$18.2 Million Verdict for a Brachial Plexus Injury at Birth Lawsuit

In July 2026, a North Carolina jury awarded $18.2 million to a young boy and his mother after a birth injury left him with permanent damage to the nerves in his left arm.

The boy suffered a severe brachial plexus injury during delivery. These injuries can affect movement and feeling in his left shoulder, arm, and hand. In this case, the damage left his arm permanently disabled.

The jury found that the doctor used an unsafe maneuver after the baby’s shoulder became stuck during birth.

If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury during delivery, your family may also be eligible to file a birth injury lawsuit. Brachial plexus birth injury settlements and trial verdicts can provide compensation for medical care and other losses.

What Happened in the $18.2 Million Brachial Plexus Injury Case?

Naqah Lake was born at WakeMed Raleigh Campus Hospital in 2019. During delivery, one of his shoulders became stuck behind his mother’s pubic bone. This birth emergency is called shoulder dystocia.

A resident doctor turned Naqah’s head while his right shoulder was still stuck. The family’s lawyers called this a “never maneuver” that should not be used during shoulder dystocia. The doctor also wrote in the medical chart that she had performed the maneuver.

All 5 nerves in Naqah’s left brachial plexus were torn away from his spinal cord. The damage was on the shoulder that was not stuck and left him without use of his left arm, shoulder, and hand.

WakeMed argued that the injury happened before birth. Naqah’s family said the doctor’s actions caused it. After a 5-week trial, all 12 jurors found the doctor and hospital negligent.

The jury awarded Naqah and his mother $18.2 million. About $2.2 million was for medical costs and other financial losses. The remaining $16 million was for his pain, permanent disability, and other harm.

“Naqah will never be able to play sports that require both hands, hug his mother with both arms, hold his own child with both arms, or simply clap his hands, because of a ‘never maneuver.’ We are grateful for the jury for holding WakeMed accountable for the lifelong disability it caused.”

– The family’s brachial plexus birth injury attorney

What Is a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury?

The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that runs from the neck into the shoulder, arm, and hand. These nerves control movement and feeling in the arm.

A brachial plexus birth injury happens when these nerves are damaged during delivery. A child may have weakness, limited movement, numbness, or no use of the affected arm.

Naqah suffered a global injury involving all 5 brachial plexus nerves. He permanently lost the use of his left shoulder, arm, and hand.

Common causes of a brachial plexus injury at birth include a baby’s shoulder getting stuck, a difficult delivery, or too much pulling on the baby’s head or neck.

However, doctors are trained to handle difficult deliveries without using too much force on the baby’s head, neck, or shoulders. When they don’t, it may be considered medical malpractice.

What Makes Birth Injuries Malpractice?

Not every birth injury is caused by medical negligence. Some problems can happen even when doctors and nurses provide proper care.

A birth injury may be medical malpractice when a provider fails to meet accepted medical standards and that failure harms the baby.

Birth injury claims generally require proof of 4 things:

1. A duty to provide care: The doctor or hospital was responsible for caring for the mother and baby.
2. Care below accepted standards: The provider did not give the level of care expected in that situation.
3. A link to the injury: The poor care caused or worsened the baby’s injury.
4. Serious losses: The injury led to medical costs, disability, pain, or other harm.

In the WakeMed case, the jury found that the doctor used an unsafe maneuver and caused Naqah’s permanent nerve damage.

If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury, Erb’s palsy, or another birth injury, skilled lawyers can review medical records and determine if medical mistakes may have played a role.

Find a Birth Injury Lawyer Near You

A brachial plexus injury can lead to years of medical care, therapy, and added costs. If the injury may have been preventable, a birth injury lawyer can review what happened and explain your family’s legal options.

Taking legal action can feel overwhelming when you are focused on your child’s medical care and future needs. An experienced lawyer can handle the investigation, work with medical experts, and deal with the hospital and insurance companies for you.

At the Birth Injury Justice Center, we work with trusted legal partners who have experience handling brachial plexus birth injury lawsuits and other serious birth injury cases.

Call us right now at (800) 914-1562 or fill out this form for a free case review. There’s no cost or obligation to learn if your family may be eligible for compensation.