There are many symptoms a mother may experience during pregnancy, such as light spotting, morning sickness, and fatigue. Expecting mothers should always talk to a medical professional if they have concerns about any symptoms they're experiencing and make sure they receive appropriate care. One of these pregnancy-related conditions that may require medical attention is called Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).
Nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy, also called morning sickness, is a common condition that affects approximately 80% of all pregnant women. Morning sickness usually starts as early as the sixth week of pregnancy and peaks by the ninth week. Hyperemesis Gravidarum is an extreme form of morning sickness that affects roughly 1 to 3 in every 100 expectant mothers. Although hyperemesis is uncommon, in severe cases, debilitating symptoms of HG, like frequent vomiting, could lead to complications like preterm birth.
If doctors fail to diagnose HG or treat complications of Hyperemesis Gravidarum in a timely manner, it can be harmful to both the mother and the baby. At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, our nationally-recognized birth injury malpractice firm has successfully represented birth injury victims and their families who have suffered harm due to the negligent management of a high-risk pregnancy. We can help you understand whether negligent medical care during your high-risk pregnancy is to blame for your child's birth injury.
Recent Birth Injury Settlement:
Birth Injury settlement against a hospital in which nurses and physicians failed to properly monitor the mother's blood pressure during delivery causing an HIE event resulting in neonatal seizures and cerebral palsy at birth. Our national birth injury lawyers recovered $13,750,000 for the family to help with future medical expenses and developmental therapy.
With the recovery that Miller Weisbrod made for our son, I feel like our voice was heard in a sense of what can possibly go wrong in a delivery and finding us answers. I feel with our settlement, we are now in a comfortable position to provide for our son. Things are different because he's able to be in his own space. He's developing well. He is starting to speak a little bit more and live a bit more independently. He is also in school full-time and he gets help from his nurse aid that helps him with all his appointments, all his therapy. Pretty much, I feel like it kind of helped us in a good way. I feel like they care about your personal needs and how to make you comfortable in any situation.
Lyric, C.
Mother of Miller Weisbrod Olesky Client
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
Morning sickness becomes hyperemesis gravidarum when nausea and vomiting intensify and continue past the first trimester. Most women typically experience relief from HG symptoms between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Severe nausea and vomiting can begin between 4 and 8 weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, symptoms may last throughout the entire pregnancy. Although the exact cause of hyperemesis gravidarum is unknown, it is thought to be the result of high levels of pregnancy hormones.
Difference Between Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
Morning sickness is not as severe as hyperemesis gravidarum and may only cause occasional vomiting and nausea. Symptoms of morning sickness tend to subside after 12 weeks of pregnancy and don't cause dehydration or weight loss. Hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms often last longer than morning sickness and cause pregnant mothers to vomit several times per day. If a mother becomes dehydrated from vomiting several times a day, she may need treatment in a hospital with IV fluids. Mothers who experience extreme weight loss because they are unable to keep food down may need nutritional treatment by nasogastric feeding to restore lost nutrients.
What Causes Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
Healthcare providers don't know precisely what causes hyperemesis gravidarum; however, changing hormone levels in a pregnant woman's body might be to blame. Specifically, when levels of a hormone released by the placenta called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are at their highest (typically around ten weeks) pregnant women often experience the most severe symptoms. Estrogen is another hormone that may cause pregnant women to feel nauseous or vomit more frequently.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum Symptoms
Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum can impair a pregnant mother's ability to do everyday activities. These symptoms usually begin around six weeks of pregnancy and extend past the first trimester.
A woman who has HG may experience the following symptoms:
Mothers with hyperemesis during pregnancy will typically vomit multiple times a day and often experience relief from symptoms at around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Symptoms may look like other health conditions which is why you should always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. While there is no way to prevent this condition, there are ways to treat symptoms of HG.
Mothers experiencing severe symptoms of HG are at an increased risk of serious birth complications like Wernicke's Encephalopathy (WE) and may require admission to the hospital and treatment with medication. If you're experiencing severe nausea and vomiting, it is essential to see your doctor or midwife as soon as possible.
Women with a history of motion sickness or migraine headaches
Women who had HG in a prior pregnancy or whose mother had HG
Women who are having a girl
Hyperemesis gravidarum occurs most commonly in those who are pregnant with multiples or have a family history of the condition. While HG cannot be prevented, fortunately, there are effective treatment options for managing symptoms.
