ABC Law Centers Secures $19.1 Million Judgment in Birth Injury Case

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC Law Centers' trial attorneys Jesse Reiter, Anne Randall, and James McCullen, supported by attorneys Bronwyn Cargo and Taylor Goodwin, secured a monumental trial verdict and judgment of $19,130,512.90 for their clients, Tanisha Bowers, Bryan Kellems, and their son, E.K., in a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) birth injury/medical malpractice claim.

Ms. Bowers brought the claim for the negligent management of her high-risk pregnancy by her physician, Dr. Leslie Danley, employed by the federally funded clinic, Detroit Community Health Connection. As a result of Dr. Danley's negligence, baby E.K. suffered a severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathic brain injury (HIE) which caused several permanent impairments. E.K. lives with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, severe cognitive and neurologic impairments, dependency on a feeding tube, and requires 24/7 skilled nursing care.

MISMANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY

Ms. Bowers had a history of severe preeclampsia in her first pregnancy. Despite this knowledge, Dr. Danley did not implement appropriate preventative measures. Additionally, Dr. Danley failed to diagnose gestational hypertension during the current pregnancy and deliver baby E.K. at 37 weeks gestation.

As a result of Dr. Danley's negligent actions, Ms. Bowers was rushed to the hospital at 37 weeks and 3 days, where she underwent an emergency caesarean section for a near-total placental abruption.

Baby E.K. was born with poor Apgar scores of 0, 1, 2, and 2 at one, five, ten, and fifteen minutes, respectively, and profound metabolic acidosis, which indicates that he suffered a severe hypoxic-ischemic insult from not getting enough oxygen before birth. He was not breathing at birth and did not have a heartbeat.

ABC LAW CENTERS SECURES FUTURE FOR BIRTH-INJURED CHILD

Due to the rigorous work of the ABC Law Centers legal and medical team, in addition to the incredible perseverance shown by their clients, the judgment awarded to baby E.K. will allow for access to medical treatments, special equipment, and 24/7 skilled nursing care.

"No family deserves to suffer from the negligence of the medical professionals that they put their trust in," remarked ABC Law Centers trial attorney and founder, Jesse Reiter. "Our firm exists to hold those professionals accountable. Birth trauma cases are very complex, and we are proud that our years of experience ensured that justice was served for our clients."

"While this judgment cannot undo E.K.'s injuries, it offers a more secure future," he added. "Our goal is always to ensure that every injured child has access to the care and resources they need to live a fulfilling life - even after their parents are gone."

ABC Law Centers has focused on relentless birth injury advocacy for nearly 30 years, choosing to only represent birth-injured children. Due to the complex nature of the legal and medical knowledge necessary to win these cases, Jesse Reiter and the attorneys at ABC Law Centers dedicate themselves to staying on the cutting edge of developments in the birth injury field.

The firm is recognized for its compassionate and meticulous work in birth injury law, with multiple ABC Law attorneys serving in leadership positions in organizations such as the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and the Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG).

SOURCE Reiter & Walsh, PC