Pamela Pantages
Top rated Medical Malpractice attorney in Cleveland, Ohio
Nurenberg Paris Heller & McCarthy Co., L.P.A.
Practice areas: Medical Malpractice; view more
Licensed in Ohio since: 1990
Education: The University of Akron School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2011, 2013 - 2026 Call today:
216-586-5912
Free Consultation Nurenberg Paris Heller & McCarthy Co., L.P.A.
600 Superior Avenue EastSuite 1200
Cleveland, OH 44114 Visit website
Pamela Pantages, a partner at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy in Cleveland, Ohio, has dedicated over 35 years to the courtroom as a trial attorney. Her journey has been marked by a passionate advocacy for children and families across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Virginia, Delaware, Alabama, Montana, Tennessee and Georgia. Her legal practice is broad, encompassing various aspects of medical negligence and birth injury, with a keen focus on obstetric and pediatric malpractice.
Ms. Pantages’ academic path began with a Bachelor of Science from Kent State University in 1977, followed by a master's degree in speech pathology/audiology in 1978. This foundation led her to a medical career before she transitioned to law, earning her Juris Doctor from The University of Akron C. Blake McDowell Law Center in 1990 and gaining her Ohio license that same year.
In the legal community, Ms. Pantages is a respected figure, serving on the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers. She also actively participates in the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio Women's Bar Association.
Ms. Pantages’ credentials include board certification in civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. She holds memberships in prestigious groups like the Melvin M. Belli Society, the International Society of Barristers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Her peers have recognized her with the highest AV Preeminent peer-review rating* through Martindale-Hubbell and a "Superb" score on Avvo. She is also part of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, celebrating attorneys with significant settlements and verdicts.
Beyond her legal practice, Ms. Pantages is a sought-after speaker on birth injury litigation, sharing her insights at national events for the AAJ and other organizations such as the Ohio Association for Justice, the Montana Trial Lawyers Association, the North Dakota Association for Justice and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. Her written contributions include chapters in "Legal Concepts and Best Practices in Obstetrics," edited by Warsof SL, and a co-authored article with Leslie Iffy, M.D., titled "Erb’s Palsy After Delivery by Cesarean Section" in Medicine and Law.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: PlaintiffFocus areas
Birth Injury, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Dental Malpractice, Informed Consent, Medical Malpractice
- 100% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1990, Ohio
Professional Webpage: https://www.nphm.com/about-us/attorneys/pamela-pantages/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Ohio State Bar Association, 1990
- American Academy of Trial Lawyers
- American Civil Liberties Union, Member
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1996
- Ohio, 1996
- International Association of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
- Melvin M. Belli Society, 1990
- International Society of Barristers, 1990
- Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1990
- Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1990
- American Association for Justice, 1990
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Plaintiff, a young, first-time mother with an uncomplicated prenatal course, underwent augmentation of labor at term. On admission, fetal heart monitoring was reactive and reassuring, and examination was consistent with active labor. Membranes were artificially ruptured with meconium-stained fluid. Pitocin was started but turned off 1½ hours later due to fetal intolerance of labor. Defendant OB #1 arrived at the hospital 1 hour later and ordered Pitocin restarted. Eight hours after admission, there was still no cervical change. Over the next 12 hours, the fetal heart pattern deteriorated into repetitive variables, prolonged decelerations, late decelerations, absent accelerations and minimal variability, while the providers continued to increase Pitocin. A night/day OB staff shift change occurred, and Defendant OB #2 assumed Plaintiff's care. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff was instructed to push while the electronic fetal monitoring showed persistent fetal intolerance to labor. Defendant OB #2 arrived at the bedside 1½ hours later in time for crowning, and encountered a 20 to 30 minute delay to delivery. The baby was born with low Apgars, and required resuscitation and an extended NICU stay. Case settled for $4,000,000.00., 2020
