A $17 million settlement has been reached for a girl injured at birth when she was deprived of oxygen.

The case, Doucette v. Al-Khan, M.D., was filed in Ocean County Superior Court in October 2021. Daryl L. Zaslow of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow obtained the award on behalf of Shea Doucette, now 4 years old, who suffers hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and cerebral palsy allegedly as a result of a birth injury. Zaslow told the Law Journal that a portion of the settlement will be used to purchase annuities, which guarantee payments of more than $18 million but are anticipated to pay over $28 million. The total settlement will ultimately be worth between $26.9 to $37.1 million, Zaslow said.

“Although this case was vociferously disputed on the issue of liability, everyone involved was acutely aware of the devastating damages sustained by Shea, her parents, and to Shea’s entire family,” Zaslow said.