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About Us
Who We Are
The emotional intensity of a birth injury can be overwhelming for parents and families–grief, anger, confusion, guilt. The joy of welcoming a new child is overshadowed by medical needs, care decisions, and fear of what the future holds.
For over 20 years, Offutt and Wallace have helped families navigate the unexpected and unknowns of a birth injury. From understanding what happened, knowing what to expect, and building a plan to manage the years ahead; we are here to help you find answers, understand options, and secure the resources your child will need throughout their life.
For over 20 years, Offutt and Wallace have helped families navigate the unexpected and unknowns of a birth injury. From understanding what happened, knowing what to expect, and building a plan to manage the years ahead; we are here to help you find answers, understand options, and secure the resources your child will need throughout their life.
Who We Are
$1B+
In Settlements & Verdicts
95%
Jury Trial Success Record
$15M+
Record Settlement Awarded
Expertise We specialize in birth injuries.
Birth injuries have a lifelong impact and your child may require lifelong care. Our entire practice is devoted to ensuring they have the resources they need for the future.
Our first priority is understanding the complex medical issues that arise during labor, delivery, and early care. We work with specialists in obstetrics, neonatology, genetics, and radiology to determine exactly what happened and whether your child's injury was preventable. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Expertise Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
HIE is a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation during labor or delivery. It's often the first diagnosis parents hear in the NICU—a term that sounds frightening and complicated because hospitals rarely explain it in plain language. What it means is that your baby's brain was deprived of oxygen during birth, and the full impact may not be clear for months or years.
Many cases of HIE result from delays in recognizing fetal distress or delays in performing an emergency cesarean section when warning signs appear on fetal monitoring. Children with HIE often face lifelong challenges including developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and seizure disorders. The cost of care extends far beyond childhood—when your child turns 21 and ages out of school-based services, families need resources for round-the-clock care, specialized medical equipment, and accessible housing.
You don't have to navigate this alone. We're here to help you understand what happened and plan for what's ahead.
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Many cases of HIE result from delays in recognizing fetal distress or delays in performing an emergency cesarean section when warning signs appear on fetal monitoring. Children with HIE often face lifelong challenges including developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and seizure disorders. The cost of care extends far beyond childhood—when your child turns 21 and ages out of school-based services, families need resources for round-the-clock care, specialized medical equipment, and accessible housing.
You don't have to navigate this alone. We're here to help you understand what happened and plan for what's ahead.
Expertise Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder that typically becomes apparent as developmental milestones are delayed. While CP isn't diagnosed in the NICU, many cases stem from preventable oxygen deprivation or brain injuries that occur during labor and delivery.
We know how those first months feel—the hoping, the watching, the wondering if your child will catch up. Parents often spend the first year in that uncertain space, only to face the reality that delays are permanent. By the time CP is diagnosed, sometimes at age two or later, families are already deep into therapy appointments, specialized equipment, and the knowledge that their child's needs will intensify over time.
We help families establish trust funds that address these lifelong needs, not just for today, but for the decades ahead. So parents can focus on their child's wellbeing and what brings joy, not constant worry about financial survival.
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We know how those first months feel—the hoping, the watching, the wondering if your child will catch up. Parents often spend the first year in that uncertain space, only to face the reality that delays are permanent. By the time CP is diagnosed, sometimes at age two or later, families are already deep into therapy appointments, specialized equipment, and the knowledge that their child's needs will intensify over time.
We help families establish trust funds that address these lifelong needs, not just for today, but for the decades ahead. So parents can focus on their child's wellbeing and what brings joy, not constant worry about financial survival.
Expertise NICU Delays & Injuries
Not all birth injuries happen in the delivery room. Some occur in the hours and days after birth when newborns require specialized NICU care. When your baby is in the NICU, you trust that they're receiving the best possible care. But delays in recognizing infections, respiratory distress, or feeding complications can result in serious harm.
When NICU teams fail to monitor effectively or delay necessary interventions, babies can suffer brain injuries, developmental delays, or other permanent conditions. And when something goes wrong, families are left with complex medical records and vague explanations that don't answer the fundamental question: was this preventable?
We work with neonatology experts to review every detail of NICU care to determine whether delays or errors caused lasting harm. If your child's injury was preventable, we help you secure compensation that addresses not just today's medical needs, but the reality of adulthood—when your child may need supported living arrangements, ongoing medical care, and resources that state programs won't cover.
You trusted the hospital to care for your baby. If they failed that trust, we're here to help make it right.
