$900,000 Settlement for Obstetrician Negligence Resulting in Erb’s Palsy
Jackson v. Haddad: A Bergen County judge approved a $900,000 settlement on Oct. 20 in a suit alleging that an obstetrician’s negligence caused a baby to be born with Erb’s palsy.
Tycey and Darren Jackson claimed that Dr. Charles Haddad allegedly used too much traction to dislodge their daughter Autumn’s shoulder during her birth at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood on May 9, 2006. The shoulder had become stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone, a condition known as shoulder dystocia.
As a result of excessive force, the girl was born with Erb’s palsy, a permanent paralyzing injury to the brachial plexus that limits use of her left shoulder, arm and hand, says the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Daryl Zaslow of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow in Edison. Autumn might need surgery as she grows, he adds.
The settlement was reached on Sept. 20 and Superior Court Judge Robert Polifroni approved it after a friendly hearing. Part of the money will buy two annuities and about $104,000 will be held by the court until Autumn is 18, to pay for uncovered medical costs, Zaslow says. Click here to read more about the case.