- Plaintiff, a first time mother with an uneventful full term pregnancy, arrived at the hospital in the early morning hours after spontaneously rupturing her bag of waters. Under "continuity of care" training, a third-year family practice resident who followed Plaintiff's prenatal care arrived at the bedside a few hours later to manage her labor and delivery, under the supervision of a family practice attending and a "back-up" obstetrician. Initial hospital exam revealed Plaintiff was not yet in active labor. Fetal monitoring was reactive and reassuring. Pitocin was started around noon. Three hours later, Plaintiff was in active labor. Over the next few hours, Pitocin continued to run but with minimal cervical change. Early in the evening, the family practice resident notified the back-up OB about the lack of progress, but with no change in the plan of care. Later that evening, Plaintiff developed a fever and tachycardia. The family practice resident, family practice attending, and back-up OB were at the bedside, noting slow progress despite continuous Pitocin, and possible transverse position. They did not change their plan of care, despite electronic evidence of Pitocin-mediated uterine hyperstimulation. Rather, the providers allowed Plaintiff to labor for the next three hours with persistent uterine tachysystole, elevated uterine resting tone and absent uterine relaxation between contractions. Baby was ultimately delivered following a shoulder dystocia, with low Apgars, acidosis, scalp lacerations, and scalp and facial swelling. Seizures began at 12 hours of life and subsequent brain imaging showed significant injury, which required neonatal intensive care. Case settled for $3,500,000.00., 2019
- Matthew was born on 2/9/07. Defendant Andre Harris, M.D. finished his OB residency in 6/06 and opened his solo practice in 7/06. Maurita Henry, Matthew’s mother, was one of Dr. Harris’s first OB patients in private practice. Ms. Henry went in to labor on 2/8/07. EFM became non reassuring so Dr. Harris applied a vacuum over 23 minutes, 10 pulls and 5 pop-offs. All experts and Dr. Harris agreed the standard of care required a cesarean after 3 pop-offs. Dr. Harris did not abandon the vacuum after 3 pop-offs but instead continued to pull with the vacuum and delivered Matthew’s head. He immediately noted a shoulder dystocia which he managed with McRobert’s maneuver, suprapubic pressure, and traction. Total shoulder dystocia time was 2 minutes. Matthew had Apgar scores of 1, 3, and 6. A skull x-ray was remarkable for significant head swelling, blood under his scalp, and shifting of his skull bones. He also had a flail right arm and subsequently was diagnosed with a complete brachial plexus injury with a “probable” avulsion of C5 and “possible” avulsion of C6. All of the experts and Dr. Harris agreed that an avulsion, if one existed, could only be explained by excessive downward traction. Matthew has had reconstructive surgery and extensive therapy but still has a severe disability and obvious physical disfigurement. The jury deliberated for 4 hours. There was no offer of settlement. Case verdict for $2,750,000.00., 2018
- Shoulder dystocia following difficult forceps application resulted in significant brachial plexus injury. Six months before trial, defendant filed a notice of immunity based upon a clinical academic appointment. In lieu of litigating the personal immunity issue, the parties reached a resolution. Case settled for $600,000.00., 2018
- After 2 hours of fetal monitoring that progressed from Category 1 to Category 3, a resident attempted an expedited vacuum extraction followed by a severe shoulder dystocia. Case settled for $1,900,000.00., 2018
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Pamela has been board-certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2011., 2011
Educational Background
- B.S., Kent State University, 1977
- M.A., Kent State University, 1978
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Legal Concepts & Best Practices in Obstetrics, Warsof SL, ed., Wolter Kluwer, Philadelphia 2019
- Ohio Academy for Justice Annual Meeting, Columbus, Shoulder Dystocia, 2009
- AAJ National Meeting New York, New York, Helping the Parent Witness, 2011
- American Association for Justice National Meeting, Miami, Establishing Standards Through Medical Literature, 2011
- American Association of Justice Scottsdale Trial Conference, Rules of the Road in Shoulder Dystocia Cases, 2013
- Erb’s Palsy After Delivery by Cesarean Section in Medicine and Law, 2005 Dec; 24(4):655-61, Co-author
Honors
- Best Lawyers®, https://www.bestlawyers.com/lawyers/pamela-e-pantages/189356
- Avvo rated 10/10 (Superb)
- Recognized by her peers as an Ohio Super Lawyer from 2009-2011 and 2013-Present
- AV® Preeminent™, Martindale-Hubbell®, https://www.martindale.com/attorney/pamela-pantages-esq-169140574/, 2024
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, https://www.milliondollaradvocates.com/
Office location for Pamela Pantages
600 Superior Avenue East
Suite 1200
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: 216-586-5912
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2011, 2013 - 2026
