Essential Legal Updates & Risk Management Strategies: Safeguarding Healthcare Professionals in the Industry
Thursday, May 29 | 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Burns White Center, 48 26th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | PA CLE Credits Available
We invite you to an exclusive seminar and networking event tailored for legal professionals, risk managers, and insurers in the healthcare industry. Mark your calendars for an insightful and comprehensive seminar addressing critical trends and strategies in healthcare-related legal matters.
*No press or media are permitted to attend this event*
Event Highlights
Lunch provided
Networking Reception to follow
Session Topics
Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Medical Malpractice: Key Trends and Legal Developments
Speakers: Ashley Griffin, Daniel Margonari, Jessica Nelson
Medical malpractice law is evolving rapidly, with recent cases and legislative changes reshaping provider liability, patient rights, and institutional protections. This presentation explores the latest trends in medical malpractice litigation, focusing on:
- Medical Provider Liability to Third-Parties – Current state of the law on responsibility beyond direct patient care and maintaining available defenses
- Statute of Limitations Update – Continued erosion of the traditional understanding
- Current Status of Informed Consent – Where the dust has settled after the court and state legislature have weighed in
- Current Status of Peer Review – How courts are handling confidentiality and legal protections for peer review and patient safety processes
- EMR Documentation Update – litigation trends in healthcare provider charting practices
Addressing & Defending Sexual Misconduct Allegations in Healthcare
Speakers: Anne Frankel, Ralph Monico
Sexual misconduct allegations in healthcare settings present complex legal, institutional, and reputational challenges. A proactive and strategic approach is essential to mitigating risk and effectively responding to claims. This presentation will provide an in-depth analysis of:
- Understanding Sexual Misconduct Allegations – Key trends and legal implications in healthcare.
- Building a Deliberate Defense Strategy – Essential steps to investigate and respond to claims.
- The Role of Expert Witnesses – Leveraging expertise in litigation and risk assessment.
- Institutional Exposure & Liability – Navigating employer responsibilities and regulatory considerations.
- The Rise of Sexual Misconduct Claims and Potential Insurance Coverage Implications.
- Challenging Insurance Coverage Denials in Sexual Misconduct Cases.
- Managing the Emotional & Reputational Impact – Addressing the human and organizational aspects of these sensitive cases.
Defending Nursing Home Litigation: Strategies and Legal Insights
Speaker: Andrew Hazi
Long-term care litigation presents unique challenges, with evolving regulations, increased scrutiny, and aggressive plaintiff strategies shaping the legal landscape. This program provides a comprehensive overview of key allegations in nursing home litigation and effective defense tactics, including:
- Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements – Navigating recent legal trends and challenges.
- Policies, Procedures, and Regulations – How federal and state standards define the standard of care.
- The Minimum Data Set (MDS) – Understanding its role in litigation and how plaintiffs leverage it.
- Defending Against Staffing Claims – Strategies in light of new federal efforts to mandate minimum staffing levels.
Lessons from the Courtroom: Thinking Both Outside the Box and Practically to Diminish the Risk of Runaway Jury Verdicts
Speaker: David Johnson
While most medical malpractice cases settle, some need to be tried: The demand is too high; one or more of the defendants refuse to settle; or the defense is too strong to warrant payment. In this small but important percentage of cases, it is essential that counsel and clients carefully plan and present the defense in a manner that elevates the opportunity for a defense verdict and, at the same time, manages the risk of a runaway verdict. Lessons from trials with both good results and bad outcomes teach that the chance for a successful outcome is maximized by carefully combining practicality with thinking outside the box. The keys include:
- Attitude, demeanor, and perception are at least as important as the facts, and frequently more important.
- Making the most of jury selection to try and avoid the “bad” jurors. Voir dire can win the case.
- Countering plaintiff’s expert to incite the jury with common sense and logical responses that establish reasonableness; explaining the realities of real-time medicine as contrasted with the latest medical show on TV.
- Attacking damages through strong challenges and cross-examination of economists and life care planners.
- Big benefits come when the defense is not entirely predictable. Plan well and play it close to the vest.
- The defensibility of a case is impacted long before the lawsuit is filed through policies, charting, and communications.
Who Should Attend
- Legal professionals specializing in healthcare and medical malpractice
- Risk managers and compliance officers in healthcare organizations
- Insurance adjusters and claims handlers
- Outside General Counsel (GC) and legal advisors
- Healthcare administrators and executives
Why Attend
Stay ahead of the curve in healthcare legal practices and risk management. Our expert speakers and panelists will provide you with valuable knowledge, practical insights, and actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of healthcare-related legal challenges effectively.