Firm News - Shadoan, Michael & Wells

Greg Wells Appointed to Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:24:52 GMT

Gregory Wells, partner at Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP, has been appointed to the Maryland Appellate Courts Judicial Nominating Commission. The newly appointed commission announced in a press release by Governor Wes Moore on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, marks historic diversity among the state’s judicial nominating commissions.

“Equity isn’t just compatible with excellence—it’s necessary. Our judicial nominating commissions speak to that truth,” said Gov. Moore. “These appointments represent our administration’s commitment to both enhancing representation in the justice system in our state and best serving the people of Maryland.”

Mr. Wells represents clients in medical malpractice, serious personal injury, and wrongful death cases, is active throughout a number of bar associations and collegiate organizations, and is a member of the Rules Committee of the Maryland Supreme Court.

Congratulations on this achievement, Greg!

Startling Rise in Serious Medical Malpractice in Maryland Hospitals

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:53:02 GMT

In September 2023, The Washington Post published an article scrutinizing lost data from the Maryland Department of Health after a December 2021 cybersecurity breach compromised providers’ access to critical patient information and clinical notes among other important data necessary for safe patient treatment. “State data shows serious harm inside Maryland’s 62 hospitals more than tripled between 2019 and 2022 to 769 incidents that killed or injured patients, reaching the highest level since the state began collecting patient safety data in 2004,” writes Katie Shepard of The Washington Post.

Understanding Medical Malpractice in Maryland Hospitals

When patients seek medical attention, they expect to be treated with a timely and accurate diagnosis and provided with beneficial treatment plans, including proper medication and medical care.

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, other medical professional, or institution fails to provide a proper standard of care to a patient, resulting in serious injury, illness, or death. The majority of medical malpractice cases are grounded in negligence, with an alarming number of people killed or injured due to hospital and doctor negligence each year across the country.

The reach of medical malpractice can span any form of medical treatment, from misdiagnosis to surgical errors and birth injuries, leaving patients to cope with the aftermath as it is on the plaintiff to prove that negligence caused a medical injury. The Office of Health Care Quality’s Patient Safety Program states that hospitals are only required to report “adverse events” that kill or seriously disable a patient. These incidents are reviewed by the state, and the hospital is required to investigate the cause of the harm and develop a plan to fix any concerns that may impact others. The hospital is at its discretion to report any other malpractice.

If you believe you have suffered from medical negligence it is important to initiate a legal response as quickly as possible. Maryland statute of limitations places a time limit on when a person can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Connecting with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as early as possible is ideal for recovering damages.

The medical malpractice lawyers of Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP have handled virtually every type of medical negligence case, offering 100 years of combined experience and tremendous relief for individuals and families who have suffered severe injury or the loss of a loved one at the hands of negligent healthcare providers.

The firm has secured numerous multi-million dollar awards for our clients, including a $14,000,000 case result for medical negligence against a hospital and an independent contractor anesthesiologist, among others, and a $6,200,000 case result for medical negligence against an orthopedic surgeon and a hospital for negligently conducted surgery.

These and other accomplishments led recently to all three lawyers being recognized as Maryland Trial Lawyers of the Year by the Maryland Association for Justice.

When to Contact an Attorney

If you suspect that you or a family member has been the victim of medical malpractice while receiving treatment at a Maryland hospital, it is important to speak to a highly experienced, successful medical malpractice team immediately. Each medical malpractice case is unique and holds many challenges, including navigating complex state laws, hiring expert witnesses, and identifying detailed evidence of malpractice.

Contact our office today to speak to an attorney and better understand the specifics of your case and the best way to proceed.

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Lawyers Receive Best Lawyers® Awards for 2024

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 10:06:58 GMT

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP is proud to have two lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and one lawyer recognized in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 editions. Best Lawyers is universally regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence, providing lists of high-caliber attorneys and firms in more than 75 countries.

Lawyers included on The Best Lawyers in America list are separated and evaluated by geographic region and practice area. Nominations are reviewed by peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to ensure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 follows a similar selection process to identify the top up-and-coming attorneys in each geographic region and practice area. For the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, more than 2.4 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 25,000 lawyers honored in the new edition.

The following lawyers were named to the 2024 The Best Lawyers in America list:

Robert R. Michael (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1991)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Gregory K. Wells (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Professional Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs

The following lawyer was named to the 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list:

Andrew J. Hall (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

In addition to being listed on the 2024 The Best Lawyers in America list, Gregory K. Wells, partner at the firm, was named the Best Lawyers® 2024 Product Liability Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Maryland. “Lawyer of the Year” honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.

Congratulations to all the lawyers for their selection to the 2024 Best Lawyers lists.

About Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP
With over 100 combined years of experience, Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP is equipped to handle the most challenging litigation stemming from catastrophic incidents including medical malpractice, wrongful death, and serious personal injury cases. Following decades of hard work, dedication to clients, and exemplary service, the firm is known as one of the most highly regarded plaintiff’s personal injury law firms in Maryland and the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area as well as nationally recognized. To learn more about Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP, click here.

