“A Pennsylvania Supreme Court proposal that would allow medical malpractice lawsuits to be filed in Pennsylvania counties other than where the harm allegedly occurred has doctors warning of the potential for treatment delays and backlogged courts in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Since 2003, medical malpractice lawsuits have only been allowed to be filed in the counties where the claim arose.” – Post Gazette
Victims of medical negligence in Pennsylvania may soon have better opportunities to achieve the goal of a fair trial. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Civil Procedural Rules Committee is working on a proposal that would allow plaintiff’s counsel to file medical malpractice cases in ANY County where the offending doctor, hospital, or other medical provider conduct business. Since 2003, the existing rules have made it difficult to seek justice for medical errors by limiting attorneys representing plaintiffs to sue only in the county where the malpractice had occurred.
Doctors have suggested this is simply an opportunity for plaintiffs suing them to “venue shop” for those counties that have seen higher damage verdicts. Plaintiffs and their attorneys counter that the goal continues to be a fair and impartial jury pool, something that is lacking in some of the more conservatively populated counties in the Commonwealth. Additionally, many of the county courts are ill-equipped to handle a complex and multi-week case with the limited resources that are allocated to them. Locks Law Firm, like other reputable firms in the Commonwealth, only file a Complaint for medical malpractice when a peer of the physician(s) or other medical provider has reviewed the facts and concluded that the claims have merit.
If you suspect that you or a loved one is a victim of medical malpractice, contact an attorney immediately. Medical malpractice cases are usually very complicated, and victims who choose to “go it alone” are often unsuccessful in obtaining the compensation they deserve. At Locks Law Firm, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you obtain justice for victims of medical malpractice. Contact Locks Law Firm so one of our Pennsylvania, (or for cases in other States, a New Jersey or New York) medical malpractice lawyers can provide a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation.
