THE ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY

GENERAL’S OFFICE IN THE DEFENSE OF

CLAIMS

Oh . . . . I’ve Been Sued!

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Shreveport Litigation Office

Jerald L. Perlman

Assistant Attorney General & Office

Chief

330 Marshall Street Suite 777

Shreveport, LA 71101

Tel: (318) 676-5700

Fax: (318) 676-5703

Alexandria Litigation Office

James E. Calhoun

Assistant Attorney General & Office

Chief

201 Johnston Street, Suite 100

Alexandria, LA 71301

Tel: (318) 487-5944

Fax: (318) 487-5826

BOSSIEBOSSIERR

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INDEMNIFICATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES

La. R.S. 13:5108.1

When you are contacted by the

Attorney General’s Office

CHARLES C. FOTI, JR. Attorney General

State of Louisiana DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

LITIGATION DIVISION

Shreveport 71101

330 Marshall Street, Suite 777 TEL: (318)676-5700 FAX: (318) 676-5703

Writer’s Direct Line: (318) 676-5715

July 25, 2005 Dr. ________________ LSUHSC-S Department of Surgery 1501 Kings Highway Shreveport, Louisiana 71103 RE: NAME OF CASE MRP **MR*** ORM No. ******* Our File No. S-*** Dear Dr. ______:

A medical malpractice claim has been filed against LSUHSC-Shreveport on behalf of (NAME OF PATIENT), whom you allegedly saw and were involved with his treatment, including but not limited to a surgery, beginning on or about March 19, 2004. You have also been named as a defendant and I have been appointed to represent you in this case. For your convenience, a copy of the malpractice complaint is enclosed for your review.

It is important that I speak with all of you with regard to this case, and I ask your assistance in coordinating a meeting for us to meet together. Please call me as soon as possible at the above telephone number. If I am not available when you call, please speak with my paralegal, Eileen Byrd, at 676-5715.

In the meantime, since this matter is now in litigation, I must ask that you

refrain from discussing it with anyone outside my presence. With kind regards, I am Very truly yours, Assistant Attorney General

If recipient of letter isNON-SUPERVISOR

• Notify supervisor IMMEDIATELY

• DO NOT DISCUSS with co-workers

• Have supervisor set up meeting so he/she can also attend

• Repeat: DO NOT DISCUSS with co-workers

If recipient of letter isSUPERVISOR

• Follow own internal procedures

• Respond promptly to letter

• Open claim file if not already done, using ORM claim number

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLYTO START A CLAIM FILE

1) Notify ORM and get a claim number AS SOON AS YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE CLAIM.

2)For claims involving deaths or serious injuries, in addition to contacting ORM, please do not hesitate to contact your local AG’s office.

Louisiana Code of Civil ProcedureArticle 1424A

The court shall not order the production of inspection of any writing obtained or prepared by the adverse party, his attorney, surety, indemnitor, or agent in anticipation of litigation or in preparation for trial unless satisfied that denial of production or inspection will unfairly prejudice the party seeking the production or inspection in preparing his claim or defense or will cause him undue hardship or injustice. The court shall not order the production or inspection of any part of the writing that reflects the mental impressions, conclusions, opinions, or theories of an attorney.

Initial Claim Investigation

• Name, address and telephone number of claimant (if known)

• Names of all potential employee witnesses• Incident reports required by agency• Photographs• Summary of witness and claimant

statements• Prepared, signed and dated by you• Countersigned and dated by witness, if

possible

SHHHHH!!!

What should be included in/on Claim File?

1) Clearly marked with claimant’s name and ORM number

2) Confidential designation3) All correspondence from ORM, Attorney

General and in-house attorneys4) Incident or accident report forms5) Photographs6) Wage & employment information if claimant

is employee7) Medical bills8) Copies of statements

REMEDIAL MEASURESLouisiana Code of Evidence Article 407

In a civil case, when, after an event, measures are taken which, if taken previously, would have made the event less likely to occur, evidence of the subsequent measures is not admissible to prove negligence or culpable conduct in connection with the event. This Article does not require the exclusion of evidence of subsequent measures when offered for another purpose, such as proving ownership, authority, knowledge, control, or feasibility of pre- cautionary measures, or for attacking credibility.

What do I do if. . .

1) Claimant is a current employee?

2) Claimant is a recurring patient or client?

3) Claimant has family members or close friend who is employed by agency?

Document, Document, Document

Note all pertinent information in claim file and advise your defending attorney

Summarize (who, what, when, where) encounters AS SOON AS THEY HAPPEN, put it in your claim file and notify your defending attorney

ALWAYS keep your defending attorney informed!

SHHHHH!!!