Diagnosing and Treating Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Early diagnosis of HG can decrease the severity of symptoms and prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. If your healthcare provider suspects hyperemesis gravidarum based on symptoms, they will review your medical history and perform a physical exam, where they will check your weight.
To check for dehydration, your doctor might order blood and urine tests. For mother's carrying more than one fetus or who are showing signs of gestational trophoblastic disease, a medical professional may use an obstetrical ultrasound to diagnose HG and rule out other causes of nausea and vomiting.
The treatment options a medical professional may recommend will depend on the severity of your symptoms. The best thing you can do for hyperemesis gravidarum is to follow your doctor's advice and stick to your treatment plan.
Some examples of recommended hyperemesis gravidarum treatments for mild cases of HP include:
Lifestyle and dietary changes: This may include resting more frequently or eating dry foods like crackers to help with nausea and vomiting. Your provider may recommend limiting greasy or spicy foods that make you feel more nauseous.
Taking medications for nausea and vomiting: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and doxylamine (Unisom®) may reduce nausea associated with HG. If those options are ineffective, your provider may recommend an antihistamine (diphenhydramine).
Avoiding activities that make you feel nauseous: Try avoiding certain activities like riding in a car that may make you feel nauseous or dizzy.
Recommend treatments for moderate to severe hyperemesis gravidarum:
Intravenous fluids (IV): Rehydration with IV fluids is essential in treating severe cases of hyperemesis. Using an IV in your arm, your provider will deliver fluids and nutrients to replenish lost fluids and fix problems with electrolyte imbalances.
Tube feeding: In relieving nausea and vomiting, nasogastric tube feeding is a safe and effective option to provide nutrition to mothers who has trouble keeping food down due to persistent vomiting.
Prescription medication: When over-the-counter medications are ineffective at treating nausea and vomiting your provider may recommend prescription medications. There are several prescription medications, like promethazine and metoclopramide, that can relieve nausea and vomiting. Typically, however, your provider will start by giving you a prescription that combines pyridoxine and doxylamine.
The goal of treating hyperemesis gravidarum is to address gastroesophageal reflux and relieve symptoms of HG to prevent premature labor and delivery. You should avoid attempting to self-medicate because some medications may be harmful to fetal development. It is crucial to consult with a doctor about possible treatment options if you're experiencing debilitating symptoms of HG. In severe cases, a pregnant mother may need to be brought to the hospital, where she can receive IV treatment.
Dealing With Hyperemesis During Pregnancy?
Pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum can mitigate symptoms by avoiding certain foods and drinking plenty of fluids when symptoms decrease. If nausea and vomiting become so severe that you are unable to keep food or water down, you may need to go to the hospital for IV therapy.
Here are some tips for managing your HG during pregnancy:
Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
Have high-protein snacks and avoid spicy or high-fat foods.
Avoid trying home remedies without talking to your doctor.
Eat crackers or toast for breakfast if you're feeling nauseous.
Avoid eating before going to bed.
Seek treatment from a healthcare provider if you're symptoms are getting worse.
Avoid food, smells, or activities that aggravate the condition.
Try resting as much as possible.
Keep hydrated or speak to your healthcare provider about IV treatment if you can't keep drinks down.
Be sure to check in with your doctor regularly.
Drink ginger or peppermint tea to provide temporary relief.
Women experiencing anxiety or depression because of HG may require counseling. Call your doctor right away or go to your local emergency department if you're vomiting more than three times a day and have trouble keeping food or fluids down. You should also schedule an appointment with your doctor if you lose more than two pounds, urinate less frequently, or feel fatigued or confused.
How Does Hyperemesis Harm the Baby?
When a medical professional carefully monitors a pregnant mother and provides her with proper treatment, the baby will usually born with normal outcomes. However, in more severe cases where delayed treatment of vomiting causes dehydration, it can cause the baby to be born at a lower birth weight.
Severe cases of HG that are not treated appropriately can lead to the following complications for the baby:
Wernicke's encephalopathy syndrome is a rare neurological complication of HG that causes damage to the brain's thalamus and hypothalamus. This neurological disorder is caused by a lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Women with hyperemesis gravidarum who experience severe vomiting may have a thiamine deficiency. If WE is not treated early, children with this syndrome may experience balance problems, have difficulty walking, feel confused, or be disoriented.