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When NICU teams fail to monitor effectively or delay necessary interventions, babies can suffer brain injuries, developmental delays, or other permanent conditions. And when something goes wrong, families are left with complex medical records and vague explanations that don't answer the fundamental question: was this preventable?
We work with neonatology experts to review every detail of NICU care to determine whether delays or errors caused lasting harm. If your child's injury was preventable, we help you secure compensation that addresses not just today's medical needs, but the reality of adulthood—when your child may need supported living arrangements, ongoing medical care, and resources that state programs won't cover.
You trusted the hospital to care for your baby. If they failed that trust, we're here to help make it right.
Expertise Erb's Palsy
Erb's palsy is a nerve injury that affects the arm and hand, typically caused by excessive force during a difficult delivery. When a baby's shoulder becomes stuck during birth, a situation called shoulder dystocia, medical teams must respond with specific, careful maneuvers. Improper handling or excessive pulling can damage the brachial plexus nerves, resulting in weakness, limited mobility, or complete paralysis of the affected arm.
Some cases of Erb's palsy resolve with therapy, but many children face permanent limitations that affect their ability to perform daily tasks, participate in activities, and eventually work in their chosen field. Parents may not immediately understand the long-term implications of a nerve injury that seems less severe than other birth complications.
As children with Erb's palsy grow, they need ongoing therapy, possible surgeries, and adaptive equipment. As adults, they may face employment limitations and require modifications to their home and vehicle. We help families plan for what's ahead so children have the resources they need to live independent, meaningful lives.
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Some cases of Erb's palsy resolve with therapy, but many children face permanent limitations that affect their ability to perform daily tasks, participate in activities, and eventually work in their chosen field. Parents may not immediately understand the long-term implications of a nerve injury that seems less severe than other birth complications.
As children with Erb's palsy grow, they need ongoing therapy, possible surgeries, and adaptive equipment. As adults, they may face employment limitations and require modifications to their home and vehicle. We help families plan for what's ahead so children have the resources they need to live independent, meaningful lives.
Our Difference Why Choose Offutt + Wallace
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A proven track record of success
We know this isn't the kind of decision any parent wants to make. But if you're wondering whether your child's injury was preventable, or how you'll provide for needs that extend decades into the future, we're here to help you find clarity. -
Direct Access to Your Attorney
We're a small firm by design. When you call, you speak directly with one of our four attorneys—not a paralegal, not a case manager, not a call center. We handle every aspect of your case ourselves. -
You Deserve Answers
Calling us doesn't mean you're filing a lawsuit. What matters is that you get honest answers about what happened to your child. We review the records with a team of specialists to find out what went wrong and whether it could have been prevented. You deserve to know. -
Proven Track Record, Personal Approach
Our partner Steve Offutt holds record-setting verdicts in multiple states, and Steve remembers every child we've represented—not as case numbers, but as kids he cares about. He keeps their photos on his office wall as reminders of why this work matters. Success in court matters, but it's meaningful only when it translates to real security for real families. -
Focus on Long-Term Security
We're here for what happens when your child turns 21 and ages out of state support. That's when families face the full cost of wheelchairs that need replacing, vehicles that need adapting, homes that need modifying, and potentially round-the-clock care. We help establish trust funds that address those lifelong needs. -
No Upfront Costs or Hidden Fees
We work on contingency, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family. If we take your case, we cover all costs—expert witnesses, medical record reviews, litigation expenses—and we only get paid if you do. We believe that cost should not be a barrier to pursuing justice for your child. -
Understanding Accountability
We understand the hesitation many parents feel about pursuing a claim. You don't want to hurt someone who didn't mean to cause harm. Most birth injuries aren't intentional—they're the result of mistakes, delays, or failures in a system that should have protected your baby. Medical providers carry insurance for exactly this reason. Holding them accountable isn't about punishment. It's about making sure your child has the resources they need for a secure future.
Our Team Dedicated to Protecting Your Child’s Future
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Stephen C. Offutt
Partner
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Adam Hare, ESQ.
Birth Trauma Litigator
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Shannon Slater, ESQ.
Attorney
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Angela Maiorano, RN, BSN, JD
Legal Nurse Consultant
Award Winning Results
Testimonials
After other attorneys turned us down, Steve researched the case and found serious errors happened at the birth of my son Jordan. A Memphis jury has found that delays in performing an urgently needed cesarean section resulted in his developing severe brain damage and cerebral palsy and awarded him $33.5 million to cover the cost of future health care needs and other damages.
Teresa