Shadoan, Michael & Wells Lawyers Recognized as Trial Lawyers of the Year

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 16:24:22 GMT

Robert R. Michael, Gregory K. Wells, and Andrew J. Hall were each recognized by the Maryland Association for Justice as Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2023.

According to the Maryland Association for Justice website, the “Trial Lawyer of the Year recognition is bestowed annually upon the Maryland trial lawyer or team of trial lawyers who made the greatest contribution to the public interest by trying or settling a case of precedential value – precedential either because it changed the law in a way that is beneficial to Marylanders or has, for other reasons, ‘sent a message’ to those who might otherwise trample upon the rights of Maryland citizens. Nominees may have engaged in a broad range of work that furthers our goal of keeping Maryland families safe, including but not limited to civil rights, consumer rights, workers’ rights, human rights, and/or corporate accountability.”

Congratulations to Michael, Wells, and Hall for this recognition for their dedication to civil justice, excellence in trial, and landmark success in the case Harris -Reese, et al v. United of America, achieving a $14,000,000.00 verdict on behalf of a 1-year-old child and his parents against Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The child was catastrophically brain damaged as a result of medical negligence which occurred during what was to be a routine ear tube placement and adenoid surgery.

Shadoan, Michael & Wells successfully held the United States legally responsible for the negligence of an independent contractor anesthesiologist, among others– an unprecedented achievement in medical negligence claims against the Federal Government.

Read article in the Maryland Daily Record:

Family wins $14M medical malpractice verdict over son’s botched surgery

George W. Shadoan-Past President of the Inner Circle of Advocates

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:50:47 GMT

George W. Shadoan is the only Maryland lawyer to ever serve as President of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an organization of courtroom warriors that limits its membership to 100 of the best personal community lawyers in the nation who have demonstrated their expertise by achieving multiple million dollar awards for their clients. The firm is one of only three in the entire country with multiple members chosen for membership.

George is the Editor of Maryland Tort Damages, a publication used by Maryland personal injury practitioners, which addresses the law of damages in Maryland personal injury cases. Bob is also a contributor to this publication. George also served as the Chair of the Maryland Pattern Jury Civil Subcommittee of the Maryland State Bar Association which publishes the Maryland Pattern Jury Instructions, which are routinely used by practitioners and judges. Greg, a member and contributor to this publication as well, now serves as Chair of the Subcommittee.

Gregory Wells Is Chosen to Lead the Maryland Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:49:45 GMT

The American College of Trial Lawyers has chosen Greg Wells as the 2006-2007 Chair of the Maryland State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In making this appointment, the President Elect Designate of the College stated: “[a]s State Chair, you will hold one of the most important positions in the College.” Greg’s term as Chair of the Maryland State Committee began in September, 2006 and continues until the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the College which begins on October 14, 2007.

The American College of Trial Lawyers is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada and is widely considered to be the premier professional trial organization in America. Fellowship is extended by invitation only, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Fellowship is limited to no more than 1% of the lawyers in each state.

Every Partner Listed in Washington D. C. “super Lawyers Publication”

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:48:57 GMT

George Shadoan, Bob Michael and Greg Wells have each been named to the Maryland “Super Lawyers” list published by Baltimore Magazine. “Super Lawyers” identifies that top 5% of lawyers in each state, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. Each of the partners of Shadoan, Michael & Wells has been so listed in the areas of medical awards and personal community. George Shadoan and Bob Michael have also been listed in the area of products liability.

Bob Michael Listed in “top 10” Lawyers in Maryland

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:48:13 GMT

Bob was also listed by Super Lawyers as one of the “Top 10” lawyers in the State of Maryland. There was only one other lawyer also named to both “Top 10” lists in both Maryland and Washington, D.C.

All of us at Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP are proud of Bob’s accomplishment and the recognition of his work by our peers. Bob certainly is both humbled and proud. “There is nothing more humbling than to learn that your peers, including those who have opposed you in hotly contested cases, think so highly of you. This recognition is truly gratifying.”

Bob Michael Listed in “top 10” Lawyers in Washington, D. C

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:47:18 GMT

Super Lawyers identifies the top 5% of lawyers in each state as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. In selecting lawyers to be included in this top 5%, Super Lawyers identifies the “top” lawyers in each jurisdiction and ultimately identifies the top ten practitioners. Bob Michael was named as one of the “Top 10” lawyers in Washington, D.C. These lawyers, like all lawyers on the “Super Lawyer” list are chosen by their peers. This “Top 10” list is not limited to medical awards/personal community lawyers, but includes lawyers from all areas pf practice.

Bob Michael Named “washington D. C. Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year” for 2010

Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP Team — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 17:19:25 GMT

Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named Robert R. Michael as the “Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year” for 2010. After more than a quarter of a century, Best Lawyers is designating “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in large communities. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”

Best Lawyers compiles its list of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The lawyers being honored as “Lawyers of the Year” have received particularly high ratings in its surveys by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity. Steven Naifeh, Managing Editor of Best Lawyers, says, “We continue to believe – as we have believed for more than 25 years – that recognition by one’s peers is the most meaningful form of praise in the legal profession. We would like to congratulate Robert R. Michael on being selected as the ‘Washington, D.C. Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year’ for 2010.”