Mothers with hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy may experience some health issues like electrolyte imbalances, depression, and have trouble completing daily tasks. Hyperemesis gravidarum puts pregnant mothers at an increased risk of having a preterm delivery, preeclampsia, and eclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a severe condition that develops during pregnancy and is often associated with persistent high blood pressure, too much protein in the urine, and severe swelling. For babies, preeclampsia can affect their growth and cause them to be born prematurely. Eclampsia is a complication of preeclampsia that causes seizures during pregnancy. This is a serious complication of pregnancy that can also affect fetal growth and lead to premature birth.
Medical Negligence and High-Risk Pregnancy
Healthcare providers should conduct regular prenatal assessments to evaluate a pregnant mother's and her newborn's health. These tests are crucial to identifying potential fetal risks and complications of pregnancy. Doctors and other medical professionals may need to intervene with proper treatment if the results are concerning.
In high-risk pregnancies, doctors often recommend more frequent testing because careful surveillance can provide sufficient time for medical intervention if needed. Early recognition of hyperemesis gravidarum as a high-risk pregnancy can mitigate potential risks for both the mother and the baby.
Here are some common types of medical negligence that occur during high-risk pregnancies:
A doctor fails to screen and manage a high-risk pregnancy.
Complications of high-risk pregnancies can lead to premature birth and also put the mother's life at risk. Doctors and other healthcare providers have an obligation to provide pregnant mothers with the appropriate standard of care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. When that duty of care is breached and causes a mother or her baby harm, the doctor could be found responsible for medical negligence.
To succeed in filing a claim for a birth-related injury, one must establish the following four elements of medical malpractice:
Duty: Once a doctor-patient relationship has been established, a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional owes a duty to provide a mother and child with the appropriate standard of medical care.
Breach: A breach of duty occurs when a medical professional or healthcare facility fails to provide a patient with the accepted standard of care
Causation: To establish a medical malpractice claim, the claimant (injured party) must show that the doctor's breach of duty was directly responsible for causing a birth-related injury.
Damages: The claimant must demonstrate how the injury led to financial and non-financial losses.
In a medical malpractice suit, doctors are not the only healthcare professionals who may be liable for negligent acts. Hospitals, nurses, and any other party responsible for a birth injury may also be named in a birth injury claim.
The following are some examples of the medical providers or facilities that can be held liable for committing malpractice:
Pediatricians, including pediatric neurologists
Obstetricians
Other obstetric professionals
Anesthesiologists
Labor and delivery nurses
Midwives
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
Nurses
Neonatal nurses and aids
Hospitals and medical facilities
Hospital administrators
Other hospital staff
Neonatologists or pediatricians providing neonatal care
Respiratory therapists
Laboratory staff
The hospital or medical facility where you were treated may also be held vicariously liable for the negligent actions of its employees. For instance, a hospital may face liability if one of its doctors employed full-time misdiagnoses a patient while working within the scope of employment. A hospital may also be held directly liable for a patient injury if they fail to train, supervise, or terminate an incompetent employee.
If your doctor failed to diagnose or treat symptoms of HG and either you or your baby was injured, you should consider taking legal action to help you cover medical treatment costs and other injury-related losses. Keep in mind proving that a doctor's violation of the standard of care caused you or your child's birth injury can be difficult. A skilled birth injury lawyer will need to gather evidence to prove a doctor's negligence and build a strong case on your behalf.
Evidence Need to Prove Liability in Birth Injury Cases
Birth injury claims can be difficult to prove due to the substantial amount of evidence needed to support a successful case. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can collect evidence to show proof that a healthcare provider or hospital was responsible for causing harm to you or your newborn.
These are some examples of evidence your lawyer will need to present to prove your birth injury:
The mother and infant's medical records
Testimony from anyone who witnessed the delivery (obstetricians, nurses, etc.)
The healthcare provider's employment and disciplinary records
Photographs or video footage
Documentation of the child's current and future medical expenses
Statements from medical experts
Medical records of the infant’s follow-up care
Journal entries detailing the child's challenges, pain, and emotional distress
Receipts and bills for any medical treatment
Income statements
The hospital, doctor, or nurse's notes
The medical professional's employment and disciplinary record
Complaints brought against the doctor from previous patients or medical personnel
Hospital records, policies, and regulations
Medical records detailing the administration of any medication
By proving a healthcare provider's negligence caused a birth injury, families can recover damages that can provide essential financial support through a medical malpractice lawsuit. If you're considering filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against a negligent medical professional, contact an attorney with the knowledge and resources to negotiate with the at-fault parties insurance company or lawyer and ensure you have the best chance at a successful outcome.
