Attorneys file to withdraw as plaintiffs change law firm in cerebral palsy suit against doctor, St. Louis University

A woman suing St. Louis University and the doctor she claims is responsible for her daughter's cerebral palsy is changing attorneys.

Attorneys Brad Bradford, Eric Belk and Joe Hillebrand filed to withdraw from representing Linda and Haley Overmeyer March 30.

The case is set for a status conference before St. Clair County Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto at 9 a.m., May 2.

The Overmeyers are suing Dr. William Keenan and St. Louis University for damages in excess of $50,000 for each count in a six-count medical malpractice suit.

Linda Overmeyer claims that Keenan, and by extension St. Louis University as his employer, were negligent in treating her new-born daughter Haley Overmeyer at her birth in Jan. 9, 2005.

The plaintiffs allege that Keenan failed to resuscitate, failed to intubate, failed to monitor and failed to otherwise properly treat Haley Overmeyer.

As a result, the plaintiffs claim that Haley Overmeyer now suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of the alleged negligence.

The defendants deny the allegations.

Bradford, Belk and Hillebrand asked to bow out because the plaintiff has now engaged the firm of Cook, Ysursa, Brauer and Shevlin.

That firm entered its appearance March 30 as well.

Protestant Memorial Medical Center Inc. had been named as a defendant when the suit was filed but was dropped by the plaintiffs in January 2009.

Michael Drake and Edward Bott Jr. represent the remaining defendants.

The case was previously assigned to former St. Clair County Circuit Judge Michael O'Malley and Circuit Judge Robert LeChien.

The case is St. Clair case number 08-L-668.