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A Michigan family was awarded $19.1 million after medical negligence during pregnancy resulted in a severe birth injury to their son, E.K. His mother, Tanisha Bowers, had a high-risk pregnancy, but her physician allegedly failed to properly monitor her condition and recognize complications that required an earlier delivery.
By the time the mother was rushed to the hospital, she had experienced a near-total placental abruption and needed an emergency C-section. Her baby suffered severe oxygen deprivation before birth, causing permanent brain damage.
The child was later diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, along with significant cognitive and neurological impairments.
Today, E.K. requires a feeding tube, around-the-clock skilled nursing care, and extensive medical support. The $19.1 million judgment will help provide for his lifelong care, treatment, and specialized equipment.
Our team connected the family to experienced Michigan birth injury lawyers who fought hard to get the justice they deserved. See if we can help your family too — get a free case review right now.
What Went Wrong During the Pregnancy
A family was awarded $19.1 million in a Michigan lawsuit after a medical malpractice case involving a birth injury left their son with permanent disabilities.
Tanisha Bowers had a history of severe preeclampsia from a previous pregnancy, placing her at higher risk for complications. Her physician allegedly failed to take appropriate precautions, diagnose gestational hypertension, and recommend an earlier delivery.
At 37 weeks and 3 days of pregnancy, Bowers was rushed to the hospital and underwent an emergency C-section after experiencing a near-total placental abruption. Her son E.K. suffered severe oxygen deprivation before birth, resulting in HIE, a type of brain injury.
Unfortunately, E.K. was later diagnosed with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and significant cognitive and neurological impairments. He now requires a feeding tube and around-the-clock skilled nursing care.
E.K.’s family now has a $19.1 million judgment that will help cover his ongoing care, treatment, and specialized equipment.
“No family should have to fight this hard for a child whose injury should never have happened. The court recognized this was a preventable injury, and this judgment will help cover the lifelong care this child needs,” said Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney of Sokolove Law.
About the $19.1 Million Michigan Birth Injury Claim
The family pursued a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) against the United States over care provided by Dr. Leslie Danley, a physician employed by Detroit Community Health Connection, a federally funded health clinic.
The FTCA allows patients to seek compensation for harm caused by medical negligence by federally supported health care providers.
- The mother had severe preeclampsia during her first pregnancy, which should have alerted her physician to the risks in her second.
- Her physician never took steps to lower the chances of those complications happening again.
- Gestational hypertension went undiagnosed throughout the pregnancy.
- The baby should have been delivered at 37 weeks instead of waiting until an emergency developed.
The case resulted in a $19,130,512.90 trial judgment in favor of the family and their son. The award is intended to help secure E.K.’s future by providing financial resources for ongoing medical treatment, specialized equipment, and 24-hour skilled nursing care.
Timeline of the $19.1 Million Michigan Birth Injury Case
This case was filed in April 2022 and took more than 4 years to reach its final judgment. It also had 2 distinct stages: The judge first decided who was responsible for E.K.’s injuries, then held a separate trial to determine how much compensation the family should receive.
Here’s a timeline of the Detroit birth injury claim:
- April 2022: The family filed the medical malpractice lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
- May 2025: Judge Laurie J. Michelson granted the family’s motion for partial summary judgment on liability. She found that Dr. Danley had violated the applicable standard of care and that her negligence caused E.K.’s injuries.
- January 2026: The court held an 8-day bench trial focused on damages, including E.K.’s life expectancy, future medical expenses, and lifelong care requirements.
- July 2026: The judge issued her post-trial findings of fact and conclusions of law.
- October 2026: The $19,130,512.90 judgment was announced publicly.
Most birth injury lawsuits result in out-of-court settlements, helping families receive much-needed compensation faster. However, trials can sometimes award more than settlements. That’s why it is so important to work with the best possible attorney.
Find Top Birth Injury Lawyers in Michigan
Working with the right birth injury lawyer can change your child’s future. These cases are built on medical records, expert testimony, and a careful accounting of what lifelong care will cost — and an experienced attorney handles it all for your family, at no cost upfront.
The Birth Injury Justice Center connects families with experienced birth injury lawyers who know how to prove what went wrong during delivery.
In this case, our legal partners secured a $19.1 million judgment to support the child’s lifelong medical care and specialized needs.
If you believe medical negligence contributed to your child’s birth injury, you don’t have to navigate the legal process alone.
Call us right now at (800) 914-1562 or fill out this form for a free case review.
