022
      I am so glad that my son's CP medical case was completely successful. I appreciate lawyer Hilik Elmaleh, Jeremy Syrtash, Fanny Peter and their team's hard work. They are so knowledgeable, responsible and reliable. Thanks is not enough to express my gratitude. Mr. Hilik Elmaleh deserves "The Best Lawyer in Canada" award.
      Tony Zhou
      Tony Zhou
      29 September 2022
      I would like to extend my gratitude towards Mr. Hilik Elmaleh, Jermey Syntash, and Fanny Peter for their dedication, time, effort, and knowledge invested into my case. This is honestly the best team of lawyers in Canada. I would highly recommend them for any of your cases.
      Dianne Keckes
      Dianne Keckes
      18 July 2022
      I would like to take this opportunity to thank our daughter's "Dream Team", Hilik Elmaleh, Jeremy Syrtash and Fanny Peter. The compassion, dedication, knowledge, experience and their recognition in the legal community have ensured us that we were on the right track working with the firm Sommers, Roth and Elmaleh. Words cannot express enough my gratitude! I will be forever grateful!
      Ivica J Sokic
      Ivica J Sokic
      6 June 2022
      Thank you does not begin to express the depth of gratitude I have for Sommers Roth & Elmaleh Professional Corporation. From the first day I sat in Hilik's office, not once did I feel apprehensive. My concerns and worries were put at ease due to the kindness and compassion of Hilik, Jeremy and Fanny and their relentless persistence to secure my daughter's future. This has been a long but successful endeavor during some difficult times and through it all, the Team has been resilient, informative and were always available. I highly recommend this dedicated and professional law firm and I will be forever in their debt.
      Arden Melnechuk
      Arden Melnechuk
      1 December 2021
      I was in a serious horse accident where the horse was injured and should never have been ridden. The owner of the horse was aware that the horse had chronic arthritis issues and the veterinarians at Guelph had told him the horse could decompensate at any time and could cause serious injury whether being led or ridden and could never be jumped again. The horse had been shown at the grand prix level and the owner had payed quite a bit of money for him. After consulting with several lawyers and having one that did represent me at the discoveries who later quit, Jeremy Syrtash took on the case and followed through with guelph university. That is how we found out that the vets had recommended the above. Without Jeremy's efforts and follow through the case would never have continued on. Because of these efforts the case was successful. Thank you so much Jeremy. You are a dedicated, thorough, excellent lawyer and it's been a pleasure to have you as my lawyer!!
      Megha Sharma
      Megha Sharma
      16 April 2021
      Mr. Elmaleh and his team are very professional and experts in their field. Recommend to everyone who has suffered medical negligence.
      Nick & Whitney Maraschiello-Basnett
      Nick & Whitney Maraschiello-Basnett
      18 July 2020
      We want to start by saying how much we highly recommend Sommers, Roth and Elmaleh for anyone who is dealing with a situation involving medical malpractice. Hilik and the entire firm have allowed us the opportunity to give our little girl the life she deserves. There is no taking back what happened, but they truly turned such a tragedy into a victory. They fought long and hard, and put forth so much time and effort into making the individuals accountable and responsible for the mistakes that were made. They always showed true compassion for our family, guided us with ease, and supported us through every step. This was such a life changing experience with the firm, and honestly we will always be forever grateful and thankful.