Stephen Brzezinski is a principal and takes a leadership role in the firm’s birth trauma defense practice, which is one of the most well-respected birth trauma practices in the country. A member of the firm since 1991, Mr. Brzezinski has developed a unique expertise in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as birth trauma defense litigation.
In addition to his distinguished legal practice, Mr. Brzezinski regularly makes presentations across the country on a variety of legal issues facing physicians and nurses in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology. These include presentations at national and regional meetings of attorneys, physicians and risk management experts.
Mr. Brzezinski has been and continues to be designated a Michigan Super Lawyer. Only five percent of the attorneys in the state are designated as Super Lawyers. Also, Mr. Brzezinski was selected by DBusiness Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Michigan in the field of medical malpractice law.
Mr. Brzezinski earned his J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law and A.B. from the University of Michigan. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Michigan and Hawaii.
Presentations:
2019 Hawaii Obstetrics Symposium. “Talking the Talk in Obstetrics: How to Make a Safe OB Unit Even Safer;” “Don’t Fall Into The Pit: Oxytocin, Safety, Inductions and The ARRIVE Trial;” “Not too Quick; Not Quick Enough: Getting Cesarean Safety Just Right;” and “The OB and ED: How to be Each Others Best Friend.”, Honolulu and Kona Hawaii, 2019
8th Annual Advanced Forum on Obstetric Malpractice Claims, “Selection and Preparation of ExpertFact Witnesses for Testimony and the Implications of the ARRIVE Trial.”, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2019
34th Annual Steamboat Perinatal Conference, “Lessons Learned: What is Preventable.”, Steamboat, Colorado, 2019
Perinatal Care & Birth of a Lawsuit Conference, Contemporary Forums, “Consent and Care: The Legal Perspective; “Offer and Disclosure Versus Deny and Defend;” Preparing to Testify in a Med-Mal Case;” and “Reptile Theory and Trial Strategy.” Las Vegas, Nevada, 2018.
Grand Rounds, University of Texas Austin Dell Medical School, “The Interpretation of Uterine Activity on Fetal Heart Monitor Tracings,” Austin, Texas, 2018.
17th Annual Advanced Forum on Obstetrical Malpractice, “Preventing Category II Fetal Heart Monitoring Strip Liability: Safeguarding Against Incorrect Reading and Responses.” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2018
CME Specialty Conference Wilcox Medical Center, “Differential and Timely Diagnosis in Hospitals, Clinics and Private Practices and the Rules and the Law.” Kauai, Hawaii, 2018
25th Annual Spring Conference on High Risk Obstetrics in Los Cabos, Mexico for Symposia Medicus, “Shoulder Dystocia: Predicting, Managing, and Defending; Strategies to Advance Patient Care: Your Rules & Regulations & The Law; The Law & EFM: Where Is It Going?” Los Cabos, Mexico, 2018
CME Specialty Conference, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, “Lessons Learned From Medical Malpractice Cases: The Importance of Policies and Procedures.” Oahu, Hawaii, 2018
33rd Annual Steamboat Perinatal Conference, “Informed Consent: Do You Hear What I Hear?” Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 2018
High Risk Obstetrics and Perinatal Summit, “Obstetric Communication Errors: Maternal Mortality and Morbidity; A Legal Perspective.” Monterey, California, 2017
BETA Annual Member Symposium, “Shoulder Dystocia: A Legal Update.”
Huntington Beach, California, 2017
16th Annual Advanced Forum on Obstetric Malpractice Claims, “In-House Claims and Risk Management Professionals Speak Out on Obstetric Malpractice Financial & Legal Decisions Evaluation and Settlement of Cases.”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2017
AIG Risk Management Solutions Conference, “Claims Trends and Improving Patient Care, Litigation Strategies-An Update from the Defense, and Improving Patient Safety.” Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and Queens Hospital.
Honolulu, Hawaii 2017
32cd Annual Steamboat Perinatal Conference, “Recent Trends in Obstetric Malpractice Claims.”
