All medical malpractice claims against the United States must be filed
under a statute called the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
That law sets forth specific requirements that must be followed. It is
therefore critical that the claim be carefully prepared by an experienced
attorney because once filed it has significant legal consequences and
can be changed only under very limited circumstances.
Six Month Waiting Period
Once the claim is filed, the United States has six months to investigate
the claim. If at the end of six months the government agency has not
made an acceptable settlement offer, the claimant is then allowed to
file a complaint in federal court. Because suit is filed in federal
court, not state court, it is essential that attorneys experienced
in federal court be retained.
Proving the Case in Court
In order to successfully prosecute a medical malpractice claim,
the party bringing the action (the plaintiff) must prove by a preponderance
of evidence that the negligent act of a healthcare provider caused injury
to the plaintiff. The entire burden of proof resides on the plaintiff;
the government need not even present a witness. In order to prove its
case, the plaintiff must present the testimony of qualified experts
who support his position. Identifying experts and working with them
is a major part of preparing your case for trial. Our firm retains only
experts of impeccable character and the highest
professional credentials. We do this to insure that when we get
to trial, the United States will be unable to attack our case by attacking
our experts.
The Discovery Process
Once suit is filed, the parties will then enter into an important
period called “discovery.”
During discovery both sides have an opportunity to force the other
side to produce documents and other relevant materials such as medical
records, tax returns, social security records, etc. They also have
the opportunity to interview relevant witnesses under oath in a process
known as a deposition. Prior to your deposition, we will work closely
with you to insure that you make the most effective presentation possible.
Finally, as part of the discovery process, an injured plaintiff may
be required to undergo an independent medical examination
to confirm the physical injuries alleged. The law allows
the United States to identify a qualified medical expert and force
the injured party to undergo a noninvasive examination. Should this
occur, we will again prepare you for the examination.
Settlement Negotiations
Once discovery ends, there will be a several month delay before the
actual trial. It is during this period that settlement negotiations
are most likely to get underway. If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful,
we will go to trial.
The Trial Process
Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, your case will be tried
before a judge, not a jury. This is important since judges
are less inclined to be swayed by emotion than are juries. To succeed
before a judge, we must have the facts on our side and be able to prove
those facts by a preponderance of the evidence. Remember, the burden
of proof is on the plaintiff.
In a trial there is only one winner. That
is why it is critical to have a rock solid case prior to going to court
and the very best trial lawyers to present your case.