Damages in Birth Injury Cases
Compensatory damages awarded in birth injury cases are intended to reimburse the injured party for medical treatment costs and other losses they've experienced due to a healthcare provider or hospital's negligence. These damages are divided into two categories called economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages represent actual financial losses you suffered because of a birth injury. Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for subjective, non-monetary losses like emotional distress and loss of companionship.
The following are some examples of damages that can be recovered in a birth injury lawsuit:
Anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Punitive or exemplary damages may be awarded in truly egregious cases where the doctor or other healthcare provider engaged in especially negligent or reckless acts. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party for their behavior and deter others from committing similar acts in the future. Talk to a knowledgeable birth injury lawyer who can explain what factors may affect the potential value of your settlement and help you calculate all of your claimable damages.
Birth Injury Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is a law that establishes a certain time within which a birth injury victim can legally sue a negligent medical professional or hospital for compensation. The amount of time you have to file will depend on the state you live in and the type of case you're filing.
Additionally, the discovery rule provides an exception to the statute of limitations by extending the deadline for filing a birth injury lawsuit. Under the statute of limitations, the clock typically starts ticking on the date you were injured. The discovery rule allows victims of medical malpractice to file a birth injury claim from the date the injury was discovered or should have reasonably been discovered. A medical negligence attorney can assess the details of your case and ensure your claim is filed before the deadline.
Get the Help You Need from Our Compassionate Birth Injury Attorneys
At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, our supportive team of Birth Injury Lawyers, registered nurses, and nurse attorneys put our knowledge, skills, and passionate commitment to justice to work for you. Our birth injury lawyers have successfully represented victims of medical malpractice and their families in over 20 states.
We have a history of obtaining successful results and recovering multi-million settlements for our clients. If you or your child suffered an injury and you believe a healthcare professional's negligence is to blame, call us today to learn more about your legal options and see how we can help. To set up your free consultation, contact us toll-free at 888-987-0005 or fill out our convenient online form.
Birth Injury Free Consultation
Our Birth Injury Attorneys
Les Weisbrod
Les Weisbrod has been on the cutting edge of the national birth injury litigation scene for almost 40 years.
As a national birth injury attorney, Les has settled over 204 medical negligence cases for more than $1,000,000. He also obtained settlements in 75 birth injury cases for over $1,000,000 each.
His $31 million verdict against Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas was one of the top 100 verdicts in the United States that given year.
Les is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the top plaintiff’s medical malpractice trial lawyers in the United States. But the recoveries for the clients and the differences made in the lives of the children and families Les has represented tell only part of the story.
Les has worked with his law partner Clay Miller for years to build a one-of-a-kind law firm.
Miller Weisbrod provides unique and unparalleled services to families of birth-injured and brain-injured children from the moment the firm decides to take the case.
The registered nurses and registered nurse-attorneys on staff are valuable team members who assist Miller Weisbrod birth-injury clients. Les has designed a system where each birth injured child is assigned a nurse-attorney liaison to guide them through the process of medical treatment/evaluation, therapies, home assistance, and quality of life improvement.
Miller Weisbrod’s unmatched service allows families to better cope with the immediate challenges facing our young clients.
Birth-injured children and their families are Les and Miller Weisbrod’s priority.
Les and the attorneys at Miller Weisbrod fight for the justice their clients are entitled to under our nation’s system of justice.
This fighting spirit has taken Les across the United States to represent clients in birth injury and medical negligence cases. In fact, he has personally handled cases not only in Texas but also in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Utah, Iowa, Ohio, Oregon, Montana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and New York.
Les and Miller Weisbrod continue to expand their reach of helping brain-injured children to new states each year as we strive to bring a sense of justice to each affected family. And Les is not the only one who notices he fights for his clients.
Michael Rustad, a Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston who has done extensive research on punitive damage awards, says,
“Les Weisbrod has obtained more medical malpractice punitive damage jury verdicts for his clients than any other attorney in the United States.”
Also, a well-known defense medical malpractice attorney dubbed Les Weisbrod the “pitbull” of the Texas medical malpractice bar in a media profile of Les published by a major newspaper.
Les shares his experience and knowledge to improve the representation of all birth-injured children and their families.
In the early 1990s, Les recognized that a more focused effort needed to be made to educate attorneys who handle birth injury cases. As a result, Les was the founding Co-Chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Birth Trauma Litigation Group in 1991. He also was a founding Co-Chair of AAJ’s Medical Negligence Litigation Group in 1999 and served as Chair of AAJ’s Professional Negligence Section in 1996.
