Injury to a Child Cases

Brian Corrigan shares his story of the case that made it to the headlines in Dallas, TX. Their story and that of others has been featured on WFAA Channel 8 news in Dallas.

“In July of 2010, only 2 months into my private practice, I was contacted by a firefighter and a labor/delivery nurse who had been accused of First Degree Injury to a Child in Dallas County. They had not yet been arrested and proclaimed their innocence although a physician at Children’s Hospital had come to the conclusion that fractures in the legs of their newborn twins were the result of intentional abuse that occurred during the time when only the parents had possession of the children. A DNA test had “ruled out” connective tissue disorders that cause easy fracturing of limbs. I contacted the detective and persuaded him to hold off on filing the case immediately or getting a warrant. The family was already well on their way to finding a medical explanation for the injuries. Through polygraphs and the court record from cross-examining the Children’s Hospital (CMC) physician at the CPS hearing as well as presenting a board certified geneticist who disagreed with CMC opinions on the case, I proved that my clients were innocent. The problem with the DNA test was that many connective tissue disorders can only be identified through clinical testing, that is an expert “knows it when he sees it.” For this highly skilled geneticist, it was obvious that the children’s bones would fracture easily even with normal handling from care. I convinced the detective to drop the case in September of 2010 without even submitting a referral to the DA’s Office. My clients’ fight was over in the criminal world but raged on in CPS court for 2 more years. They were finally cleared of any allegation of wrongdoing in CPS court and have reached out to other falsely accused parents through organizations like the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Institute.”

Brian Corrigan also shared his experience in short fall accident cases in which he has achieved amazing results for people going through the horrible experience of being falsely accused:

“In 2015, I represented a woman in Tarrant County who accidentally fell while holding her infant foster child. The child sustained a skull fracture and the police and Cook Children’s immediately suspected abuse. She was arrested for a first degree felony Injury to a Child Causing Serious Bodily Injury carrying a possible sentence of Life in prison. She soon hired me, and, from the beginning, I never believed that she was capable of doing anything intentional to this child. I consulted with a physician about the description of the accident and the injury and he determined that, in his opinion, my client’s explanation of an accident and short fall was entirely possible. The case was set for trial and was reassigned to a new prosecutor 4 different times. After the last reassignment, I asked the prosecutor if he was willing to listen my explanation of the injuries based on my expert and present it to his experts at Cook Children’s. After our work was presented, the Cook physicians agreed that our description was a possible explanation. The case was DISMISSED the next day and my client was free.”

“In 2017, I went to jury trial in Kaufman County on another short fall case in which my client accidentally dropped his toddler son onto the edge of a table in their bedroom on the way back to put him down for a nap back at the end of 2013. The child sustained multiple, severe complex skull fractures and the police and Children’s Hospital immediately suspected intentional abuse. He was soon arrested for Injury to a Child Causing Serious Bodily Injury and soon hired me to represent him. The government’s theory that he was capable of doing this never made sense from the beginning. I consulted an expert and effectively reconstructed the accident exactly as described by my client. The expert determined that my client’s description could cause the accident and that the government was relying on out-of-date research. I also went through an intensive investigation of my client’s background, especially with children, and I was convinced that he did not do this. We went to trial and put the entire government case under a microscope, from the first officer on the scene to the lead detective and the physician from Children’s Medical Center. I presented my client and his family as well as my own expert attacking the government’s findings. In the end, the jury came back with a NOT GUILTY in less than 5 hours.”

Law Office of Brian Corrigan

When it comes to representing individuals who have been accused of child injury crimes, especially those involving serious bodily injury or death, Brian Corrigan is in an elite class of criminal defense attorneys who have prosecuted and defended these cases. More importantly, his is an even more elite class of lawyers who have WON these cases as a prosecutor AND as a defense lawyer. Corrigan has stood up for clients charged with these cases and convinced the police, the DA, the doctors, or the jury, of his clients’ innocence. If any prospective lawyer does not tell you that they have done these things, it is because they have not done them before. Brian Corrigan has in courts in Dallas, Rockwall, Collin, and Kaufman Counties and across North Texas.

It is extremely difficult to get a fair trial in a case like this. Your defense lawyer must have tremendous experience and ability defending these cases to given someone charged with these types of cases any hope of success. As a former-Felony child abuse prosecutor in Dallas County and Kaufman County, Corrigan is highly qualified to defend citizens accused of these crimes. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Law specialist who understands every aspect of defending, investigating, and prosecuting child injury crimes. He knows how a child forensic interview should be conducted. He is well-versed in the types of medical and scientific evidence that accompany these charges. Most importantly, Corrigan is respected enough to be listened to by investigator and prosecutors to point out when the system has failed and charged an innocent person. Corrigan’s work has resulted in dropped cases, Grand Jury No-Bills, and Verdicts of Not Guilty after a Jury Trial in these cases.

If you have any questions about Corrigan’s legal service, please call 972-722-5300.

Legal Protection is Vital

The Texas State Child Protection Services (CPS) accepts and investigates reports of parents, caregivers, family members, doctors, teachers, and other people abusing or neglecting the care of a child. The CPS can take immediate action and investigate you and those around your child.

If you’re initially investigated for injuring your child, you may not think you need a child injury lawyer. You may even be enticed to cooperate with the CPS. You may firmly believe that they will discover that you are in fact a good parent and mean no harm to your child. You may be shocked and surprised that you’re even being investigated in the first place. It’s possible that a person has filed a false claim about you harming your child. It also possible that a medical professional has made a serious error in diagnosing the cause of your child’s injuries. If CPS has contacted you, then your situation can become very complicated. You may have a serious legal battle awaiting you. It is crucial to contact a child injury attorney to protect your rights in a criminal investigation early on in your case or even if you have already retained a family law specialist to help you with the CPS matter. CPS has the power to potentially take your child and build evidence against you for a later criminal prosecution.

Criminal cases do not get more delicate and the stakes are rarely higher when in it is affecting your freedom AND keeping your family together.

An Understanding Lawyer

If you have been accused of child abuse, injury or neglect, Brian Corrigan is here to protect you and your child. Corrigan strongly believes in helping individuals and protecting their rights.

To receive your free consultation, call Corrigan’s office at 972-722-5300. During the consultation you will be able to gain an idea of where you stand. Corrigan will strive to protect you and your child so you obtain the equality and justice you deserve.