Medical Malpractice Defense

Overview

Parker Poe's medical malpractice attorneys have decades of experience defending health care providers in federal and state courts. Our team features veteran trial attorneys who have taken dozens of cases to jury verdicts, many with multimillion-dollar claims for damages. We also have deep experience representing health care professionals facing patient complaints or other disciplinary action before state licensing boards and other regulatory agencies. Our clients include hospitals, physicians, physician extenders, nurses, other health care providers, medical device manufacturers, and their insurers.

National and state organizations have recognized our medical malpractice attorneys as leaders in their fields. Our team includes attorneys who have served in leadership positions with the Defense Research Institute and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. The Litigation Counsel of America, Benchmark Litigation, and The Best Lawyers in America have also recognized the skill of these trial lawyers.

Representative Experience

Represented a family medicine physician who was alleged to have mismanaged a patient's labor resulting in a delay in performing cesarean section and permanent neurological injury to the newborn. After four weeks of trial, the jury returned a verdict of no negligence in favor of our client.
Represented obstetricians and a certified nurse midwife in medical malpractice actions alleging negligence and permanent injury arising out of deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia. After three week trials in both cases, the juries returned verdicts in favor of our clients.
Served as lead counsel at trial and through appellate process in a wrongful death lawsuit against a hospital that had potential for substantial damages. Plaintiff alleged emergency department policies and procedures were inadequate. Judge granted our motion for directed verdict after three weeks of trial evidence, and the N.C. Court of Appeals affirmed.
Represented a hospital and an intensive care nurse against claims of deep tissue injury and a bone infection after the nurse allegedly failed to reposition the patient, a 40-year-old who was paralyzed in a car accident. Plaintiff incurred almost $700,000 in medical expenses and plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award their client $3 million. After two weeks of trial, the jury returned a verdict of no negligence, which was upheld on appeal.
Defended a hospital in a matter in which the plaintiff, a board-certified neurologist, claimed to have sustained a permanent brain injury from general anesthesia during surgery. As a result, the plaintiff claimed she was no longer able to work as a neurologist, entitling her to damages in excess of $5 million. After five weeks of trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of all defendants.
Defended a hospital after a patient was dismissed with a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection but died nine hours later. The patient had been in a car accident several days before and treated at a separate hospital. An autopsy revealed approximately three feet of necrotic small bowel allegedly resulting from a seat belt injury in the motor vehicle accident. After one week of trial, the plaintiff’s counsel dismissed the hospital, with prejudice, citing the effectiveness of our counsel at trial as the sole reason for the dismissal.
Represented a hospital in a wrongful death matter. The patient, who suffered from morbid obesity, complained of shortness of breath as he was being cleaned by members of the nursing staff. After becoming unresponsive, the patient was pronounced dead when attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. At trial, we obtained a no-negligence verdict in favor of the hospital.
Defended an ophthalmologist accused of inappropriately treating a small retinal tear. The plaintiff later suffered a complete retinal detachment and loss of vision, and he eventually elected to remove the eye because of ongoing pain. At trial, plaintiff's counsel asked the jury to award more than $2 million. After three weeks of trial, the jury deliberated for less than half an hour and returned a verdict of no negligence.
Defended emergency physicians in a professional negligence lawsuit related to a 19-year-old recent mother with worsening vital signs being turned away from the emergency department on two occasions. On her third visit, she was admitted and died, and an autopsy revealed a uterine infection. After a five-week trial, a jury returned a verdict in favor of our clients.
Represented a hospital after a patient with severe and debilitating brain injuries alleged sexual battery by a respiratory therapist. The plaintiff alleged that the hospital knew or should have known that the therapist might sexually assault a patient based on a prior complaint. We took the case to trial and won a defense verdict.
Represented an orthopedic surgeon and his practice group in a medical negligence lawsuit after a child developed grand mal seizures during surgery, was admitted to the ICU, and later developed cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. The family sought more than $2 million in damages. After a month-long trial, the jury returned a verdict of no negligence.