Steamboat, Colorado, 2017
Grand Rounds, Pali Momi Medical Center, “Improving Patient Engagement and Risk Minimization.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2017
Grand Rounds, Straub Medical Center “Complying with TJC and Case Law to Improve Patient/Physician Communication”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2017
Grand Rounds, Wilcox Memorial Hospital “Informed Consent”
Lihue, Hawaii, 2017
Grand Rounds, North Hawai’i Community Hospital/Queens Health Systems “Improving Health Literacy.”
Kamuela, Hawaii, 2017
Birth Injuries & The Law Conference Co-Chair and Presenter on topics of Shoulder Dystocia, Uterine Tachysystole, and Birth Injuries on Trial.
Las Vegas, Nevada, 2016
AWHONN National Convention, “Protocols and Guidelines in the Interpretation of Uterine Activity on FHR Patterns-Help or Hindrance?”
Grapevine, Texas, 2016
PeriGen Obstetrical/Neonatal Reception, “Short Stories of OB Nurse Malpractice and How They Might Have Been Avoided.”
Grapevine, Texas, 2016
Bioethics Committee Conference, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, “Advancing Patient Care in Pediatrics.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2016
CME Specialty Conferences, Straub Medical Center and Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, “The Reptile Theory and the Standard of Care.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2016
Risk Management Conference, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, “Strategies for Advancing Patient Care.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2016
AIG Specialty Conference, “Changing the Landscape in Assessing Damages in Liability Cases.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2016
Medical Malpractice Damages Conference, “Defining Damages: Defining Medical Care Needs in Personal Injury Claims.”
New York, New York, 2016
31st Annual Steamboat Perinatal Conference, “Legal Pitfalls in Treating Cervical Insufficiency.”
Steamboat, Colorado, 2016
ASDA Annual Conference, “Affordable Care Act and Personal Injury Cases.”
Big Sky, Montana, 2016
Defining Damages: “Defining Medical Care Needs in Third Party Severity Bodily Injury Claims.”
New York, New York, 2015
Grand Rounds: Straub Medical Center, “Policies/Procedures/Protocols and Safety Rules.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2014
Birth Trauma Seminar “The Economics of Cerebral Palsy.”
New York, New York 2014
29th Annual Perinatal Conference, “The Affordable Care Act and its impact on Birth Trauma Litigation.”
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 2014
Grand Rounds: Sinai Grace Hospital “The Evolution of Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring.” Detroit, Michigan, 2014
Grand Rounds: Sinai Grace Hospital “A Credentialing Exam for Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2014
Grand Rounds: Kapiolani Medical Center, “Fetal Head Compression.”
Honolulu, Hawaii, 2013
Grand Rounds: Wilcox Memorial Hospital, “Fetal Intolerance of Labor.”
Lihue, Hawaii, 2013
ProAssurance, “Category II Fetal Heart Rate Tracings, Complying with the Standard of Care.”
Okemos, Michigan, 2013
Grand Rounds: St. John Hospital, “Role of Cerclage and Progesterone Today.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2013
Grand Rounds: Good Samaritan Hospital, “Medical Legal Issues In OB/GYN.”
Los Angeles, California, 2012
Current Controversies in Maternal Fetal Medicine. Long Beach Memorial in Conjunction with Memorial Care Center for Women, “Fetal Head Compression.”
Mount Hood, Oregon, 2012
Annual Southern California Association for Healthcare Risk Management, “Intrauterine Ischemia from Head Compression In Utero, Fact or Fiction.”
Palm Springs, California, 2012
Grand Rounds: Sinai-Grace Hospital, “Charting Errors to Avoid and Improve Patient Safety.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2012
Grand Rounds: Hutzel Hospital, “Increased Intracranial Pressure and the Reduction of Cerebral Blood Flow During Labor and Delivery.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2012
Grand Rounds: Sinai Grace Hospital, “Cervical Insufficiency Role of Ultrasound and Cerclage.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2012
Grand Rounds: Sinai Grace Hospital. “Identification of Hypoxia and the Significance of Tachysystole and Hypertonus.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2012
Grand Rounds: Sinai Grace Hospital, “Obstetrical Liability: Documentation and Obstetrical Management.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2012
BETA Healthcare Group. Lead the Way. “The Path to Perinatal Excellence.” “Hypoxic Fetal Heart Rate Patterns and Significance of Tachysystole/Hypertonus.”
