Baltimore Malpractice with Frank Spector

When the doctor and the hospital blame each other in a malpractice case, it usually makes the injured family's case easier to prove, but it does not guarantee a win. Frank Spector of Frank Spector Law sits down with McCartney to explain cross-claims, counterclaims, and third-party defendants, and how finger-pointing between a doctor and a nurse raised the settlement in a real birth injury case.

Questions answered in this episode:

What happens when you file a medical malpractice lawsuit?

Why do you sue the doctor's corporate practice and the hospital's corporate entities too?

What is a cross-claim in a medical malpractice case?

Does it help the patient when the doctor and hospital blame each other?

How often do doctors and hospitals file cross-claims against each other?

Can a doctor countersue a patient in a malpractice case?

What is contributory negligence in Maryland?

What is a third-party defendant, and why do you have to amend your lawsuit?

What does a baby's heart rate on the fetal monitor show during distress?

Does finger-pointing between defendants mean you will win?

Topics covered: medical malpractice complaints, plaintiffs and defendants, corporate practice entities, multiple insurance policies, cross-claims, counterclaims, Maryland's contributory negligence rule, third-party defendants, amending a lawsuit, fetal heart rate monitoring, oxygen deprivation and cerebral palsy, settlement leverage, and managing expectations.

Frank Spector on why finger-pointing helps his clients: "Actually from a plaintiff's point of view, me as the plaintiff's lawyer, I actually like when that happens because now they're going to start pointing the fingers at each other. That makes my job a lot easier."

Frank Spector on Maryland's contributory negligence rule: "If the jury finds that you contributed to the negligence yourself, even a little bit, and we call it 1%, even just a little bit, you can lose the entire case."

Frank Spector on how it affected one settlement: "We were able to actually increase the amount of money that we got in the case because we kept saying in our negotiations, we're gonna present this to the jury. The finger pointing that you are doing is gonna really inflame the jury."

Frank Spector on managing expectations: "And even in cases of finger pointing, jurors have come back and voted for the doctor and the hospital and not voted for or found in favor of the plaintiff."

Frank Spector has practiced law for more than 35 years and is recognized by Super Lawyers.

Free consultation: frankspectorlaw.com

Phone: (443) 845-1456

Office: Baltimore, Maryland

#CrossClaim #ContributoryNegligence #ThirdPartyDefendant #BirthInjury #MarylandMedicalMalpractice #BaltimoreBirthInjuryLawyer #FrankSpectorLaw

Recorded September 2026. This episode is general information, not legal advice. Laws change frequently and vary by state, so the discussion here may no longer be current at the time you view or listen to it and may not apply in your jurisdiction. Viewing or listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

• 00:00:00 Welcome Back to Baltimore Malpractice with Frank Spector
• 00:00:46 What Happens When You File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
• 00:03:07 How Does a Cross-Claim Work in a Medical Malpractice Case?
• 00:05:32 Does It Help Your Case When the Doctor and Hospital Blame Each Other?
• 00:07:57 Can a Doctor Countersue a Patient in a Malpractice Case?
• 00:10:24 When Can a Doctor Bring the Hospital Into Your Malpractice Lawsuit?
• 00:13:08 What Happens When a Doctor Ignores a Nurse's Warnings During Labor?
• 00:15:43 How Can Finger-Pointing Raise the Settlement in a Birth Injury Case?
• 00:18:28 Why Isn't a Win Guaranteed When the Defendants Blame Each Other?
• 00:20:06 How to Contact Frank Spector Law in Baltimore

In Maryland, you have three years to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit, and an injured child has until age 21. Frank Spector, founder of Frank Spector Law and a Baltimore medical malpractice and birth injury lawyer with more than 35 years of experience, sits down with McCartney to share the story behind the firm and how he guides clients through a malpractice case.

Questions answered in this episode:

How long do you have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Maryland?

What is a birth injury case?

What are the most common types of medical malpractice cases?

Are medical malpractice lawsuits frivolous?

Who decides whether to settle a malpractice case?

Topics covered: the Maryland statute of limitations, wrong-site surgery, anesthesia errors, misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, birth injury and oxygen deprivation, Erb's palsy, expert affidavit requirements, contingency fees, and rising jury verdicts.

Frank Spector on settling versus trial: "A good settlement beats a great trial all the time."

