Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy

While the deposition testimony usually does not win the case, in a medical negligence matter, it can definitely lose it. The stakes for a physician today are higher than they have ever been. It is not an infrequent occurrence that any report to the Databank gets a review by both the State Board of Medical Examiners and any health insurer on whose panel the provider has privileges. Our clients deserve better.

Part Two of a Two-Part Article

Astonishing computing power lets health care providers harness vast computing resources to drive their business plans, manage treatment protocols and crunch data to boost their practices. However, unintended consequences arise and, in the case of computers, one such consequence is cyber peril.

In-depth analysis of three key rulings.

The Ninth Circuit has reinstated a medical malpractice claim involving a federal government-employed doctor because although the plaintiff did not exhaust the federal claims process before originally filing suit in state court, he dismissed his original claim, sought and was denied relief through the federal claims process, then attached the claim to the ongoing state court case.

There are pitfalls for providers and companies that offer genomic testing. They might include not offering genetic testing if it is indicated, not offering the proper testing, or reporting inaccurate or misleading results. Each of these has the potential to generate a lawsuit, and indeed each of them already has.

Part One of a Two-Part Article

We often associate cyber-risks with financial institutions, but while the financial sector certainly does deal with cyber-risks, it is by no means the only industry facing such woes. Health care providers are also vulnerable to cyber-liability risks.

A recent case dealt with an unusual question presented to a bankruptcy court by a debtor's medical device product liability claim: If, at the time of bankruptcy filing, the debtor has a potential civil claim that lacks some of the elements necessary for recovery (which elements may never develop), yet later receives settlement, are the proceeds of that settlement part of the bankruptcy estate?

A court recently declined to order a new trial in a medical malpractice case in which defense counsel made an erroneous statement concerning the burden of proof, after finding that the plaintiff failed to show prejudice.