Our Practice Areas: Health Care Law in Alaska

Health Care Law in Alaska

The firm represents a variety of health care clients, including urban and rural hospitals, a University Hospital, physician groups, and individual physicians on a variety of health care-related matters, ranging from litigation defending major medical malpractice actions, to legal counseling on issues involving credentialing, and physician-hospital relationships.

The firm has successfully defended hospitals and physicians in medical malpractice actions alleging wrongful death, severe brain injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, burns and limb amputations allegedly caused by negligent medical care, defective hospital equipment, or deficient hospital policies and procedures.

The lawyers in this section represent health care clients before state administrative bodies, including the Division of Occupational Licensing, State Court, Federal District Court, the Ninth Circuit, and has successfully argued cases before the state's highest court, the Alaska Supreme Court.

Health care providers and other entities involved in the delivery of health care services can contact the firm for advice on avoiding medical malpractice lawsuits, and for representation in the defense of health-care related litigation.

Accomplishments

Mendenhall v. Mat-Su Valley Medical Center, LLC d/b/a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, et al, Case No. 3AN-08-8548 CI – 2010 Result.  Assisted Lead Counsel in representing a hospital in a birth injury case involving a minor plaintiff born with cerebral palsy with significant neurological injury. Confidential Settlement.

Faber v. Ketchikan General Hospital, et al.  Summary judgment obtained on behalf of the hospital and orthopedic surgeon who provided treatment to a plaintiff claiming permanent injuries from alleged negligent treatment of calcaneus fractures in her left foot. 

Greywolf v. Carroll, William, M.D., 151 P.2d 1234 (Alaska 2007). Obtained summary judgment for hospital psychiatrist on claims alleging malicious prosecution, abuse of process, invasion of privacy, and medical malpractice and judgment affirmed on appeal. 

Marsingill v. O’Malley, 128 P.3d 151(Alaska 2006) – Assisted trial counsel in representing general surgeon on appeal of a defense verdict where plaintiff alleged significant neurological injury resulted from the general surgeon's alleged failure to provide adequate advice to patient.  

Estate of Nick Wright and Janet and George Wright (individually) v. Dr. Matsutani & Dr. Lester.  Assisted lead counsel in obtaining a defense verdict on behalf of a psychologist after a 4-week trial involving allegations of negligence in providing psychotherapy to a 12-year old boy who committed suicide.

Estate of Strong v. University of Washington Medical Center, Mary Stewart, M.D., et al., Case No. 3AN-96-8977 Civil.  Assisted lead counsel defending the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) against allegations of physician negligence in recommending chemotherapy dosage to local treating physicians that resulted in repeated overdoses of chemotherapy drug that allegedly hastened the death of 32-year-old mother and wife.  After a 3-week trial, jury awarded plaintiffs $1,640,000 with UWMC being found only 10 percent liable, and UWMC settled before entry of final judgment for $200,000. 

Ward v. Lutheran Hospitals & Homes Society of America, Inc., d/b/a Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Case No. 4FA‑93‑3046 Civil/Supreme Court Case No. S‑7592 [reported as Ward v. Lutheran Hospitals & Homes Society of America, Inc., d/b/a Fairbanks Memorial Hospital,  963 P.2d 1031 (Alaska 1998)].  Obtained summary judgment for hospital against allegations that the hospital was negligent and failed to obtain informed consent from a patient who allegedly contracted Hepatitis C from several blood transfusions during a hospitalization.  Judgment affirmed on appeal.