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The attorneys that make up the HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team bring the experience and insight that comes with having handled hundreds of cases involving obstetrical, neonatal and pediatric issues. The clinical expertise of the obstetrical nurses on our team allows for early and in-depth analysis of fetal monitor strips and key clinical events that are central to birth trauma cases. When circumstances require it, team members can be mobilized to provide rapid response and early investigation of catastrophic birth trauma and related events, often within hours or days of the occurrence.

Birth TraumaDefense Team

Michele C. Anderson

Sabina Babel

Charles C. Bletsas

Marilee Clausing

Katherine L. Dzik

David C. Hall

Bret C. Jessee

Amy H. Kane

Benjamin E. Patterson

Michael E. Prangle

Aaron P. Ryan

Jennifer Ries-Buntain

Eric P. Schoonveld

Jacqueline B. Sharuzi

Kenneth M. Webster

“The HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team has the necessary resources to defend birth trauma cases on all levels, including liability, causation and damages.”

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HALL PRANGLE+SCHOONVELDLLC

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The Birth Trauma Defense Team at Hall Prangle & Schoonveld, LLC is comprised of attorneys committed to the defense of hospitals and healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases involving allegations of obstetrical, neonatal and pediatric negligence. HPS attorneys, specifically selected to address the particular demands of a case, have a keen understanding of the complexity of issues confronting our clients in birth trauma cases, as well as an appreciation of the potential exposure presented by these cases.

Our Birth Trauma Defense Team brings the experience and insight that comes with having handled many hundreds of birth trauma cases, including cases involving hypoxic ischemic brain injury, maternal, neonatal and pediatric deaths, intra-uterine fetal demise, intra-uterine growth restriction, stillbirth, maternal stroke, amniotic fluid embolism, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture, placental abruption, shoulder dystocia, NICU and PICU mishaps—and many other issues.

The HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team is led by Marilee Clausing and David Hall. Marilee is not only an experienced trial attorney with many birth trauma verdicts to her credit, but was also formerly a high-risk obstetrical nurse. David has tried to verdict more than 100 cases, including birth trauma and pediatric cases with seven- or eight-figure exposure. The team’s clinical knowledge is rounded out by our obstetrical nurse paralegals and legal nurse consultants. Our legal and clinical proficiency allows us to present our clients with an early analysis of both the legal and medical issues shortly after the matter is assigned to us for handling, and in some instances, only days after the occurrence itself.

Early investigation of an adverse obstetrical, neonatal or pediatric event can be crucial to successful management of the risk that such cases present. The HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team has experience in early and rapid response to such instances and the investigation they require. When requested, an attorney familiar with early response management techniques can be made available soon after a catastrophic occurrence has unfolded. Our experience allows us to investigate facts, interview key witnesses, provide counseling, and develop an early handling strategy in conjunction with the client.

Oftentimes our clients have a need for consultation with, or education from, the HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team, separate and apart from a particular medical negligence case. In such instances, members of the team are available to consult with clients about medical-legal or risk management issues of concern. On-site consultations, audits, medical record or policy/procedure reviews, and recommendations for reduction of risk or improvement of institutional systems can be provided by members of the team. If educational programming for staff or management is needed, the Birth Trauma Defense Team is available to conduct such presentations or programs.

Effective management of catastrophic birth trauma or neonatal/pediatric cases requires strong trial counsel. Senior members of the Birth Trauma Defense Team are able to act as either primary trial counsel or supervisory/monitoring counsel in birth trauma and related catastrophic cases. The Team’s experience in the courtroom is impressive to say the least. The two most senior members of the Team, David Hall and Marilee Clausing, have each been recognized with Jury Verdict Reporter Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards for Career Achievement because of their efforts in defending birth trauma and other catastrophic injury cases.

Birth Trauma Defense Team

MARILEE CLAUSING 200 South Wacker Drive Suite 3300 Chicago, Illinois 312.267.6340 mclausing@hpslaw.com

DAVID HALL 200 South Wacker Drive Suite 3300 Chicago, Illinois 312.267.6201 dhall@hpslaw.com

ATTORNEY CONTACTS

OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE

� Hospitals � Healthcare

Systems � Healthcare

Professionals

hpslaw.com

HALL PRANGLE+SCHOONVELDLLC

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Despite its trial expertise, the team certainly understands that sometimes a client’s interests are better served by settlement of their case, rather than trial. In such circumstances, the strength of the trial attorney can be a significant factor in achieving the best settlement. Furthermore, the experience and skill of team members in mediation and settlement conferences allow for effective resolution, thereby limiting risk, exposure and expense.

The Birth Trauma Defense Team attorneys have the necessary resources to defend birth trauma cases on all levels, including liability, causation and damages. We pool our resources into a central database. Our expert database contains information on most of the expert witnesses used on cases by plaintiffs and defendants alike. The attorneys on the team have relationships with and access to nationally and internationally renowned experts. Our data base helps us select the consultants best suited to a particular matter. It likewise affords us the necessary resources to effectively cross-examine plaintiffs’ experts at deposition and trial. The expert database includes prior transcripts of deposition and trial testimony, as well as literature and other information. This compendium of information has proven invaluable to our defense of birth trauma cases.

Our medical literature database keeps team members knowledgeable about the historical and current medical literature, standards of practice and the professional publications that impact the defense of birth trauma cases.

We have an extensive database of ACOG publications, bulletins, and updates. The ease with which these materials can be marshaled by team members is a valuable resource for our clients.

An open-door atmosphere and regular team meetings encourage professional discourse among members of the team, keeping everyone up-to-date on trends and developments in the field, current literature, opposing counsel, and experts’ credentials, publications and testimony.

HPS is committed to providing efficient and cost-effective representation to our clients while maintaining the highest standards of excellence. Each of our attorneys is focused on our clients’ needs. We strive to keep our clients up-to-date on the course of each matter assigned. This commitment and client-centered focus accompanies each case the Birth Trauma Defense Team handles, from assignment through resolution.

“The HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team brings the experience and insight that comes with having handled hundreds of cases involving obstetrical, neonatal and pediatric issues.”

Birth Trauma Defense Team

With talent and resources across the country, the HPS Birth Trauma Defense Team is poised to defend negligence claims when and where our clients need us - locally, regionally or nationally.

SUPPORTING BACKGROUND

� Experience in Hundreds of Birth Trauma Cases

� Extensive Trial Experience

� Clinical Obstetrical Expertise

� Birth Trauma Data Base