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SmithAmundsen has a proven track record of high caliber representation of health care entities and professionals in litigation and prelitigation matters. We regularly advise health care clients regarding risk avoidance strategies in a variety of settings that implicate complicated legal, medical, financial and risk management issues. While vigorously defending our clients, we also understand the financial impact of litigation. As a result, we utilize innovative practices to reduce litigation costs without sacrificing results.
We value technology as a tool that enhances work quality and improves our service to clients. We have developed document management systems to organize and summarize documents, while also fulfilling our obligations as a business associate. We employ the latest technology to organize documents produced during discovery and trial technology, such as computer generated reconstruction video to aid in the presentation of evidence at trial.
Our attorneys are experienced in handling the most complex medical litigation and we understand the value of working closely with clients and, when necessary, outside consultants. We have adapted our knowledge and experience with medicine and the law to effectively represent a variety of health care providers including for profit and not-for-profit health care systems, managed care entities, nursing homes, individual health care providers, and product manufacturers.
We communicate frequently with our clients to advise them of significant developments and to solicit their input. Our litigation services include comprehensive fact investigation and liability analysis, objective negotiation, and aggressive litigation. Our paralegals and nurse analysts are capable of organizing, synthesizing, and analyzing medical records to assist us in mounting an efficient vigorous defense. Before going to trial, we explore mediation and other cost efficient manners of alternative dispute resolution.
Litigation Services
- Hospital liability
- Post-acute and long term care liability
- Home health and hospice liability
- Mental health center liability
- Professional liability (e.g., physicians, dentists, nurses, physical/occupational therapists, mental health therapists, and other mid-level and allied health professionals)
- Product and medical device liability
- Professional medical staff and licensure disciplinary actions
- Subpoena assistance and deposition preparation
- Probate (e.g., involuntary commitment proceedings, guardianship, health care powers of attorney)
- General premises liability
- Medical records production and confidentiality
- Commercial litigation stemming from business operations
Recognitions
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2021 – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants – Tier 1 – Indianapolis Metropolitan Area
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2021 – Health Care Law – Tier 3 – Indianapolis Metropolitan Area
Experience
- Numerous cases favorably resolved at mediation or in pre-suit negotiations, including pre-suit resolution of a matter involving a severely brain-injured mother of three.
- Defended health care providers in hundreds of claims before the Indiana Department of Insurance or the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Responsibility.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a hospital on an apparent agency case when co-defendants, including physicians and another hospital, were found liable for a plaintiff's verdict of more than $14,000,000.
- Appellate court decision which reversed a nearly $5,000,000 verdict on a wrongful death case, where appellate court agreed that plaintiff failed to prove proximate cause.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a home health care agency in a week-long jury trial alleging failure to appropriately communicate severity of condition to physician and failure to appropriately educate patient regarding condition.
- Successfully defended a hospital in a jury trial against allegations for failure to appropriately assess patient and notify physicians; defense verdict obtained.
- Successfully defended hospital and several physician hospitalists in a week-long jury trial alleging failure to diagnose a medical complication; defense verdict obtained.
- Obtained defense verdict for hospital and emergency room physician in a wrongful-death week-long trial involving a 14 year-old boy.
- Successful representation of hospital and general surgeon in a week-long jury trial alleging negligent surgical follow-up; defense verdict obtained.
- Successful representation of physician practice in a slip-and-fall case of a patient visitor involving a displaced wrist fracture; defense verdict obtained.
News & Press Releases
- SmithAmundsen, November 17, 2020
- November 5, 2020
- August 20, 2020
- National LGBT Bar Association & Foundation, March 3, 2020
- February 24, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, February 14, 2020
- February 5, 2020
- November 1, 2019
- August 15, 2019
- July 2019
- Law360, May 28, 2019
- February 26, 2019
- January 31, 2019
- Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 28, 2019
- January 25, 2019
- November 1, 2018
- Crain's Chicago Business, October 25, 2018
- August 15, 2018
- Law360, May 28, 2018
- March 28, 2018
- SmithAmundsen, February 20, 2018
- November 1, 2017
- October 27, 2017
- Crain's Chicago Business, September 15, 2017
- August 15, 2017
- Equality Illinois, August 1, 2017
- April 20, 2017
- SmithAmundsen, February 2017
- Indiana Lawyer, February 8, 2017
- December 22, 2016
- Jury Verdict Reporter, October 19, 2016
- September 2016
- Crain's Chicago Business, September 10, 2016
- The American Lawyer, August 2016
- Equality Illinois, July 8, 2016
- Above the Law, April 18, 2016
- Above the Law, April 13, 2016
- March 10, 2016
- 5 SmithAmundsen Attorneys Included on 2016 Indiana Super Lawyers and 2016 Indiana Rising Stars ListsSmithAmundsen, February 12, 2016
- Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter, October 21, 2015
- May 2015
- December 10, 2013
Alerts
- January 18, 2021
- April 27, 2020
- April 27, 2020
- April 20, 2020
- April 17, 2020
- April 15, 2020
- April 9, 2020
- April 9, 2020
- April 7, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- April 2, 2020
- April 2, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 23, 2020
- June 27, 2019
- May 23, 2019
- April 4, 2019
- March 13, 2019
- February 20, 2019
- February 6, 2019
- December 27, 2018
- December 12, 2018
- November 9, 2018
- October 26, 2018
- August 22, 2018
- May 31, 2018
- March 26, 2018
- February 23, 2018
- January 26, 2018
- January 5, 2018
- March 24, 2017
- December 16, 2016
- September 30, 2016
- September 30, 2016
- March 25, 2016
- February 29, 2016
Publications
- SmithAmundsen, April 30, 2020
- Indiana Council Behavioral Health Newsletter, May 23, 2017
Presentations & Events
- Indiana Health Care Association Annual Conference, August 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, May 29, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, May 15, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, May 15, 2020
- Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers, Webcast, May 13, 2020
- Chicagoland Healthcare Risk Management Society, Webcast, April 24, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast; Indianapolis, IN, March 27, 2020
- Friends of Indiana Mental Health Centers, December 6, 2018
- Northwestern Medical School; Chicago, IL, December 4, 2018
- Oak Brook, IL, April 27, 2018
- SmithAmundsen Seminar, Chicago, IL; Webinar, March 7, 2018
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses Meeting; Maywood, IL, November 16, 2017
- Valle Vista Health System; Greenwood, IN, July 20, 2017
- Webinar, September 13, 2016
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Seminar; Chicago, IL, September 9, 2016
- Advocate Medical Group, Webinar, August 3, 2016
- Webinar, June 3, 2016
- Indiana Healthcare Association, April 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, March 15, 2016