Karl Protil has dedicated more than 30 years to representing victims of medical malpractice and catastrophic injury. Known for his rare combination of technical skill, medical knowledge and legal acumen, he approaches each case with empathy, compassion and unwavering respect for his clients.
Clients turn to Karl when they need an attorney who will fight relentlessly for the justice, financial security and closure they deserve. His deep understanding of personal injury law – coupled with a strong grasp of how it intersects with medicine – has made him a trusted advocate in even the most complex cases. He regularly represents clients harmed by misdiagnosis, surgical errors, stroke misdiagnosis, delayed diagnoses and other forms of medical negligence.
A significant portion of Karl’s practice is dedicated to birth trauma cases, particularly those involving cerebral palsy. He has successfully represented families across the country whose infants suffered injuries due to medical negligence, securing multimillion-dollar recoveries that provide lifelong resources and peace of mind. His focus is always on ensuring families have the means to care for their children and maximize their potential despite special needs.
Beyond birth trauma, Karl has achieved major successes in cases involving childhood infections leading to brain damage, cancer misdiagnosis, spinal cord injuries and surgical negligence. Other attorneys frequently refer complex personal injury matters to him, confident in his extensive experience and resources.
Karl also has substantial experience in Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and Military Claims Act cases, representing clients against the United States. Respected by his peers, Karl is often called upon for his insight into FTCA matters and his ability to resolve intricate medical-legal conflicts. He shares his expertise through continuing legal education courses, published articles and invitations to mediate medical malpractice disputes.
Outside the courtroom, Karl is deeply committed to service, serving as chair of the Shulman Rogers Community Outreach Committee. He volunteers with the Maryland Association for Justice Public Outreach Committee and speaks at local high schools about the legal profession. Internationally, he has supported the Montgomery County – Gondor, Ethiopia sister city program, traveling to Ethiopia to assist with initiatives such as collecting over 500 books for the University of Gondor School of Law – a contribution recognized by former Montgomery County Executive Isaiah Leggett.
Karl also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for The Menare Foundation, a nonprofit preserving the history of the Underground Railroad.
When he’s not practicing law or volunteering, Karl enjoys traveling, reading, scuba diving, woodworking and skiing. He has visited more than 40 countries, lived in Europe for several years and is conversational in German.
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Maryland Association for Justice, Member; Past Member, Board of Governors
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- D.C. Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Board of Directors – The Menare Foundation
Results
Medical Malpractice
- A Prince George’s County, Maryland case filed against a hospital resulted in a $9.5 million settlement. The case involved an infant who sustained a brain injury at 6 days of life. The settlement involved a structured settlement which paid almost $10 million over the infant’s lifetime, as well as additional money for the infant and parents.
- A contested trial in Prince George’s County, Maryland resulted in an $860,000 verdict following a 2 week jury trial. The case involved the death of a patient in a local hospital whose spinal cord was injured following a procedure for the cardiac catheterization. The patient lived for almost 3 months following the injury and died of complications related to the spinal cord injury. Because the deceased was not married and had no children, suit was brought by his brother as the Personal Representative of the estate. The deceased was not working at the time of his death and had a number of serious medical issues. Prior to trial, the defense offer was zero. The verdict was reduced to $760,000 pursuant to Maryland’s cap on noneconomic damages.
- In a wrongful death case of a 62 year-old resident of Baltimore City, a settlement of $650,000 was reached. The case involved a neurosurgeon who was attempting to remove a pituitary tumor and injured part of the patient’s brain stem leading to a massive hemorrhage and her death several months later.
- A case in Montgomery County, Maryland involving the wrongful death of a 52 year-old husband and father of two resulted in the payment of policy limits of $1 million after four days of trial. The patient suffered a fatal heart attack minutes after walking out of his physician’s office and died en route to the hospital. Prior to trial, there was an offer of $325,000 and multiple attempts on the part of the defendant to reach a high-low agreement. All of those offers were rejected. Trial was initially scheduled for six days, but after four days of trial, the defendant made an offer of their policy limits.
- A Montgomery County Maryland case resulted in a settlement of $50,000. A patient was given the wrong prescription for blood thinners by a physician’s assistant. The improper prescription resulted in excessive bleeding in his surgical site and a hematoma which had to be removed in the hospital. The patient made a full recovery after the surgical procedure and a four day hospitalization.
- In a wrongful death case in the District of Columbia involving a 15 month old child, a $7.5 million settlement was reached. The case involved a child who was born with a congenital heart condition who underwent complicated cardiothoracic surgery. Unfortunately, the child had an underlying anomaly of one of his coronary arteries. While preoperative tests diagnosed this, it was not recognized by the physicians. When the heart surgery took place, it resulted in oxygenated blood being cut off from the child’s left ventricle. Because the left ventricle was not receiving oxygenated blood it suffered massive injury and death of the heart muscle. The child was unfortunately left with a significant cardiac injury which later resulted in additional circulatory problems, leading to the amputation of both of his legs, blindness, and some brain damage. The child lived for a little over a year before tragically dying of complications related to the preventable injuries. Medical expenses in the case were in excess of $2 million.A $750,000 settlement was reached with a hospital in Virginia. The case involved the unfortunate wrongful death of a retired physician who went in for a knee replacement surgery. During the post-hospitalization care, the patient was overmedicated with a heavy narcotic which caused a suppression of his central nervous system, anoxic brain injury, and his death.
Personal Injury
- A Washington D.C. case was settled for $115,000 after a fence fell on a pedestrian as he was walking back to his building after lunch. The fence was not properly secured and was blown over by a strong gust of wind. The client suffered a fracture of his tibia and fibula which did not require surgery.
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
- A Federal Tort Claims Act case filed in Norfolk, Virginia resulted in a $1 million settlement. The settlement was paid by the United States Attorney’s Office in Norfolk, Virginia after the completion of discovery. The case involved a crush injury to the client’s femoral nerve during a hysterectomy. The physician performing the surgery for the Navy improperly placed a retractor on the patient’s nerve and crushed it during surgery. The patient was left with a significant motor nerve injury to her leg and a pain syndrome.
Recognition
- The Daily Record’s Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Power List, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2025-2026
- Maryland Super Lawyers, 2014-2025
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
Publications
- Karl Protil quoted in Stars and Stripes: Debate over veteran deaths could affect VA claims
- Federal Tort Claims Act: What Every Service Member and Their Attorney Need to Know, MTLA Trial Reporter, Winter, 2013
- Filing of Claims Against the United States Pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act: An Overview, MTLA Trial Reporter, Spring, 2006
- A Strategy for Excluding Evidence of Informed Consent in Medical Negligence Cases in Which Lack of Informed Consent is Not Asserted, MTLA Trial Reporter, Summer, 2006
- Circuit Court v. Federal Court: Expert Selection, Preparation and Care, Trial Reporter, Summer 2009
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA): A “How To” Guide, Webinar 2012, April 2013
- Speaker, Advanced Medical Malpractice Issues, NBI
- Handling Medical Negligence Claims, NBI
- Punitive Damages, MWELA Annual Conference
- Federal Tort Claims Act Procedures, MAJ Annual Medical Negligence Section’s Conference
- Federal Tort Claims Act – Basic Webinar