Combined, these groups have put on more than a hundred continuing education seminars across the United States. helping to educate other attorneys by bringing in world-renowned experts in the fields of:
labor and delivery
neonatal care
the care and treatment of birth-injured children, including those suffering from cerebral palsy and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Education and professional experiences back up his dedication to helping children and families harmed by medical malpractice.
Les received his B.A. magna cum laude in 1975 from Claremont Men’s College and his J.D. in 1978 from Southern Methodist University Law School.
He is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law.
Les was a past president of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association in 1993. He has been a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors since 1990.
His work with the American Association for Justice (AAJ) (formerly ATLA) includes serving as President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. Mr. Weisbrod has also served on the AAJ Board of Governors since 1998 and the 17-member Executive Committee of AAJ since 2001. In 1990, he was chosen as a Rising Star of the ATLA and presented a paper entitled “Dirt and Greed: A New Look at Medical Malpractice Cases.”
Les has written and lectured extensively on birth injury litigation, medical malpractice, and medical product topics.
Les is a contributing author to the 1996 text Operative Obstetrics published by Williams & Wilkins. He also co-authored the “Drugs & Medical Devices” chapter in AAJ’s Litigating Tort Cases.
He also has lectured to lawyer groups across the U.S., Canada, England, and Australia.
Education
Southern Methodist University - School of Law, J.D. - Dallas, Texas, 1978
Claremont Men's College - B.A. - Claremont, California, 1975
Bar Admissions
Texas
Arkansas
Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury/Birth Trauma
Products Liability
Personal Injury
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
National Association Of Distinguished Counsel
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
American Association for Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Pan-European Organization of Personal Injury Lawyers
American Society of Law and Medicine
Consumer Attorneys of California
Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association
Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas and American Bar Associations
ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates)
Clay Miller
Clay is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Clay has practiced solely in the field of catastrophic injury and wrongful death since graduating from law school. His practice has been limited to the representation of victims. Over the past twenty-four years, Clay has successfully settled or tried to verdict cases in the areas of vehicular negligence, medical malpractice, construction site accidents, workplace injury, premises liability, and commercial trucking and a nationwide business loss case (suits filed in a dozen different states) involving defective truck engines sold to trucking companies.
Clay represented dozens of trucking companies in lost profit and diminished value claims against Caterpillar in 2010 through 2012. These cases were filed in over a dozen states with the bellwhether trial set in Federal Court in Davenport, Iowa. After intense litigation and trial preparation, a global confidential settlement was reached for all the clients.
Clay's most recent 2017 victories are a $30,800,000 jury verdict in Tennessee arising from fraud claims in the sale of heavy-duty truck engines and a $26,500,000jury verdict in a construction accident, obtained within 60 days of each other.
Clay was raised in Lewisville, Texas and completed his undergraduate degree in Finance at Texas A & M University. Following graduation from Southern Methodist University School of law, Clay worked for two Dallas firms representing victims. In 1998, Clay began his own practice before forming his current partnership. In addition to his law practice, Clay has lectured at seminars and published in the areas of construction accidents, jury selection techniques, medical negligence, trucking accidents and settlement tactics.
David Olesky is Vice Chair of the Health Care Professional Liability practice. David is a trial lawyer focusing his practice on complex litigation matters that involve defending and protecting clients in all types of cases related to catastrophic injuries or death, but with a special focus on birth injury cases. David regularly advises his health care clients on the issues and challenges that they face on a daily basis. Clients repeatedly look to him for guidance to handle such high stakes cases and matters in Texas and jurisdictions outside of Texas.
David has earned the trust and reliance of clients he has worked with by consistently getting the results that matter most to them, whether that is a win at trial or a favorable outcome through alternative dispute resolution outside the courthouse. Through his representation, David demonstrates a true loyalty and hardworking commitment to the clients that he serves.
David believes the foundation of any client relationship is to act as a trusted advisor instead of simply as a litigator. Clients value his earnest representation of their business interests, accompanied by a devotion to understanding their businesses, prompt attention to their immediate needs and the challenges they face in their individual roles.
Education
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D., 1992 - Dallas, Texas
Alexandra Boone is a partner in Miller Weisbrod. She concentrates her legal practice in the area of birth injury, medical malpractice and mass tort products liability. Alex currently works directly with firm partner Les Weisbrod in managing the birth injury docket and working with the firm’s highly qualified expert witnesses in the review of potential cases. Alex also litigates her own docket of medical negligence cases.
