It is absolutely critical to hire a firm that specializes in medical malpractice when filing a lawsuit based on negligence by a physician or hospital. 

First, medical malpractice cases are governed by a very specific set of laws, most of which fall under The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act was passed in 1975 (“MICRA”). These laws have very specific parameters of the statute of limitations (filing deadlines) that are far different than a general personal injury case. They also change the rules of evidence and procedure at trial as well as limit the amount of damages available. Hiring a firm that concentrates on med mal is essential given these particular nuances in the law.

Second, every element of a medical malpractice claim must be proven by medical experts. Not only must experts prove that the healthcare provider acted wrongfully, but you must have experts to show that the wrongful conduct caused the injury/death as well as to prove the nature and amount of the harm. Many medical malpractice lawsuits require multiple experts in highly-specialized fields. It is far easier for the defense to find these multiple experts and defend their colleagues than to find experts to help prosecute such actions. At Hodes Milman , we are intimately familiar with the experts needed to prove medical negligence claims.

Lastly, only a firm that specializes in medical malpractice will be taken seriously by the large insurance carriers and medical malpractice defense firms. Likewise, Hodes Milman is very familiar with the tricks and arguments utilized by these insurance carriers and law firms…Learn More

It’s nearly impossible to predict how much compensation you will receive for a given claim. The value of your case can be moved by several factors, such as the extent of injury, medical expenses (both long and short term) and your current and future conditions. You can receive compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and emotional and physical pain and suffering. We can, however, give you a basic assessment of your claim for compensation based on details about your case and similar case outcomes… Learn More

Particularly in Medical Malpractice cases, the costs of litigation and hiring multiple experts can be expensive. However, our law firm works on a “contingency fee” basis, which means that if we do not win your case, you don’t owe us a nickel. There are no upfront fees or costs, and we cover the bill for all necessary expenses to your case. You are protected from paying us back for anything if your case does not end successfully. This affords our clients the clear conscience and comfort they need and deserve during a challenging time in their lives…Learn More 

Because personal injury claims are time-sensitive, you should contact an attorney immediately about your injury. Injured individuals have what is called a statute of limitations, which is the window of time you have to bring a case against another party. If you don’t file a claim against the other party before this period, you lose your chance to seek compensation for all damages. The statute of limitations varies depending on the case, and in California, it is two years from the date of injury for most cases… Learn More

Hodes Milman has handled hundreds of claims and has recovered tens of millions of dollars against Kaiser. Kaiser has its own unique rules for medical malpractice litigation and almost all claims against Kaiser will be subject to arbitration. In other words, a single arbitrator (either a retired judge or a former attorney) makes the decision in the case rather than a jury.

For decades, Kaiser has included a mandatory provision in their Health Plans requiring the use of a private arbitration procedure for all malpractice committed by Kaiser employees or Southern California Permanente Medical Group doctors. Kaiser pays a private dispute administrator called the Office of Independent Administrator to administer its private court system. There are very complicated rules that govern Kaiser arbitrations and it’s important to hire a firm that focuses on medical malpractice like Hodes Milman to handle such claims. 

Even more importantly, Kaiser is obviously a repeat defendant in the arbitration process. Sometimes, this may unfortunately sway an arbitrator to rule in Kaiser’s favor or risk not being used in future arbitrations. Like Kaiser, Hodes Milman is a repeat player as we have handled many arbitrations against Kaiser…Learn More