Professional Malpractice
Roberts, Carroll, Feldstein & Peirce’s professional malpractice defense team is the largest and most successful in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Our lawyers have tried and prevailed in more medical malpractice jury trials than any other firm in the area. Doctors, long term care facilities, practice groups, hospitals and other professionals facing professional negligence claims turn to our team because of its experience and results with the knowledge that our attorneys will provide them with the most robust and resourceful defense possible.
In addition to litigating professional liability cases, our attorneys counsel health care providers, hospitals and other professionals in the area of risk management. We help clients craft policies and procedures to minimize liability and avoid litigation. We also keep them abreast of developments in the law and educate their employees through regular presentations and seminars.
When matters are not suitable for trial, we work with our clients to resolve these expeditiously and cost effectively through alternative dispute resolution, including mediation. We also assist hospitals and health care providers investigate and assess claims pre-suit, which enables them to better manage their risk.
Our attorneys also represent professionals in credentialing, licensing, and disciplinary actions before the various state regulatory boards, including the Board of Medical Licensure & Discipline.
DEFENDING PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS
CLAIMS ASSESSMENT & INVESTIGATION
RISK MANAGEMENT
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INVESTIGATIONS & DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
MONITOR LITIGATION FOR EXCESS CARRIERS
PREPARE WITNESSES FOR DEPOSITION & TRIAL TESTIMONY
REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS, DEALS OR MATTERS
- Successfully defended private psychiatrist who has hired by a federal agency to conduct an independent medical records review and determined that the plaintiff was alcohol dependent. In an issue of first impression, the Rhode Island Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling, and agreed with the psychiatrist that he did not owe a duty of care to the subject of the review and could not be liable to him for alleged negligence in reaching or reporting his conclusions. See Woodruff v. Gitlow, No. 2012-67-M.P, slip op. (R.I. June 2, 2014).
- Served as co-chief defense counsel in class action pending Rhode Island’s trial court involving fifty defendants regarding the use of intrauterine devices.
- Advised healthcare delivery networks controlling a majority of hospital institutions in Rhode Island regarding implementation of the federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 and the Rhode Island Patent Safety Act.
- After four week jury trial, obtained a defense verdict for a gastroenterologist who was alleged to have failed to properly diagnose and treat an infection which ultimately led to the loss of the plaintiff’s eye.
- Advised hospitals regarding their obligations under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
- Successfully represented hospital and obstetrician in proceeding before the family court concerning the hospital’s ability to provide blood products to a pregnant minor, whose parents objected on 1st amendment grounds.
- Secured a dismissal without payment on behalf of an obstetrician of a lawsuit, which alleged that the doctor had failed to properly manage labor and delivery of a patient in preterm labor and that a result the child had significant impairments including cerebral palsy and optic nerve damage.
- Secured the dismissal of a case against physicians and a hospital in a matter in which a plaintiff was claiming severe permanent injuries because of negligent discharge from a hospital.
- Successfully defended a hand surgeon in a three-week trial in federal court.
- Received a defense verdict for a general surgeon in a case arising out of bowel perforation where the plaintiff sought $2,000,000 from the jury.
Practice Members
ROBERT P. LANDEAU
JEFFREY J. OATES
KRISTIN B. PETTEY
