LNC Services for Attorneys
LNCs provide numerous medical-legal support services to attorneys.
The LNC services provided by Riggs Consulting for attorneys include (but are not limited
to) the following:
- Summarize, Interpret, Screen Cases for Merit
- Chart Organization, Tabulation & Chronology
- Determine Standards of Care, Define Deviations and Adherences, Spoilation and Tampering
- Prepare Interrogatories or Requests for Production
- Assess Damages & Injuries
- Identify Causation
- Library & Internet Searches; Analyze Validity & Reliability of research
- Identify and Recommend Potential Defendants
- Identify and Review Relevant Medical Records, Hospital Policies and Procedures, Other Essential Documents and Tangible Items
- Assist With Preparation of Witnesses and Development of Case Strategy; Identifying Discrepancies in Testimony of Experts
- Identifying, Procuring and Customizing Demonstrative Evidence for Depositions, Hearings and Trials
- Tracing the Chain of Custody of Evidence
- Assisting in Production of Day-in-the-Life Videos
- Analyze and Compare Expert Witness Reports and Other Work Products
- Expand the Attorney's Library
- Attend Depositions, Trials, Review Panels, and Arbitration and Mediation Hearings
- Attend IMEs with Clients: Document, autiotape or videotape the examination
- Locating Expert Witnesses
- Medical and Nursing Malpractice Cases
- Personal Injury Cases
- Products Liability
- Environmental
- Toxic Torts
- Workers' Compensation
Review for Merit
A Legal Nurse Consultant:
- Reviews medical records
- Analyzes and summarizes the care given
- Explains why and how specific care was given
- Deciphers handwriting
- Translates medical terms into easily understood standard English
- Screens cases for merit
Although the bottom-line decision whether or not to accept a med-mal case
(or any case, for that matter) is always the lawyer's decision to make, Riggs Consulting can
assist in the screening process to allow the lawyer time to focus on meritorious cases. For
either the Defense or the Plaintiff, this means knowing up-front whether a case is meritorious.
This reduces the office time spent on a case and saves you money!
Organizing and Tabulating Medical Records
LNCs are distinctively qualified to organize and tabulate medical records.
As nurses maintain complicated medical records as a regular part of their jobs, organizing and
tabulating a chart for legal purposes is almost intuitive.
LNCs develop chronologies better than most medical professionals because
they are acutely aware of all the areas and specialties impinging upon patient care and the
possible effects of one test or procedure on another, subsequent, test.
Standards of Health Care
Riggs Consulting quickly locates the applicable standards of care for all
medical, nursing and allied health specialties. Once the standards are determined, we can
pinpoint the events which deviate from the standards, or assure that recognized standards
were adhered to.
In addition, Dr. Riggs often can identify evidence of spoilation and tampering
of records that previously may have gone unnoticed.
Discovery: All That Paperwork!
Riggs Consulting recognizes a broad range of potentially critical discovery
topics related to a case and can justify the need for information and documents. Dr. Riggs
collaborates with attorneys in:
- The preparation of interrogatories and requests for production that will help identify potential defendant individuals and corporations.
- Preparing or analyzing complaints, answers, and motions for summary judgments
- Preparing interrogatories, depositions and trial outlines
- Developing queries for direct and cross examinations
- Requesting production of documents
- Preparing trial briefs
- Writing demand letters, and status reports
When expert witnesses conflict in their conclusions, Dr. Riggs can analyze
and compare these conflicts, identifying the various strengths and weaknesses.
Riggs Consulting encourages attorneys to bring in a Legal Nurse Consultant
early in their cases to provide optimal value. Legal Nurse Consultants do not practice law -- they
are essential members of the lawyer's medical-legal team.
Damages and Injuries
LNCs can determine damages and injuries, if any, to the client, how and why
they occurred, and give a reasonable estimate of recovery cost.
In the case of a wrongful death, LNCs can frequently describe and document
pain and suffering in a realistic and
understandable way for jury presentation.
Identify Causation
LNCs, because of their background in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology,
biochemistry, and clinical practice can identify those factors contributing to the alleged
damages and injuries sustained by clients.
Legal Nurse Consultants may identify potential defendants, detect
medical-record tampering, and make recommendations to the lawyer regarding the type of
MD experts needed (MD experts make the final determination regarding causation/damages).
MD experts are expensive and obtaining the appropriate specialist up front is obviously essential.
Medical Legal-Research
Sometimes all you need is some research into a medical condition, drug,
chemical or device to increase your understanding of the details of the case. At Riggs Consulting,
research is conducted using the National Library of Medicine and other databases of peer reviewed
literature available at the Georgia State and Emory University libraries, other major health-sciences
libraries in the USA, and on the Internet.
research can be time consuming for you and your staff, especially if you are
not quite sure what you are looking for. Let Riggs Consulting save you that valuable time and
provide you with a comprehensive literature review. Literature reviews and other research are also
incorporated as needed into all written reports that we produce.
