Medical Malpractice
Our firm actively represents many medical professionals, including physicians, hospitals and health care providers, in medical malpractice litigation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Professionals and insurance companies have turned to us throughout the years for high quality representation in the defense of complex negligence claims. In both state and federal courts, the firm has an outstanding trial record. Success in this area is the result of our extensive contacts in the community, our abundant expert resources and the firm’s strong commitment to continued medical and legal training of its associates. Additionally, we have remained on the cutting edge of technological advances in both the office and courtroom settings. With the capability to electronically submit billing information and a variety of billing formats to meet client needs and specifications, we are able to successfully defend medical professionals of any nature with efficiency, as well as the highest degree of professionalism.
We served as liaison counsel for Pennsylvania plastic surgeons in the silicone gel breast implant litigation. In this capacity, the firm represented many plastic surgeons individually and coordinated national discovery efforts for defense attorneys state wide. We successfully defended the first such case ever tried in Pennsylvania. We were also extensively involved in the orthopedic bone screw (pedicle screw) litigation, and also successfully defended the first such case ever tried in Pennsylvania.
Our firm has developed a comprehensive network of highly specialized medical experts from many of the leading health care and teaching institutions across the country. Our extensive litigation experience has enabled us to develop an exhaustive expert data bank which allows our attorneys to retain experts whose credentials match the specific facts of each malpractice case. Whether the case calls for a pediatric neuroradiologist or a medical ethicist, the department is able to provide quality experts in the growing and ever changing environment of medicine and its subspecialties.
- The attorneys of the firm often give presentations in the area of professional liability defense, and have served as lecturers to medical professionals and attorney groups, both locally and state wide. Articles and presentations by members of the firm have covered such topics as the Peer Review Protection Act, the Health Care Services Malpractice Act and the interplay between health care providers and the strict liability provisions of Section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts.
- Attorneys from the firm also serve as faculty members at the ABA National Institute on Medical Malpractice.
- The department is involved in the defense of mass tort cases and, in that capacity, is experienced in compiling and collating massive document productions.
- The department is also experienced in handling and litigating diverse insurance coverage issues and has extensive litigation experience concerning insurance company insolvencies.
Contact:
Carolyn M. Bohmueller
(610) 834-6254
(610) 834-1749 Fax
Click to Email
O'Brien & Ryan News
Defense Verdict in Favor of Hospital in Bucks County
Marshall L. Schwartz obtained a defense verdict in favor of a hospital following a four day jury trial in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Plaintiff alleged that the decedent suffered a retroperitoneal bleed as a result of a cardiac catheterization procedure and that...
Defense Verdict on Behalf of Surgeon in Philadelphia County
Dorothy Duffy obtained a defense verdict in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of a surgeon in a medical malpractice action. The plaintiff's decedent came to the surgeon complaining of hemorrhoids. The surgeon recommended that she proceed with a...
Defense Verdict in Favor of Emergency Medicine Physician in Philadelphia County
Heather Hansen secured a defense verdict in favor of an emergency medicine physician following an eight day jury trial in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The patient was 18 years of age and the lawsuit was brought by his father. The patient had a history of...
Defense Verdict on Behalf of Family Practice Physician in Philadelphia County
Michael O. Pitt and Brett M. Littman obtained a defense verdict in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of a family practice physician in a medical malpractice action. The plaintiff presented to the defendant-physician on several occasions between May 2008...
Defense Verdict in Fraud and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Action in Chester County
Paul E. Peel and Brett M. Littman obtained a defense verdict in a bench trial at the Chester County Court of Common Pleas in a corporate liability action, which included allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Mr. Peel and Mr. Littman represented the...
US District Court Holds that Strict Liability Not Applicable to Manufacturers of Prescription Medical Devices
In an opinion authored on May 17, 2012, by the Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno, Jr., the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania held that under Pennsylvania law, strict liability cannot be imposed on manufacturers of prescription medical...
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Publish Health Care Providers’ Financial Info in September 2014
In accordance with the recently launched "National Physician Payment Transparency Program," also referred to as the "Sunshine Act," the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin publishing online searchable information with regard to physician and...
US Supreme Court to Decide Failure to Warn Claims in Pharmaceutical Cases
The Supreme Court of the United States heard argument in several pharmaceutical cases involving the issue of failure to warn consumers about the risks of certain drugs. The petitioners are generic drug manufacturers. The respondents are individual plaintiffs asserting...
Review of Medicare Set-Aside Not Necessary to Enforce Settlement in NJ
In an opinion published May 16, 2013, the New Jersey Superior Court, Law Division, of Atlantic County held that a settlement reached in a personal injury case was enforceable; even though it's proposed Medicare Set-Aside had not been reviewed or approved by the Center...
Judge Says Attorney Fees Must be Based on Future Damages, Not Annuity
In an opinion issued May 6, 2013, Philadelphia County Judge Mark I. Bernstein upheld a $78.4 million verdict that was awarded in a medical malpractice case approximately one year ago. Among several issues raised on appeal, it was determined that the total amount...
Dan Ryan Named an “Awesome Attorney” in Suburban Life Magazine
Dan Ryan was named to Suburban Life Magazine’s Awesome Attorneys 2012. The voing was done through Suburban Life’s website via reader’s choice.
Michael Pitt Speaks to Radiologists at CME
On September 27, 2012, Michael O. Pitt participated in a CME Presentation, organized by PMSLIC, entitled Learning From Lawsuits. Attorney Pitt spoke to a group of Radiologists in the Scranton area concerning common pitfalls encountered by radiologists in their every day practice of medicine.
OBR is Best of Montco!
O’Brien & Ryan, LLP was selected as one of the best Medical Malpractice law firms in Montgomery County, PA in The Times Herald’s Best of Montco 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Join Our Newsletter
Join our quarterly newsletter list for legal updates and firm news. Just enter your email below.