Over the course of her 17 years with the firm, Alex has focused on the administration and prosecution of mass tort litigation, originally focusing on occupational toxins, but more recently in the area of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In the past, she has actively pursed cases involving hormone therapy, Vioxx, Fosamax, and Reglan. Alex was also instrumental in our firm successfully resolving thousands of cases transvaginal mesh, hip prosthetics, and the blood thinner Xarelto. She is actively prosecuting over 1,000 cases.
In addition to being a member of the Texas bar, she is also licensed in Oklahoma and is a member of the American Association of Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Oklahoma Association of Justice and the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association.
Education
Baylor University - School of Law, 1996, J.D. - Waco, Texas
Bar Admissions
Texas - 1996
Oklahoma - 2006
Areas of Practice
Products Liability
Mass Tort
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Oklahoma Association of Justice
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Pro Bono Activities
East Texas Legal Services/Nix Law Firm Pro Bono Project, 1996 - 1997
Robert Wolf
Robert E. Wolf was born in Dallas, Texas and graduated Magna Cum Laude as a proud horned frog from Texas Christian University in 1997, with Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board. He obtained his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 2000 while serving as an Articles Editor for the International Law Review and winning awards at Mock Trial and Appellate competitions.
Robert has been named a Thomson Reuters | Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (less than 2.5% of attorneys in Texas receive this distinction) in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Further, Robert was recognized as a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 attorney for Texas in 2012 (no more than 40 attorneys in Texas are eligible for this award annually).
Robert brought his passion for and over 14 years of experience of representing seriously injured individuals and their families to Miller Weisbrod in January 2015, and has concentrated his legal practice in the area of medical malpractice, products liability, and pharmaceutical/mass tort litigation. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Dallas Trial Lawyers Association.
In addition to many successful jury verdicts and settlements across Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Idaho, Robert’s role as an attorney representing victims and their families has led to numerous changes to key safety practices and policies and procedures at corporations and medical facilities.
Robert and his wife Suzy also get plenty of exercise trying to keep up with their precious and very active daughter.
Education
Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law, J.D. - 2000 - Dallas, Texas
Texas Christian University - B.S. Political Science - 1997 - Fort Worth, Texas
Bar Admissions
Texas - 2000
Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Personal Injury
Products Liability
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Carrie Vine
Carrie Lynn Vine has over 15 years of experience in medical malpractice litigation, with a particular focus in representing children and families who have suffered birth injuries as a result of the negligence of either doctors, nurses or hospitals.
She is a passionate advocate for her clients and has handled hundreds of birth injury and birth trauma cases throughout the United States. As part of Carrie’s national birth injury legal practice, she has handled cases in Texas, Arkansas, California, Nevada, Kentucky, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and North Dakota. She is determined to seek justice and works to obtain fair compensation for the children and families she represents.
Carrie earned her law degree from Northern Illinois University where she tutored other law students. Prior to law school, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in Biomedical and Biological Science, and earned both a Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in Anthropological Genetics. She then conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan Medical School before deciding to attend law school. She applies an academic mindset and love of science and medicine to mastering the medical principles and literature relevant to the cases she pursues.
Carrie is an active member of the American Association of Justice as well as the Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BLTG).
Education
Northern Illinois University:
Law School
University of Notre Dame:
Biomedical Science
Pennsylvania State University:
Anthropological Genetics
Bar Admissions
Texas
Areas of Practice
Birth Injury/Birth Trauma
Medical Malpractice
Associations & Memberships
American Association of Justice:
Member
Birth Trauma Litigation Group:
Member
Larry Lassiter
Lawrence R. Lassiter is an AV-rated attorney with more than twenty years of experience in appellate and trial advocacy. He has been consulted by attorneys across the country to conduct research, evaluate cases, prepare appellate and trial briefs, and formulate litigation strategy. He has prepared hundreds of appellate briefs in federal and state appellate courts, including the highest courts of Texas, West Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio, Nebraska and Tennessee, and he is member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. Larry has a national appellate and legal briefing practice. Larry has filed extensive briefs and/or argued before either state or federal courts in 30 out of 50 states in his career.
Larry assists the Birth Injury team in all aspects of legal briefing. Unlike many other birth injury firms across the United States, Miller Weisbrod has an attorney dedicated to handling legal briefing on behalf of our clients across the country. Larry has handled extensive briefing in birth injury and other medical malpractice cases in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Ohio, Alabama, Georgia, New York, Utah, Arizona, Louisiana and West Virginia.
