Highland Park Lawyers Win Lifetime Care for Disabled Boy, 4

Because of the efforts of Highland Park attorneys Bob Baizer and Joe Kolar, a four-year old boy born with a brain defect and now having an IQ in the 30’s, will have the care he needs for the rest of his life.

Baizer and Kolar won a $29.8 million verdict Dec. 20 for the family from a federal judge in southern Illinois because a delay delivering the baby in 2009 when tests indicated an earlier birth was appropriate caused the damage, according to a release from the Highland Park law firm of Baizer, Kolar and Lewis.

“The obstetricians had more than 24 hours to deliver the baby and avoid the catastrophic brain injury but they chose to wait,” the lawyers said in the release. The child was born lifeless but was resuscitated. The injury was caused by lack of oxygen.

The boy will need caregivers for the rest of his life to assist him because he cannot recognize danger arising from tasks like crossing a street, negotiating stairs or encountering strangers, according to Kolar.

“The money would be managed by a trustee and a court,” Kolar said. “The money would be protected (and) preserved to make sure the boy had funds to provide for his medical, hospital and therapy charges for the rest of his life.”

The name of the child and his family are protected by the court which is why Patch is not listing who they are.