On many occasions in the course of our lives, we all have to seek medical attention, whether to guide us in preventative health practices, to treat an acute or chronic illness, or to assist us when an unexpected accident occurs. You wish to engage a competent, reputable, attentive and compassionate medical professional who can accurately diagnose your condition and recommend the best treatment options. Unfortunately, the reality is that sometimes physicians commit errors in the diagnosis or treatment of an illness. A doctor’s recklessness or negligence can exacerbate a preexisting medical condition, create new medical complications or even have life-threatening consequences that result in a patient’s death.

If a physician’s negligence or recklessness has caused the death of a loved one, you are entitled to file a wrongful death claim to obtain compensatory damages on behalf of the decedent. While no sum of money can adequately compensate the loss of a loved one, nor ease the pain and heartbreak that inevitably arise when coping with personal loss, attorneys can recover damages to alleviate overwhelming financial burdens due to loss of income, exorbitant medical bills and funeral expenses.

Medical malpractice cases are extremely complex and require the careful analysis of a seasoned attorney to obtain the best possible compensation for your loss. When choosing a medical malpractice attorney to represent you, you should base your selection on the attorney’s level of experience investigating this type of claim, and you should also choose an attorney who has notable trial experience.

The law firm of O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble has significant experience handling a range of medical malpractice cases, including, but not limited to:

In addition to handling medical malpractice claims, the law firm has made several contributions to other areas of law. O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble is a renowned law firm with an experienced team of trial attorneys who represent plaintiffs in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability and employment law. Possessing over 80 years of collective knowledge, the law firm has earned the respect and trust of their peers and clients due to their vast experience and success in these areas of practice. In fact, O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble recently obtained this year’s first and sixth largest personal injury settlements in the state, according to a recent article published in The New Jersey Law Journal that features the top twenty personal injury awards in New Jersey.

If you or a loved one seeks legal representation to handle a medical malpractice, personal injury or employment law claim, please do not hesitate to contact the law firm of O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble in Westfield, New Jersey. The first consultation is gratuitous and without obligation. After assessing your case, this team of attorneys will work tirelessly to obtain a just settlement on your behalf.

A recent court ruling extends whistleblower protection to company informants, who are employees hired by a company to report illegal or dangerous proceedings that violate company standards or public policy. The Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), known as the Whistleblower Law, prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who protests or divulges information about actions such as violations of laws or regulations, fraudulent schemes, corrupt practices and conduct that could threaten public health and safety. Employees who fulfill a “watchdog” role will now be protected if employers penalize them with termination, demotion, suspension or reduction of salary for having exposed company violations. 

The decision to grant “watchdog” employees CEPA protection arose from a lawsuit filed by Joel Lippman, a former Vice President of Medical Affairs at Ethicon, a division of Johnson & Johnson that manufactures surgical supplies. As a review board member who assessed the quality of manufactured surgical equipment, Lippman was entrusted with the responsibility of determining whether certain products posed health and safety risks that precluded their marketing and distribution. Lippman held that he was wrongfully terminated from his position in 2006 in illegal retaliation for having voiced his opposition to the sale of faulty and dangerous devices. Ethicon refuted Lippman’s claim and fired him on the grounds that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a coworker. A trial court held that CEPA did not apply to Lippman by stating that he was not participating in whistleblowing activity because his job required him to expose company violations. An appellate court overturned the initial ruling, explaining that “watchdog” employees are the principal targets and victims of an employer’s retaliation because, by virtue of their position, they inevitably incite controversy by critiquing the company. The New Jersey Supreme Court supported the appellate court’s decision and reinforced the idea that “watchdog” employees cannot be denied CEPA protection. In addition, the New Jersey Supreme Court eliminated the requirement that “watchdog” employees present proof that they utilized all possible measures in attempting to force an employer to abide by the law or regulations. 

 

With the change in law, a broader range of employees will be protected and the public will benefit by ensuring that more violations of health and safety will be reported without fear. Furthermore, the change in law will likely increase the number of whistle blower lawsuits filed against businesses. O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble has significant experience handling employment law cases that entail whistle blower claims. If your employer has taken adverse action against you, such as firing you, suspending you or decreasing your wages, for refusing to partake in illegal conduct or for disclosing policy violations, you are likely to have been illegally treated and may be able to bring a claim under the Whistle blower Law.