A threshold requirement for any legal malpractice claim is proof of actual harm. A party bringing a legal malpractice action has the burden of proving that but for the alleged negligence, he would have been successful in the underlying matter. Plaintiff’s failure to prove actual harm is often a defense in malpractice cases and in some situations can result in a complete dismissal. Take for example, the following case in which a Pennsylvania federal judge granted defendant attorneys’ motion for judgment on the pleadings where …
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No Defense of Informed Consent in PA
Informed consent is a critical aspect of the medical profession, and often can provide a defense in med-mal cases. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, however, recently limited the defense. In Brady v. Urbas, the court held that unless there is an allegation of lack of informed consent, the fact “that a patient affirmatively consented to treatment after being informed of the risks of that treatment is generally irrelevant to a cause of action sounding in medical negligence.” The ruling upholds the Superior Court’s holding that …
Continue ReadingCourt Clarifies Anti-SLAPP Defense in Malpractice Claims
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs, are designed to chill free speech by targeting individuals who speak out on issues of public interest. SLAPP plaintiffs generally do not intend to win on the merits of the lawsuit, but instead seek to harass critics by forcing them to incur legal fees in defending frivolous claims. Consequently, many states have enacted anti-SLAPP statutes to protect petition and free speech rights. These statutes protect statements made before a government body or in a public forum in …
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