The Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that counsel initially sanctioned under Philadelphia’s medical malpractice program are now cleared. The court emphasized that sanctions must be based on specific rules or supported by contempt law, and should stem from actions in the individual case rather than a broader courtwide policy. This decision underscores the necessity of grounding…
In a strategic move set to bolster its healthcare practice, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has announced the addition of medical malpractice lawyer Jennifer Lowis to its Sacramento office as a partner. The firm confirmed this development earlier this week. Lowis brings significant expertise to the firm, having a well-established track record in defending complex medical…
A law firm representing a medical malpractice defendant cannot obtain private health information about a plaintiff from a nonparty treating physician without the plaintiff’s consent, even if the firm represents both physicians involved, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled. The June 18 decision clarified that entering into an attorney-client relationship with a nonparty physician while already…
A Colorado neurosurgeon has brought forth allegations against an attorney and an insurer, claiming they interfered with the legal services provided to him during the defense of a medical malpractice lawsuit. According to the doctor, the underlying suit was settled without his consent, raising concerns that the interests of the insurance carrier and its insured…
With the rapidly evolving landscape of the legal profession, there’s been significant shake-ups in academia. In a recent report on Law.com, it was highlighted that two respected law professors and a reputable law dean have made significant advancements in their careers. The article, however, is restricted to subscribers of Law.com and specific details are, therefore,…
Texas is on the verge of opening a new business court, designed to streamline the management of complex commercial litigation. Although details regarding the court’s operations still remain to be fully outlined, the structure enforced by the Texas legislature along with its mandate provide insight into the purpose and potential impact of this new legal…
Last week, a Cook County jury awarded a 72-year-old lawyer, Craig Pierce, a remarkable $41 million in a case involving maladministration of medication which resulted in a cerebral artery stroke. The trial marks the largest judgment in Illinois for a medical malpractice case with a plaintiff over 70. Pierce, a criminal defense attorney, had the…
A recent decision by the Virginia Supreme Court underscores the limits of jurisdiction in medical malpractice cases, specifically those concerning digital communication between out-of-state physicians and patients. The case was filed by Katherine Louise Carter on behalf of her deceased father, against North Carolina’s Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Wake Forest University Health…
The National Law Journal and Law.com have announced the finalists for the 2024 Elite Trial Lawyers Awards. From countless entries, plaintiff law firms across the United States are progressing to the competition’s final round. The winners across 23 award categories will be announced on July 11 at the ETL award ceremony at Lotte New York…
An emerging trend among the legal community has highlighted the possible shortage of expert witnesses for medical malpractice and other healthcare lawsuits. This scarcity appears to be driven by an increase in demand and a constrained supply of permissible experts, governed by standards established by the US Supreme Court several decades ago. Malpractice verdicts of…
In a recent decision that is of significant interest to medical malpractice experts, the Virginia High Court overturned a $1.6 million verdict awarded to a patient who suffered low blood sodium levels. The court reasoned that the trial court erred in refusing a jury instruction that supported the defendants’ theory. This theory proposed that the…
In a recent discussion, the Ohio Supreme Court grappled with the issues surrounding the initial failure of complaint service during an ongoing wrongful-death lawsuit against a physician and a hospital. The court is examining whether or not a defendant forfeits its right to argue defective service if it participates knowingly in years of litigation before…
Erin Ehlert has recently been taken on as a partner in Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s (BCLP) litigation and investigations department in Seattle, according to a statement released by the firm. Ehlert boasts a formidable portfolio. Her experience spans an array of legal areas including product liability, tort cases, defending municipalities in personal injury and use…
The Ohio Supreme Court is in the midst of debating the validity of a proposal that could lead to plaintiffs receiving verdicts in their favor in medical malpractice cases, even when the majority of a jury disagrees. The proposal in question centres around the obligations of jurors in negligence cases, more specifically, if jurors must…
An Ohio appellate court has upheld a jury award exceeding $500,000 in a medical malpractice lawsuit, concluding that the lower court’s decision to permit the jury to consider certain pieces of evidence did not constitute a per se reversible error. The April 2 opinion, written by Judge Ginger S. Bock for the Ohio First District…
In recent legal personnel news, leading law firms Allen & Overy (A&O), Shearman & Sterling and Latham & Watkins have made significant leadership appointments in their Paris offices. Additionally, a Shearman partner, with almost 12 years of service, has transitioned to Ashurst in Paris, joining the latest cadre of attorneys exiting the firm amid merger…
Global law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills has played a strategic role in advising lenders on a significant water pipeline project in Saudi Arabia. The specifics of the project remain behind a paywall, however it is clear that Freehills’ experience and global reach were key for the successful handling of this project. In a related development,…
As the evolution of digital landscapes continue, the role of pillar pages in content strategy intensifies. Often covering a broad and specific topic, pillar pages are surrounded by related content linked through internal links, forming what is commonly referred to as a ‘topic cluster’. This architecture, guided by advancements in search behaviors and adaptive methodologies…
An Illinois appellate court recently confirmed a $45 million verdict in a medical malpractice lawsuit, shrugging off the claims that the “patchwork” verdict violated the defendants’ entitlement to a unanimous decision. This decision validated that Cook County Circuit Judge Robert E. Senechalle provided apt instructions to jurors on assessing whether any of four alleged actions…
In a recent Q&A session, Daniel S. Jo, a partner at Silver Golub & Teitell law firm, shares significant insights about his journey to becoming a partner. Drawing from his extensive law experience, Jo highlights the grave mistake frequently made by attorneys of prioritising career advancement over hard work. He suggests that such an approach…
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, a prominent international law firm, has welcomed a crucial addition to its product liability litigation practice in Boston. Lisa Oliver White, a highly experienced lawyer, has joined as a partner The firm announced this last Thursday with White set to focus on serving clients in the medical malpractice and drug…
ALM’s series, ‘About the Awards’, provides Q&As and columns with editors across different publications and an external roster of volunteer judges. These dialogues and write-ups are curated with the intention of granting readers and future nominees a clearer understanding of the evaluation system that is used for awards affiliated with ALM Recognition Events. A recent…
In a notable case for legal professionals in medical malpractice, Utah’s Supreme Court has overturned a $450,000 award this week by noting insufficiency of crucial evidence. The initial award was intended as reparation for the medical malpractice allegations made by Jenafer Meeks against her mother’s physicians, Dr. Wei Peng and Dr. Christina G. Richards. The…
The common perception that law and medicine are two rigorous, prestigious and demanding fields may imply that students of these disciplines should get along and share experiences rather comfortably; however, a recent article on Above the Law explores the antithesis: in reality, law students and medical students do not mix. As high commitment fields, both…
A New York City suburban attorney, Jae Lee from JSL Law Offices, located in Uniondale, faces a potential penalty for citing a nonexistent court ruling in a legal filing which was generated through the artificial intelligence tool, ChatGPT. The US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit declared that this misconduct was substantially below the…