Legal cases involving medical malpractice usually arise when patients or their relatives claim that their doctors did not provide the appropriate standard of care and caused severe harm or even death as a consequence. These cases are complex and involve reviewing medical history, witness statements, and clinical decisions. Cases dealing with birth injuries are among those specializations in this legal practice since there might be a range of issues connected with complications in newborns, disabilities, and the possible influence of early medical intervention on the results.
Founded in 1996, Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC (JJS) has developed a legal practice focused in part on medical malpractice, with particular attention to birth injury cases involving cerebral palsy and other catastrophic injuries. The Maryland-based firm has represented children and families in claims involving hospitals, physicians, and healthcare institutions. Its medical malpractice practice has included cases involving alleged failures in diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and emergency response. Over its history, JJS has reported more than $3 billion in client recoveries across various areas of litigation, either independently or with co-counsel.
A central area of the firm’s medical malpractice work has involved birth injuries and cases concerning children with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders affecting movement, balance, and posture, often resulting from damage to the developing brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cerebral palsy affects about one in every 345 children in the United States. Medical malpractice claims involving cerebral palsy may examine whether complications during pregnancy, labor, or delivery were properly identified and addressed.
JJS has handled cases where families alleged that preventable medical errors contributed to severe outcomes. These matters often require detailed examination of medical records, physician decisions, hospital procedures, and testimony from healthcare specialists. The firm’s medical malpractice division includes attorneys with experience in healthcare-related litigation, allowing it to handle cases where medical evidence plays a central role in determining liability.
One distinctive aspect of JJS’s structure is its attorneys with medical training. Partner Giles H. Manley holds both a medical degree and a law degree and is a board-certified OB-GYN. His background combines clinical knowledge with legal experience in medical malpractice and birth injury litigation. The firm has also kept registered nurses on staff, providing internal clinical knowledge to review the medical issues involved in litigation. This combination of legal and medical experience is uncommon among plaintiff litigation firms of similar size.
Among the firm’s notable medical malpractice matters was a District of Columbia cerebral palsy case that resulted in a $24 million jury verdict. The case involved a child who developed cerebral palsy following an undiagnosed airway obstruction. The verdict was reported as one of the larger medical malpractice verdicts in the Washington, D.C., area. The case reflected the type of litigation JJS handles, where families seek compensation in disputes involving alleged failures in medical care and long-term consequences for children.
Founder Howard Janet’s professional career has also shaped the firm’s medical malpractice work. Janet’s career, spanning almost five decades, focused mainly on litigation in medical malpractice, birth injury, and institutional abuse. He was honored with the title of Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Maryland Association for Justice in 2015. The Maryland State Bar Association honored him in a memorial statement in 2025 about his contribution to litigation of medical malpractice, especially birth injuries of children.
Beyond litigation, Janet established the Cerebral Palsy Family Network in 2010. The organization was created to provide medical, legal, and support resources for families of children with cerebral palsy. The network reflected Janet’s focus on issues affecting families involved in birth injury cases. However, it operated separately from the firm’s legal practice. The initiative became part of his broader involvement with the cerebral palsy community.
JJS has also received recognition through legal organizations and professional publications. Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Rising Stars have recognized attorneys connected with the firm. Additional recognition has come through organizations such as the Maryland Association for Justice. These listings and awards have formed part of the professional record surrounding the firm and its attorneys, alongside reporting on significant litigation.
Independent coverage of medical malpractice matters involving JJS has appeared primarily through legal and regional reporting connected to major cases and professional developments. Publications such as The Baltimore Sun, The Baltimore Banner, and The Daily Record have covered matters involving the firm, including reporting on Howard Janet’s career and legal work. In addition to major litigation, the firm has also been mentioned in media reports related to medical malpractice and plaintiff litigation.
For many years, Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC has handled medical malpractice cases involving severe injury, childbirth cases, and medical provider disputes. This illustrates the broader scope of plaintiff litigation and how a law firm approaches healthcare disputes.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is provided for general knowledge. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers should seek advice from qualified legal professionals regarding particular cases or situations.
