BIRTH DEFECT LAWSUIT - TERMS, PROCEDURES AND CAUSES

What is a birth defect lawsuit? A suit is usually filed by a birth defect attorney when the defect is caused by malpractice, genetic testing, or environmental or chemical exposure due to negligence. Unfortunately, thousands of children are born with some type of birth defect every year in the United States. Many birth defects involve structural or functional abnormalities that can lead to physical or mental disability. Some birth defects may be fatal.

While the cause of many birth defects is not yet known to science, a significant percentage of birth defects are from chemical exposure or attributable to environmental causes. These include a mother's exposure to toxic substances and chemicals that can occur both at home and at work. For example, studies have shown, and birth defect attorneys have argued that, chemical exposures such as pesticides, fungicides, lead, heavy metals, paints and other toxic substances can increase the likelihood of having a baby with birth defects. Birth defect lawsuits have been filed by people working in beauty salons, paint factories, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, metal cleaning operations, and in the agriculture industry, all of which can increase the chance of having a child with birth defects. Birth defect attorneys have proven in trial that other substances and chemicals that may cause birth defects are contained in medications negligently prescribed by doctors, and in chemicals that have contaminated the air or groundwater in a community.

The alarming number of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure has increased the need for qualified and dedicated birth defect attorneys to prosecute birth defect lawsuits on behalf of families of children born with birth defects.

What types of birth defects can be the basis of a birth defect lawsuit?

This type of lawsuit may be brought on behalf of the family of a child born with birth defects due to wrongful toxic and chemical exposures that occur at work or at home. Specially trained birth defect attorneys can investigate the causes of a child's birth defect and bring a lawsuit against companies at fault for causing a mother to be wrongfully exposed to dangerous chemicals or substances.

What should I look for in a law firm to handle such a lawsuit?

In choosing lawyers to represent a child with birth defects, a family should look for lawyers experienced in birth defect lawsuits who have the resources to stand up to powerful industries that have caused pregnant women to be exposed to harmful substances resulting in a birth defect from chemical exposure. The birth defect lawyers at LPK are committed to families seeking answers and justice for birth defects that could have been prevented and have been representing families in these and other types of lawsuits for more than 20 years. LPK's birth defect attorneys have represented children in birth defect lawsuits arising out of chemical exposure at work, and through exposure to dangerous substances in their homes. LPK's birth defect lawyers have also brought lawsuits for children who have been harmed by drugs and pharmaceuticals such as DES. LPK's attorneys will investigate your lawsuit at no charge and will consult with renowned experts in medicine and science, including toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine doctors, among others. Founding partner, Steven J. Phillips, leads LPK's team of birth defect lawyers and is a recognized pioneer in birth defect lawsuits.

For more information call 212.605.6200 or email

Steven J. Phillips