Since joining Miller Weisbrod in 2010, Larry has won a number of important victories vindicating the rights of our clients in both state and federal appellate courts, including Vitacost.com, Inc. v. McCants, 210 So.3d 761 (Fla. Ct. App. 2017); TTHR Ltd. Partnership v. Moreno, 401 S.W.3d 41 (Tex. 2013); In re E.B., 729 S.E.2d 271 (W. Va. 2012); Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. Davis, 683 F.3d 651 (5th Cir. 2012); Rouhani v. Morgan, 2017 WL 3526719 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2017, no pet.); Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. Andregg Contracting, Inc., 391 S.W.3d 573 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2012).
He was as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Harlington Wood Jr., Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Larry was a University of Iowa Presidential Scholar and served as Editor in Chief of the Iowa Law Review.
Larry is an active member of the American Association for Justice. He is a member of AAJ’s Birth Injury Litigation Group and Medical Negligence Sections.
Education
University of Iowa - Political Science & History - B.A. - Iowa City, Iowa
University of Iowa - School of Law - J.D. - Iowa City, Iowa
Bar Admissions
Texas - 1996
Kansas
Missouri
Areas of Practice
Appellate Advocacy
Medical Malpractice
Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
Products Liability
Personal Injury
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Laurie Pierce
Laurie draws upon extensive experience in state and federal courts with a focus on complex claims involving medical malpractice cases. After many years of defending health care providers and hospital systems in medical malpractice cases, Laurie joined David Olesky in the national birth injury and medical negligence practice at Miller Weisbrod Olesky.
Laurie’s focus is to understand not only the facts and circumstances of the matter at hand, but to understand the specific needs and goals of the client and their unique business considerations. Her extensive background in commercial litigation provides a foundation that enhances her health care litigation practice. She works with clients that require more than a strong trial lawyer; they expect an attorney who understands the relationship between law and their specific business and who will work tirelessly to protect their rights, interests and bottom line.
Admitted to Pro Bono College of State Bar of Texas in 2019 for outstanding delivery of legal services to low-income Texans
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Linda Cuaderes
Linda Cuaderes is both a registered nurse and a licensed lawyer. Linda works exclusively in Miller Weisbrod’s Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice section. Linda acts as the firm’s patient advocate and liaison with our young clients and their parents.
Linda combines her legal and nursing experience along with her exceptional organizational talent and attention to detail to make sure each child we represent is provided the highest level of medical care and attendant care during the pendency of their case. Linda communicates with our parent clients regularly to monitor their birth injured child’s treatment, provide guidance as to additional care and therapies and when necessary assist them in obtaining specialized medical providers.
Linda was raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors at the University of Oklahoma. She started as an Oncology Nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Oklahoma City, quickly becoming the Assistant Head Nurse of the Outpatient Endoscopy Unit. Linda then entered the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Following graduation, Linda joined Les Weisbrod in the Medical Malpractice Section. After taking time off to raise her three lovely children, Linda returned to Miller Weisbrod and her passion of holding healthcare providers accountable for preventable errors. Linda is active in the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Texas Bar Association. Linda is an active member of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group and Medical Negligence Section of the American Association for Justice.
She is admitted to practice before the Texas Supreme Court and routinely works on cases pending throughout the United States. Linda has worked with child victims of birth injury, their parents and other victims of medical malpractice in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Iowa, Ohio, New York, Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, Utah and Missouri.
Education
University of Oklahoma - School of Law, 1990, J.D. - Norman, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma - School of Nursing, 1985 - Norman, Oklahoma
Bar Admissions
Texas - 1996
Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury/Birth Trauma
Associations & Memberships
Texas Bar Association
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Kristin Jones
Kristin combines her medical and legal training to provide invaluable, passionate service to parents struggling to care for their birth-injured children. Families often have questions as they go through the birth injury lawsuit process. Kristin diligently identifies and investigates all medical issues so the birth injury attorneys at Miller Weisbrod can answer those questions. Kristin ensures that our birth injured children’s medical records are thoroughly reviewed and organized. Miller Weisbrod’s birth trauma litigation attorneys and medical experts retained by the firm need her services while pursuing justice for our clients.
Education
SMU Dedman School of Law - Dallas, Texas
University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington, Texas
Bar Admissions
Texas - 1996
Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury/Birth Trauma
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Matt Adair
Matt Adair is an attorney specializing in medical malpractice, products liability, and pharmaceutical litigation. He received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. During his time there, he studied abroad at the New College at Oxford University in Oxford, England.
