Ruff, Weidenaar & Reidy, in an effort to ensure the protection of our clients' information, has completed a Risk Analysis and implemented Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures in compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and the HITECH Act.

RWR is pleased to announce that its partner, Tammy Wade, has achieved the American Hospital Association's recognition as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management. CPHRM designation evidences mastery of risk management techniques; standards of health care risk management administration; federal, state and local laws affecting the health care environment; and methods for integrating patient safety and enterprise risk management into a comprehensive risk management program. This achievement further reflects RWR's commitment to partnering with its health care clients to implement effective risk management strategies beyond the courtroom.

RWR partners Scott C. Nelson and Todd M. Porter successfully obtained a directed verdict in favor of a surgeon in a recent medical negligence trial. The plaintiff, a 69-year old female patient, died from hemorrhagic pancreatitis shortly after her discharge from the hospital, two days after undergoing rectal prolapse surgery. The plaintiff alleged that the patient's primary care physician and surgeon failed to adequately raise her hemoglobin level prior to surgery, and that a surgical resident at the hospital failed to suspect or diagnose pancreatitis prior to discharging the patient from the hospital. The hospital settled with the plaintiff during trial, and the case proceeded against the primary care physician and the surgeon. The plaintiff sought $2 million, and after more than two days of deliberations, the jury advised that it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The trial judge then granted the physicians' motions for directed verdict, agreeing with the physicians' argument that the plaintiff had failed to establish that the physicians' conduct was the factual or legal cause of the patient's death from hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

RWR partners Scott Nelson and Tammy Wade successfully defended two internal medicine physicians against claims of negligence in the treatment of neck pain that began when the patient thought he swallowed a chicken bone. After receiving emergency care, primary care and an ENT consultation for throat pain, the patient developed infection, a pseudoaneurysm, and suffered a stroke after surgery. Plaintiff's lawsuit alleged that the defendants were negligent in failing to immediately admit the patient to the hospital; failing to order an emergent CT scan; failing to order an emergent surgical consult; and failing to prescribe IV antibiotics. As a result, the patient developed a pseudoaneurysm, which led to a stroke and need for rehabilitation. The physicians denied that their care and treatment was negligent and denied that any claimed act or omission on their part was a proximate cause of the plaintiff's claimed injuries, contending that nothing in the patient's presentation required immediate hospitalization, an emergent CT scan, an emergent surgical consult or IV antibiotics. The plaintiff sought in excess of $2 million, but the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants on all counts.

RWR partners Jack Reidy and Tammy L. Wade successfully obtained a jury verdict in favor of a physician and a health care center in a recent medical negligence trial. The plaintiff alleged that our physician client failed to timely refer the plaintiff to a specialist for further diagnosis of unexplained ear pain. As a result of the delay, the plaintiff alleged that his diagnosis of tonsillar cancer was delayed resulting in multiple modality treatment that he would not have otherwise incurred had the physician provided him with an earlier referral to an appropriate specialist. Plaintiff sought in excess of $3,000,000 and the jury found in favor of the physician and health center on all counts.

RWR partner, Jack Reidy, and associate, Shera Wiegler, successfully obtained a jury verdict in favor of a physician client in a recent medical negligence trial. The plaintiff alleged that our client's use of a nitinol closure device during an angiogram procedure resulted in a subsequent surgery to remove the device, where the plaintiff had a nickel allergy. Plaintiff sought in excess of $350,000 and the jury found in favor of the physician on all counts.

Tim Breems, RWR's managing partner, and associate, Brandon Freud, won a judgment in favor of a property owner client in their defense of title to his home. Plaintiff was a prior owner of the property and claimed that a power of attorney and deed in the chain of title were forgeries. Plaintiff sought to eject our client and his family from their home. After more than 7 years of litigation and a week long trial, the trial judge found that we had proved that our client was a bona fide purchaser of and had superior title to the home.

RWR is pleased to announce that one of its partners, John J. Reidy, has been named in Illinois 2009 Super Lawyers, by Law & Politics, and featured in Chicago Magazine, Law & Politics Magazine and Illinois Super Lawyer. Mr. Reidy has been a previous honoree for this distinction.

RWR is pleased to announce that one of its partners, Tammy L. Wade, has been selected to present at the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management's 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition, October 22-25, in Denver, Colorado. Ms. Wade's presentation is entitled, "Strategic File Management: Applying Best Practices to the Risk Department," and will provide risk managers in the healthcare industry with a checklist of considerations and recommended best practices for creating and implementing an effective and efficient file management process and plan.

Scott Nelson, RWR partner, recently served as teaching faculty for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy at the Midwest Regional "Building Trial Skills" Program at Loyola University School of Law in Chicago. Scott has served as a faculty member in this program since 1988. The program instructs licensed attorneys in trial advocacy, using a "learning by doing" methodology. Student-attorneys are trained in opening statements, direct and cross examination, examination of experts, witness preparation, closing argument, communication skills and professional ethics.

Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL, a long time client of RWR, has appointed Tim Breems, RWR's managing partner, as an adjunct professor of Contract Law. Tim will next teach Contract Law in the business administration department in the fall of 2009. Trinity Christian College is a four-year liberal arts college, which in addition to offering majors in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, also offers professional programs in pre-law, accounting and business, pre-medicine, nursing, administration, education, computer science and social work.

RWR partner, Scott Nelson, and associate, Devon Battersby Morris, recently obtained a verdict in favor of a physician client in a medical negligence trial. The patient alleged that our client's failure to respond timely to a call from the emergency room resulted in a delayed surgery to restore circulation in his leg, resulting in amputation of his leg. We were able to effectively challenge testimony from the emergency physician and the plaintiff's expert witnesses and persuade the jury that the attending physician had not been negligent. The jury found that the emergency room physician and the hospital had been negligent, causing a delay which did result in loss of the plaintiff's leg. As a result, the jury awarded damages of $2,400,000 in the favor of the plaintiff, while exonerating our client.