San Francisco, California, 2011
Providence Hospital, OB/GYN Retreat, “Fetal Heart Rate Interpretation and Management based on ACOG Criteria.”
Novi, Michigan, 2011
25th Annual Perinatal Conference. “Obstetrical Malpractice for the Defense.” Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 2010
Grand Rounds: Providence Hospital, “Defending Shoulder Dystocia Cases.”
Novi, Michigan, 2009
Ascension Health, Perinatal Conference, “Defending Birth Trauma Litigation: Placental Pathology/Head Imaging Films.”
Austin, Texas, 2008.
Grand Rounds: St. Mary’s Hospital, “How Do Plaintiff’s Experts Find Fault in Cases of Shoulder Dystocia.”
Kansas City, Kansas, 2008
Grand Rounds: Sinai Grace Hospital, “Obstetrical Liability and Documentation.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2007
Grand Rounds: Detroit Riverview Hospital, “Defending Shoulder Dystocia Cases.” Detroit, Michigan, 2005
Grand Rounds: Macomb Hospital, “Protecting the Labor and Delivery Record.”
Warren, Michigan, 2004
Grace Hospital, “Defense of Physician Assistants in Birth Trauma Litigation.”
Detroit, Michigan, 2002
Grand Rounds: Garden City Hospital, “Medical Legal Consequences of Preterm Delivery.”
Garden City, Michigan, 2000
Garden City Hospital, “Defending VBAC Deliveries.”
Garden City, Michigan, 1999
Garden City Hospital, “Avoiding Nurse Charting Errors.”
Garden City, Michigan, 1999
Garden City Hospital, “Pitocin Augmentation Litigation”.
Garden City, Michigan, 1998
Detroit Riverview Hospital, “The Interpretation of Fetal Heart Rate Tracings-A Defense Perspective.”
Detroit, Michigan, 1998
Grand Rounds: Hutzel Hospital, “Fetal Heart Rate Tracings-Cross Examination Mistakes to Avoid.”
Detroit, Michigan, 1998
Grand Rounds: Detroit Riverview Hospital, “Interpretation of Fetal Heart Rate Tracings, Protecting the Record.”
Detroit, Michigan, 1998
St. Mary’s Hospital, “The Importance of OB Charting.”
Livonia, Michigan, 1997
Hutzel Hospital, Mock Cross Examination Video Presentation Regarding Retained Products of Conception.
Detroit, Michigan, 1997
Grand Rounds: Garden City Hospital, “Pitocin Induction, Hyperstimulation, and Shoulder Dystocia Litigation.”
Garden City, Michigan, 1997
Grand Rounds: Detroit Riverview Hospital, “Management of Shoulder Dystocia.” Detroit, Michigan, 1997
Sinai Hospital, “Obstetrical Charting, Drafting Comprehensive Notes.”
Detroit, Michigan, 1997
Sinai Hospital, NICU “Neonatal Charting and Protecting the Record.”
Detroit, Michigan, 1997
Oakwood Hospital, “Current Trends in OB/GYN Litigation: The Pitfalls of Fetal Heart Rate Interpretation.”
Dearborn, Michigan, 1994
Insights & News
September, 2019 - Recent Highlights
Congratulations to our 22 Kitch “Super Lawyers” and “Rising Stars for 2019”
August, 2019 - Recent Highlights
Stephen Brzezinski Presents On Obstetrical Care And Patient Safety at 2019 AIG Risk Management Seminar
June, 2019 - Recent Highlights
Stephen Brzezinski to Present on Selection and Preparation of Expert/Fact Witnesses for Testimony and the Implications of the ARRIVE Trial in Philadelphia June 26th and 27th