Dov Apfel has been trying malpractice cases involving babies who died or suffered brain or neurological damage for more than 10 years.
Last month, by being elected co-chairman of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG), he was recognized as one of the leading obstetrical malpractice attorneys in the country.
"Dov is one of the most distinguished attorneys in the US when it comes to prosecuting birth-trauma case," said Robert Bokelman, an attorney at San Francisco-based Bokelman and Benjamin and a BTLG member.
"He has been a pillar in the legal community in educating other lawyers nationwide," Mr. Bokelman said. "He's acknowledged to be an expert."
Mr. Apfel, 45, said he was thrilled to be selected for the two-year position.
As co-chairman, he serves as a center of communication for mal-practice lawyers. He also helps his colleagues locate experts.
"I'm very honored that my peers have enough respect for my work and my contribution," said Mr. Apfel, who is married and has two teen-age daughters.
Mr. Apfel has lectured at seminars held by the BTLG, which is a section of the Association of Trial lawyers of America.
When dealing with malpractice cases, Mr. Apfel starts by going through medical records and then explaining the process to the parents. Sometimes he finds no fault with the records, but in other cases he does find a child's disability could have been prevented.
If it's a Maryland or D.C. case, where Mr. Apfel is licensed to practice, he takes it to trial. If it's in another state, he works with local attorneys as a researcher and adviser.
There are only about 500 lawyers who deal with birth trauma throughout the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia.
"When you know you are rep resenting a child that could have been healthy but because of someone's failure to do the right thing -- well, it's very difficult," said Mr. Apfel, who taught himself medicine by reading books after work during the mid-1980's, when he became interested in birth trauma.
Before, he worked on anti-trust and commercial litigation.
Mr. Apfel, a 1979 law graduate of American University, competes in adult basketball leagues in his spare time.
He also created a birth-trauma educational Web site for parents who have lost a baby or have a child with brain or other neurological damage.
Dov Apfel is a principal in the law firm of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane, Suite 400, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770. He can be reached by
phone at 301-220-2200, or by e-mail. Mr. Apfel is contacted by lawyers and
families throughout the United States to assist them with potential medical
malpractice claims involving children who have died, or who sustained
irreversible brain damage. He is the former Co-Chair of the Birth Trauma
Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a member
of the Board of the Medical Negligence Section of the Maryland Trial Lawyers
Association.
Please Note:
This web site is not intended as legal advice on cerebral palsy, and is not a substitute for obtaining guidance from your own legal counsel about cerebral palsy litigation. It provides general educational information about the standards of care and causation issues that can arise in obstetrical malpractice and cerebral palsy litigation. Readers of the articles contained within this web site should not act upon the cerebral palsy information without first consulting with a lawyer who is experienced in evaluating and litigating cerebral palsy and obstetrical malpractice cases. Mr. Apfel is admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. When Mr. Apfel is asked to participate in cerebral palsy
litigation filed in other states, he will associate with, and act as co-counsel with, an attorney licensed in that state who is familiar with the local laws and procedures.
