The general rule is simple: Non-clients generally cannot sue lawyers who did not represent them. This standard, called the privity rule, finds its footing in the definition of legal malpractice.
Winning a medical malpractice claim can prove very difficult. However, that does not mean that you cannot win. If you suffered a serious injury due to the negligence of a medical care provider, you deserve compensation for those losses.
To do so, four legal elements must be proven: (1) a professional duty owed to the patient; (2) breach of such duty; (3) injury caused by the breach; and (4) resulting damages.
Physicians win approximately 80% to 90% of the cases reviewers believe they should win, approximately 70% to 80% of the cases rated as toss-ups, and roughly 50% of the cases deemed by peer reviewers to have strong evidence of negligence 18.
Cons of Going to Trial in a Medical Malpractice Case: Uncertainty and Lengthy Process: Trials can be unpredictable, and there's no guarantee of a favorable outcome. Higher Costs: Trials involve substantial expenses, including legal fees, expert witness fees, and court costs. Public Exposure:
Ing to a study from the National Library of Medicine, the defendant tends to win 80% to 90% of jury trials that have weak evidence of medical negligence, 70% of jury trials in borderline cases, and 50% of cases with strong evidence of medical negligence.
Medical malpractice cases are some of the most expensive and difficult cases to pursue in litigation. Statistically speaking, of those cases that do go to trial each year in this country, almost two-thirds of them result in a verdict in favor of the health care provider.
If your lawyer makes a mistake in your matter, you can sue the lawyer for malpractice. Generally, clients should file legal malpractice lawsuits within one year of the date when the attorney-client relationship ended, or the claim can be barred.
United States v. Datavs, 71 M.J. 420 (to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, an accused must demonstrate both (1) that his counsel's performance was deficient, and (2) that this deficiency resulted in prejudice).