Practice Areas

Medical Malpractice

With over 50 years of combined experience, the members of Vernick & Associates, LLC have successfully defended hundreds of individual physicians, physicians’ groups, and allied health care providers in all state and federal courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Due to the litigation strategies employed, Vernick & Associates is one of the top defense litigation firms handling medical malpractice claims in Maryland and D.C. By virtue of defending physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, nurses and other medical professionals through the litigation process, Vernick & Associates has developed and cultivated relationships with many of the most respected physicians and medical experts in the nation. Our depth of experience has allowed us to retain notable experts from world class institutions, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale, The Mayo Clinic and The Cleveland Clinic. Through the assistance and contributions of our medical consultants Vernick & Associates is able to provide our health care provider clients with the most thorough and comprehensive representation available.

The representation of our health care provider clients includes evaluating office and hospital practices and guidelines to not only defend the case at issue but also to develop changes and modifications that will reduce the health care provider’s litigation risk in the future. The ancillary services provided by Vernick & Associates also include conducting seminars, “grand rounds” and in service conferences for the health care providers and staff.

Board of Medicine Complaints & Investigations

With managed care imposing increased pressure on the health care profession and patients feeling disfranchised more complaints are being filed by patients and independently pursued by the Boards of Medicine in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Attorneys at Vernick & Associates represent physicians before the Board of Medicine and allied health professionals before their specialized boards. When a health care provider’s ability to practice is at issue there is no need to risk the loss or restriction of practice to a firm that lacks experience representing health care providers before licensing boards and Administrative Law Judges. Contact Vernick & Associates for representation founded upon a long history of successful representation of health care providers before licensure agencies and boards.

Legal Malpractice

Malpractice suits against lawyers are an increasingly common feature in today’s legal landscape. Severe financial consequences and reputational damage make these cases extremely significant to individual attorneys and their law firms. The attorneys at Vernick & Associates have extensive experience in defending individual attorneys and law firms involved in simple and complex legal malpractice litigation.

The legal malpractice defense group of Vernick & Associates represents individual attorneys and law firms in Maryland and the District of Columbia. A “team” approach is employed by Vernick & Associates so that the attorneys involved in malpractice suits have consistent and uniform contacts within Vernick & Associates to address case issues and client inquiries.

Bar Counsel Representation

Vernick & Associates provides representation for attorneys when bar complaints are filed or bar counsel investigations are independently pursued. Vernick & Associates has the background experience to respond to and defend bar counsel complaints or actions when a license to practice law may be at risk. This background spans the continum of handling frivolous complaints filed by a disgruntled client to defending attorneys before Administrative Law Judges when a license is on the line.

Nursing Home/Long Term Care Litigation

Nursing home and long term care facilities are frequently involved in litigation for a number of reasons. First, the degree of legislation and standards of over sight are less stringent and focused than within hospitals. Additionally, due to the advancing age of the “baby boomer” generation the population in nursing homes has burgeoned. These realities result in adverse outcomes for residents of nursing homes and long term care facility. The attorneys at Vernick & Associates have substantial experience in litigating matters related to these facilities. The firm has initiated and defended nursing home suits with regard to wrongful death, failure to monitor or evaluate residential conditions and care, the development of pressure sores or ulcers, inappropriate use of restraints, resident falls, inappropriate interaction between residents, and errors in the administration of medication.

On behalf of our clients we also provide “trouble shooting” and institutional assessments in order to reduce the risk of future litigation. Through evaluation of guidelines and procedures of these facilities Vernick & Associates instructs and advises clients on institutional changes that are necessary to reduce the risk of future litigation. In addition, Vernick & Associates provide periodic seminars and “in-service” conferences to instruct the staff on issues that increase the risk of litigation.

General Tort and Insurance Law

Vernick & Associates provides litigation representation and legal advice throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia to businesses and individuals that are the target of personal injury, property damage and other claims.

Insurance carriers look to us to defend their policy holders and we are also retained directly by companies and individuals. Our experience allows for a close relationship and “team” approach to successfully provide defense representation in simple and complex matters, including personal injury, wrongful death and premises liability.

We offer our clients outstanding representation in virtually all aspects of litigation and alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation and arbitration. Trial experience is the hallmark and strength of our firm. Our seasoned trial attorneys have successfully handled hundreds of cases. Our aggressive style of representation is the foundation for these results. We are also mindful of the cost efficiencies required by insurance carriers and therefore at Vernick & Associates our defenses are predicated on utilizing cost saving and staffing decisions to reduce expenses.

We also provide advice and analysis to insurance companies that might not already be involved in litigation but are nonetheless faced with coverage issues during the claims handling process. These issues are often as complicated and as critical to the resolution of a claim as litigation and can be just as time sensitive due to the client’s need to render coverage decisions, initiate declaratory judgment litigation or take other critical claims handling action.

Personal Injury Litigation

Based on the litigation skills and experience of attorneys at Vernick & Associates we have regularly been retained by individuals who have been injured in accidents. We have represented those injured in vehicle accidents, construction site accidents, and in premises or store accidents. These events are traumatic and most individuals are not aware of all of the steps necessary to protect their rights in order to pursue a settlement or a lawsuit. The attorneys of Vernick & Associates will marshal the firm’s resources to obtain the highest settlement or verdict based on the injuries and medical expenses in the past and likely to be incurred into the future.