Settlement Reached in Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

The parents of a disabled boy living in Nova Scotia recently settled an ongoing lawsuit with the hospital in which their son was born. The plaintiffs received $4.5 million in the settlement over a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Lawsuit Details

The parents of Jacob Sauliner, now 12, claimed in the cerebral palsy malpractice lawsuit that the Valley Regional Hospital is to blame for the current disability that will now affect him the rest of his life.

The battle began nearly nine years ago when the Sauliners filed the suit against their former doctor at the hospital. At the time, the doctor also reportedly served on the Western Regional Health Board. According to reports, in the end both sides chose to avoid an expensive trial and opted for a mediator to be used in the case instead. The settlement was finalized and approved by a justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and is the largest settlement of its kind for a cerebral palsy case in the area.
Reports claim that both legal sides of the case were extremely dedicated to doing what was right for Jacob, as he was clearly the victim in the case. More than half of the $4.5 million will go to medical care for Jacob. There will also be periodic payments made to Jacob throughout his life. Each of Jacob’s parents will also receive $125,000 in the cerebral palsy settlement as well as a special van that will cater to Jacob’s needs.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a disability that most often affect children from complications during childbirth and during fetal development. Cerebral palsy affects the how the brain functions and develops. The disability also impacts muscle coordination and the overall movement of the body.

There are several therapies that have developed to help those living with cerebral palsy live more comfortably and help further their developmental abilities. However, a cure has yet to be found and hundreds of thousands of children are born with cerebral palsy in the U.S. each year.