Acidosis Angelman Syndrome Apgar Score Apnea and Bradycardia Arnold Chiari Malformation Autism Birth Injury Basal Ganglia Damage Beckwith-Wiedmann Syndrome Birth Asphyxia Cerebral Palsy Encephalomalacia Forceps Delivery Group B Strep Hemiparesis Hydrocephalus Pregnancy Hyperbilirubinemia and Jaundice Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Meningitis Metabolic Acidosis Neonatal E. coli Infections Neonatal Infections Periventricular Leukomalacia Preeclampsia and Toxemia Sepsis Shoulder Dystocia Birth Injuries Index

Angelman Syndrome

For over 30 years, the law firm of Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald has been committed to fighting for children with birth injuries, including children with Angelman syndrome.  In one case associated with signs and symptoms of Angelman syndrome, our birth injury lawyers represented a child who suffered brain damage and recurring seizures.  Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald argued that the failure to timely perform a Cesarean (Caesarean) delivery caused the birth injuries.  The jury awarded our client $31,860,000.  Read more about the $31,860,000 verdict for a child with signs and symptoms associated with Angelman syndrome.

For a free consultation with an experienced birth injury lawyer at Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald, please call toll free at 1-800-323-9900 or submit the firm’s online contact form.

What is Angelman Syndrome?

Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes developmental delay and neurological problems. The physician Harry Angelman first delineated the syndrome in 1965, when he described several children in his practice as having "flat heads, jerky movements, protruding tongues, and bouts of laughter." Infants with Angelman syndrome appear normal at birth, but often have feeding problems in the first months of life and exhibit noticeable developmental delays by 6 to 12 months. Seizures often begin between 2 and 3 years of age. Speech impairment is pronounced, with little to no use of words. Individuals with this syndrome often display hyperactivity, small head size, sleep disorders, and movement and balance disorders that can cause severe functional deficits.

Angelman Syndrome, Autism and Birth Injuries

When a parent is faced with the challenges of a child with Angelman syndrome, it may not be evident that certain neurological conditions are outside of the normal deficiencies associated with Angelman syndrome.  Birth injuries such as asphyxia, meconium aspiration, hypoxia and other conditions and occurrences can cause additional brain damage, including autism and seizures.  Research has indicated that Angelman syndrome is better understood in terms of developmental delay, and autism in terms of developmental deviance.  Both can be present, but diagnosing the autism is difficult.  Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald can help you find out if a birth injury caused your child to suffer from autism or other brain damage. 

If you retain Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald, we will:

• Undertake an intense investigation of the medical history of your child, including all medical records involving pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum
• Consult with pediatric neurologists about your child’s possible autism and other brain damage
• Attempt to identify the cause and time of the birth injury that lead to your child’s brain damage
• If that injury could have been avoided, we will seek to recover compensation from the parties responsible for your child’s brain damage

For a free consultation, please contact the law firm of Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald.  If we are retained, we will attempt to identify the cause and time of the injury to your child’s brain.  If that injury could have been avoided, we will seek to recover compensation from those responsible.