The extensive online resources of Riggs Consulting are always available to
research issues such as toxic exposures and other occupational health conditions.
In cases of Product Liability records can be voluminous and take hours to
organize. Let Riggs Consulting take the time to organize, summarize and update reports so you can
concentrate on thorough preparation for upcoming depositions.
research studies are not all alike in terms of validity and reliability.
The Federal Judicial Center Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence points out that "an
analysis is only as good as the data on which it rests." Faulty underlying assumptions, lack of
generalizability, presence of confounding variables, and poor control can turn examination or
cross-examination of an expert into a rout. Dr. Riggs, because of her education and background
in research methodology and statistical analysis usually can explain how and why research studies
are or are not reliable (that is, reproducible), valid (measures what is purports to measure), and
if the method(s) used for analysis are appropriate to the data being analyzed.
Dr. Riggs has broad library research experience in medical, nursing, allied
health, epidemiology, social sciences and basic sciences and can find the most salient, related
research. Dr. Riggs "surfs the Internet" with ease and, because of her background in
scientific research issues and advanced statistics, can usually determine the relevance, applicability,
reliability and validity of medical and nursing research studies. Dr. Riggs is also able to provide
reasonably priced searches for related legal cases.
Identify Potential Deffendants
Legal Nurse Consultants often can identify potential defendants which
other consultants will miss. Why? Because the LNC, as a nurse, is experienced in looking
at and assessing the practices of many professions in terms of their effects on patient welfare.
In addition, because of having additional education and experience with
regard to health care law, the LNC is aware of the many liability issues surrounding managed
care. With her broad and varied background, Dr. Riggs is uniquely qualified to assist in
this area.
Identify Relevant Records
Riggs Consulting can identify relevant records and other documents needed
for a specific case. In reviewing these documents and items we you offer advanced analysis
and interpretive skills and abilities.
Witness Preparation
Witness preparation can be crucial to the development of case strategy.
Riggs Consulting will assist you in witness preparation by interviewing witnesses,
"mock trial" scenarios for witnesses, and reviewing the salient case points with
both expert and other witnesses. In addition, Riggs Consulting can assist you in
identifying discrepancies in the testimony of experts by analyzing depositions.
Identifying, Procuring and Customizing Demonstrative Evidence
for Depositions, Hearings, and Trials
Riggs Consulting can suggest ways to present and explain demonstrative
exhibits that will make them much more understandable by juries. We also can point out
strengths and weaknesses of various demonstrative exhibits. By working closely with exhibit-makers
and graphics experts the Riggs Consulting truly can enhance the efforts of the legal team.
Riggs Consulting is pleased to be able to offer demonstrative evidence from
simple signs and charts through comlex graphics and medical illustrations. While many of these
services can be and are produced in-house, we also have contacts and arrangements with graphics
companies which will allow us to provide the best options for your case needs.
Tracing the Chain of Custody of Evidence
Who had which record and when? Let Riggs Consulting help you track down the
timeline and events in record transfers and other evidentiary trails.
Assisting in the Production of Day-in-the-Life Videos
It takes more than a person-with-a-camcorder to capture the true meaning of
the limitations illness and injury put on people's lives!
Through a series of interviews, Dr. Riggs constructs parallel outlines of
the activities the client regularly took part in prior to their accident or illness and the
activities he or she is now able to take part in. Using these parallel outlines as a guide,
a script is constructed that demonstrates these differences. A professional filmmaker then
uses the script under Dr. Riggs' direction in making a video.
Video documentation of injuries, scarring, accident scene,
and scenario reconstruction/reenactment are also available.
Discovery: All That Paperwork!
Riggs Consulting recognizes a broad range of potentially critical discovery
topics related to a case and can justify the need for information and documents. Dr. Riggs
collaborates with attorneys in:
- The preparation of interrogatories and requests for production that will help identify potential defendant individuals and corporations.
- Preparing or analyzing complaints, answers, and motions for summary judgments
- Preparing interrogatories, depositions and trial outlines
- Developing queries for direct and cross examinations
- Requesting production of documents
- Preparing trial briefs
- Writing demand letters, and status reports
When expert witnesses conflict in their conclusions, Dr. Riggs can analyze
and compare these conflicts, identifying the various strengths and weaknesses.
Riggs Consulting encourages attorneys to bring in a Legal Nurse Consultant
early in their cases to provide optimal value. Legal Nurse Consultants do not practice law -- they
are essential members of the lawyer's medical-legal team.
The Attorney's Medical Library
Any attorney who practices in the area of medical malpractice, personal
injury, worker's compensation, or other health-related areas needs a basic library of those
texts most likely to be of assistance in the majority of cases. In addition, copies of Standards
of Care from various professional organizations can be extremely helpful. Riggs Consulting can
recommend those medical, nursing and other health texts, printed standards, and journals best
suited to increase your ability to practice in the arena of health-related litigation.
