Ohio Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Filing Process

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State law outlines the filing process for an Ohio cerebral palsy lawsuit, while state and federal laws apply in discrimination cases. Before you take action, be sure you understand the process better and what it takes to get through each step. One of the first things you should do is retain an Ohio cerebral palsy lawyer.

What Kinds of  Ohio Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits Can I File?

A lawsuit may not be the first thing on your mind after getting a cerebral palsy diagnosis for your baby. Yet, there are several reasons that legal action may be a good idea.

• If medical negligence harmed your child, you might need to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to get justice, hold those responsible accountable, and recover damages to help pay for medical expenses.

• If your child is experiencing discrimination, you can file a charge with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or a federal agency. You can also file a civil lawsuit. Any of these actions can help resolve the situation, give your child access and opportunities, restore adequate services for your child, or recover damages.

How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Ohio

Medical malpractice is when a medical practitioner has failed to provide an adequate standard of care for a patient, resulting in significant harm to that patient.

If you suspect a healthcare provider made a negligent mistake in your child’s care that contributed to cerebral palsy, you may have a case. The process of filing depends on state laws.

Statute of Limitations

One of the most critical Ohio laws you need to be aware of is the statute of limitations, which limits the time you can file this kind of lawsuit.

Ohio law gives you just one year from when the negligent medical incident occurred or when you discovered it. There is a hard limit of four years after the incident. However, you can extend that by six months by formally notifying the defendants.[1]

How Much Compensation Can I Get for My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?

A primary reason for filing this kind of lawsuit is to recover the damages owed to your child for the harm caused.

Discuss damages with your lawyer and what you can expect, but know that Ohio law caps on noneconomic damages. For economic losses, ensure your lawyer has all relevant information and documents, like medical bills, to estimate what you are owed.

The cap on noneconomic damages is $250,000 or three times the economic damages, not to exceed a maximum of $350,000 per plaintiff.

The damages cannot exceed $500,000 total, but there are exceptions. The cap raises to $500,000 per plaintiff and a maximum of $1 million for certain catastrophic injuries, which may include cerebral palsy.[2]

Affidavit of Merit

Ohio law requires that you file an affidavit of merit to start a medical malpractice lawsuit. You must get a qualified medical expert to review your case and sign this statement to indicate your case has merit and is not frivolous.[3]

Settlement

The affidavit of merit allows your lawyer to officially notify the defendants in your case and begin the actual lawsuit. Both sides will have time to investigate, collect evidence, and conduct depositions for your lawyer to prove your case and for the other side to defend those you are accusing.

At this time, both parties are also likely to begin negotiations for a settlement. You can approve or deny any offer in this process.

Trial

Most malpractice lawsuits end in the settlement phase, as most defendants find it less expensive and less risky to settle. Trials can be costly and lengthy if they lose. If you go to trial, your lawyer will argue your case before the jury. You may or may not need to testify.

The jury will decide if negligence contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy and, if so, what damages are owed.

Filing a Cerebral Palsy Discrimination Charge in Ohio

Discrimination based on disability is illegal under Ohio law in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit, and higher education. Federal laws protect your child and ensure adequate services in school and education before college.

To take legal action against discrimination in any area other than education, you can file a charge with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission in person, by mail, or online.[4] Your filing process then continues through specific steps:

• An investigator is assigned to your case and notifies the respondent of the charge.
• Both sides may agree to mediate, and if so, you will receive guidance on reaching a mutually agreeable resolution to the situation.
• If you or the respondent declines mediation or fails, the respondent must submit a position statement. An investigation follows.
• If the investigator finds no probable cause for discrimination, the case is closed. If there is probable cause, the Commission will pursue the matter further.

Another option is to start private legal action. Your lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against those responsible in an attempt to reach a better resolution or to recover damages.

For issues in education, your lawyer will help you file a complaint and go through the process with the U.S. Department of Education.

Before you begin any lawsuit filing process in Ohio, be sure you have the best lawyer to guide you. Rely only on someone with experience in these areas, a lawyer or law firm specializing in disability cases, medical malpractice, and discrimination.

You need the expertise of a trustworthy Ohio cerebral palsy lawyer to ensure that you go through the filing process smoothly and have the best chance of winning for your child.