Matt is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Dallas Trial Lawyers Association.
Education
University of Notre Dame - Philosophy, B.A. 2012 - Notre Dame, Indiana
Baylor University - School of Law J.D. 2015 - Waco, Texas
Bar Admissions
Texas - 2015
Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Products Liability
Pharmaceutical Litigation
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Garrett Stanford
Garrett Stanford was born in Dallas, Texas and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2017 with a B.A. in Political Science. After graduation, he attended Baylor University School of Law. During his time at Baylor, he was a member of the Order of the Barristers and he won the Judge W.C. Davis Endowed Criminal Practice Professional Track Award. He obtained his law degree and license to practice law in 2020.
Garrett joined Miller Weisbrod in August 2021. His legal practice is concentrated in the area of birth injury and medical malpractice. Garret is actively involved in handling birth injury and medical malpractice cases in Texas, Ohio, Utah, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Education
Southern Methodist University - Political Science, B.S. - Dallas, Texas
University of Baylor - School of Law, J.D. - Waco, Texas
Bar Admissions
Texas - 2020
Areas of Practice
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury/Birth Trauma
Associations & Memberships
State Bar of Texas
Meet our Legal Nursing Team
Linda Chalk
As a registered nurse, Linda practiced ICU nursing for 44 years while caring for a wide range of patient conditions. She has worked closely with founding partner Les Weisbrod for over 30 years, investigating and pursuing birth injury cases.
Along with DJ Weisbrod, Linda heads up the firm’s birth injury intake, screening, and medical literature research team. She personally screens all potential cases to ensure that medical issues have been addressed before we file lawsuits on behalf of birth-injured children and their families.
DJ Weisbrod
Before joining Miller Weisbrod, DJ practiced as a surgical nurse in various hospital and operative settings. She has been with the firm over 30 years.
DJ directs Miller Weisbrod’s birth injury intake and medical screening team. She has also served as firm founder Les Weisbrod’s trial nurse for all cases involving medical negligence and birth injury.
Linda Cuaderes
Linda Cuaderes is both a registered nurse and a licensed lawyer. Linda works exclusively in Miller Weisbrod’s Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice section. Linda acts as the firm’s patient advocate and liaison with our young clients and their parents.
Linda combines her legal and nursing experience along with her exceptional organizational talent and attention to detail to make sure each child we represent is provided the highest level of medical care and attendant care during the pendency of their case. Linda communicates with our parent clients regularly to monitor their birth injured child’s treatment, provide guidance as to additional care and therapies and when necessary assist them in obtaining specialized medical providers.
Linda was raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors at the University of Oklahoma. She started as an Oncology Nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Oklahoma City, quickly becoming the Assistant Head Nurse of the Outpatient Endoscopy Unit. Linda then entered the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
She is admitted to practice before the Texas Supreme Court and routinely works on cases pending throughout the United States. Linda has worked with child victims of birth injury, their parents and other victims of medical malpractice in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Iowa, Ohio, New York, Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, Utah and Missouri.
Education
University of Oklahoma - School of Law, 1990, J.D. - Norman, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma - School of Nursing, 1985 - Norman, Oklahoma
Bar Admissions
Texas - 1990
Areas of Practice
Birth Injury/Birth Trauma
Medical Malpractice
Associations & Memberships
Texas Bar Association
American Association of Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Kristin Jones
Kristin combines her medical and legal training to provide invaluable, passionate service to parents struggling to care for their birth-injured children.
Families often have questions as they go through the birth injury lawsuit process. Kristin diligently identifies and investigates all medical issues so the birth injury attorneys at Miller Weisbrod can answer those questions Kristin ensures that our birth injured children’s medical records are thoroughly reviewed and organized. Miller Weisbrod’s birth trauma litigation attorneys and medical experts retained by the firm need her services while pursuing justice for our clients.
Kelly Kunkel
Kelly Kunkel was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She has 15 years’ experience in hospital based High Risk Obstetrics and Labor and Delivery bedside nursing care. Kelly graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from El Centro College in December of 1990 and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from West Texas A&M University in 2008; graduating with honors.
In addition, Kelly has over 25 years’ experience in medical malpractice case management and litigation and has worked with David Olesky for over 22 years. After many years of assisting in defending healthcare providers and hospital systems in medical malpractice cases involving complex litigation matters related to birth injury, catastrophic injury and death, Kelly has proudly joined David Olesky in the national birth injury and medical negligence practice at Miller Weisbrod Olesky.
