Avoiding exorbitant jury verdicts and mitigating the potential for punitive damages

Feb. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- In this era of unprecedented scrutiny and liability, the plaintiffs’ bar has shown a willingness to capitalize on the potential for emotional responses from jurors. Hear practical strategies from an expert faculty on how to mount a rigorous defense against aggressive plaintiffs’ lawyers adept at advancing novel and innovative theories of liability stemming from residents’ claims of negligence by their caretakers.

In a minefield of emotional hot-button issues, nursing home and long-term care providers face staggering liability in terms of jury verdicts and settlements if they are deemed to be negligent or derelict in their duty. More and more juries have been sending a message to industry with astonishing punitive damage awards. Indeed, the largest verdict in the country last year came in the Skilled Nursing case which has shaken the nursing home and LTC industry in the form of a $600 million dollar verdict and ultimate $50 million settlement. State and federal governments are also cracking down on perceived injustices committed against the elderly and other vulnerable long term care residents, and nursing facilities must comply with a dense and complicated thicket of regulations that vary from state to state. Defense lawyers and corporate counsel must demonstrate compliance measures firmly in place to minimize exposure proactively and be prepared to mount a rigorous and complete defense against allegations of negligence.

In response to the complexity surrounding long term care litigation, ACI is proud to present this forum designed to provide you with advanced and winning litigation strategies unique to long term care law. Our expert faculty of top litigators, leading in-house counsel, and experienced jurists will provide you with proven effective strategies to avoid costly litigation in the first place and to assert and manage a complete and formidable defense in this high-stakes arena, including:

   * Avoiding exorbitant jury verdicts and mitigating the potential for punitive damages: tools to overcome jurors’ sympathies for plaintiffs and biases against long term care operators;
   * Understanding and complying with federal and state regulations which may provide a template for used as a means to recovery in subsequent civil litigation;
   * Combating innovative theories of liability about pressure ulcers, bed sores, medication errors, infectious diseases, and falls;
   * Preventing costly litigation through proactive compliance measures, featuring two panels of leading in-house counsel responsible for minimizing exposure before suit is filed and whose cooperation is key in positioning yourself during a court battle;
   * Forging a cohesive and complete litigation strategy and building a strong defense by coordinating potential civil, criminal, and regulatory actions arising out of the same set of facts;

and much more.

Plus, do not miss your chance to hear the judicial perspective on crafting the most effective theories and defenses to turn a long term care case in your favor.

Read more about this at http://www.americanconference.com/blog

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