Frank Spector on Maryland's filing deadline: "In Maryland, you have three years to bring a lawsuit. If you have a child that's been injured, you have up until age 21."

Frank Spector has practiced law for more than 35 years, is recognized by Super Lawyers, taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore Law School, and takes cases on contingency.

Free consultation: frankspectorlaw.com

Phone: (443) 845-1456

Office: Baltimore, Maryland

#BaltimoreMedicalMalpractice #MarylandBirthInjury #StatuteOfLimitations #ErbsPalsy #WrongSiteSurgery #FrankSpectorLaw

Recorded August 2026. This episode is general information, not legal advice. Laws change frequently and vary by state, so the discussion here may no longer be current at the time you view or listen to it and may not apply in your jurisdiction. Viewing or listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

• 00:00:00 Welcome to Baltimore Malpractice with Frank Spector
• 00:00:35 Why Did Frank Spector Become a Lawyer? A Third-Generation Story
• 00:01:05 What Moment Tipped the Scales? A Fatal Car Accident Case
• 00:02:55 Where Did Frank Spector Go to Law School? University of Baltimore
• 00:04:00 Does Maryland Have Certified Legal Specialties for Lawyers?
• 00:06:55 What Pointed Frank Spector Toward Medical Malpractice Law?
• 00:08:25 What Is the Real Practice of Law Like? Guiding Clients Calmly
• 00:10:25 Is Frank Spector From Baltimore? Fourth-Generation Roots
• 00:11:05 Does Frank Spector Take Cases Outside Baltimore?
• 00:11:50 What Regions Does Frank Spector Law Serve in Maryland?
• 00:12:35 What Are the Most Common Medical Malpractice Cases in Maryland?
• 00:15:45 Why Does Frank Spector Keep Doing Malpractice Work?
• 00:18:40 What Is a Birth Injury Case in Maryland? Oxygen Deprivation and Brain Damage
• 00:21:25 Are Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Frivolous? Maryland's Safeguards
• 00:26:10 Where Do Malpractice Myths Come From? Tort Reform in Maryland
• 00:28:00 What Is the Mission of Frank Spector Law? A Guide Through Crisis
• 00:31:25 Why Does Frank Spector Law Exist? Holding Medicine Accountable
• 00:34:00 How Does Frank Spector Build a Malpractice Case? Medical Records
• 00:38:10 Who Decides Whether to Settle a Malpractice Case? The Client
• 00:40:30 Should You Settle or Go to Trial in a Malpractice Case?
• 00:41:30 How Does Frank Spector Define a Successful Case?
• 00:42:30 What Surprises New Clients? Talking Directly to the Lawyer
• 00:44:00 How Did Frank Spector Launch His Baltimore Law Firm?
• 00:45:30 What Case Is Frank Spector Most Proud Of? An Erb's Palsy Client
• 00:46:55 How Does Frank Spector Give Back to the Legal Community?
• 00:48:40 Which Awards Matter to Frank Spector? Super Lawyers Recognition
• 00:49:20 Where Is Medical Malpractice Law Heading? AI and Rising Verdicts
• 00:53:20 How Does Frank Spector Use AI in His Law Practice?
• 00:55:30 How Long Do You Have to Sue for Malpractice in Maryland? Three Years
• 00:57:30 What Principle Guides Frank Spector? It's About the Client
• 00:59:25 How Do You Contact Frank Spector Law in Baltimore?
• 01:00:35 What Motivates Frank Spector to Keep Fighting for Clients?

Baltimore Malpractice with Frank Spector is a medical malpractice podcast for Baltimore families. Frank Spector hosts the podcast and has represented Maryland and Washington DC families for 30 years. His practice covers birth injury, surgical error, and nursing home neglect claims. Each episode answers one question families ask before filing a claim, including Maryland's expert certificate requirement, filing deadline, and damages cap, the rules that decide what a jury hears at trial. The podcast covers Baltimore and communities across Maryland and Washington DC, where Frank Spector Law takes on medical negligence claims. Frank Spector holds a Maryland Super Lawyers listing for medical malpractice. New episodes are on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The firm offers free consultations at frankspectorlaw.com or 443-845-1456.

This podcast provides information only and is not legal advice. Listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. Frank Spector is licensed to practice law in Maryland and Washington DC.