Attendance at Hearings and Trials
If the attorney so desires, Dr. Riggs can attend depositions, trials,
review panels, and arbitration and mediation hearings in order to clarify health-related issues
and questions on-the-spot.
It can be a powerful visual statement for a nurse in a white professional
jacket to be in attendance for clients who are physically disabled or who are ill at the time
of trial.
The IME
The client reports that the IME only lasted 10 minutes and no examination
was performed. The physician insists a complete exam was performed. Who will
the jury believe?
At your direction, Dr. Riggs will attend IME's with your clients, take notes,
and give an objective observation and written report of what transpired. Even audio
or videotapes of the examination experience may be done in venues permitting such taping.
Expert Location
Riggs Consulting uses multiple research resources as well as professional
contacts to locate the most appropriate, case specific expert for your case. Riggs Consulting
is NOT a bureau, and does not make any contractual arrangements with the expert. Riggs Consulting
simply provides the CV's and contact with the expert to confirm availability and rule out conflicts
of interest. The goal of the company is to provide at least 2 to 3 CV's and Dr. Riggs will return the
location fee if no appropriate expert can be found. The selection and arrangements are left up to the
individual attorney.
Medical Malpractice Services
Our case screening service is one of the most valuable services we can
offer to our clients in cases of medical malpractice. Med-Mal cases are very costly
to take to trial (in time as well as money) and usually require medical experts
who can define the appropriate standard of care. Before you spend YOUR time and
money, consider using the services of an experienced, legal nurse consultant to
review the medical records.
At Riggs Consulting, an opinion as to merit may be available as soon as
48 hours after receiving the records, depending upon the number of pages. (A 6000 page set
of nursing home records obviously will take longer than a 100 page pediatric trauma record.)
A verbal report by telephone will be followed up with a written report, if desired, which will
provide a timeline, summary and analysis of the case including merit, probable defendants,
missing records, evidence (if any) of tampering, and which kinds of experts are potentially
needed. If desired, reports (without the names of the principals) can even be sent to you via
e-mail or uploaded to a time-limited WEBpage (retains formatting).
As the health care environment becomes more and more complex, areas of
concern involving managed care, utilization review decisions, increasing use of home health
care and unlicensed assistive personnel, and the introduction of clinical practice guidelines
and critical pathways make the question of hospital and health care provider liability much
less easily defined. Let Riggs Consulting assist you in your drive along the "always under
construction" highways and byways of the health care arena.
Personal Injury Services
Riggs Consulting provides valuable services behind the scenes in any case in
which health or medical care is involved.
In Personal Injury cases, the accident reports and emergency room records
frequently are scanty and indecipherable. Low settlements may be offered to claimants before they
reach their full and expected medical improvement. This will force many of these cases to trial.
Conditions resulting from low impact crashes, such as post-trauma migraines and myofascial pain
syndrome, often are difficult to prove and for juries to understand.
Riggs Consulting will provide a complete medical review of the Personal Injury
case with timeline, summary and analysis of the positive and negative aspects.
Product Liability
This page will be soon made! Thank you!
Environmental
This page will be soon made! Thank you!
Toxic Torts
This page will be soon made! Thank you!
Riggs Consulting Select Services to the Legal Profession
Workmen's Compensation and Personal Injury Cases. For Workman's Compensation
or Personal Injury Cases, our services include, but are not limited to:
- Determine Type, Mode, Implications of Injury
- Render Medical Records Intelligible in Standard English
- Finding the RIGHT Expert Witnesses
- Library & Internet Searches
- Attend and annotate IME sessions
Successful conclusions to personal injury, and workmen's compensation cases
depend upon the accurate determination of:
- When and where the injury occurred >>>
- Who or what caused the injury >>>
- What difficulties this injury will cause the client in the future >>>
A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) can assist you with these and many
other issues. LNCs are capable of a far wider range of activities than the non-nurse paralegal,
and possess specialized knowledge of the health care system, nursing and even medicine. CLNCs
have special expertise that equip them to provide a multiplicity of services to attorneys,
insurance companies and hospitals in any legal matter when health, illness, or injury is an issue.
When and where the injury occurred:
While most incident reports or accident records provide substantiation of when
and where the injury occurred, these documents frequently are hard to decipher. Through a specialized
process of organization, review and analysis of medical records, Riggs Consulting can
make these documents intelligible for you quickly, easily, painlessly, economically, while
allowing you to focus your time on the legal issues involved.
Who or what caused the injury:
Riggs Consulting can pinpoint the people, institutions, agencies and agents
involved in the injury, identify signs of institutional negligence and gross negligence, explain
the anatomic and physiologic bases for the injury and its consequences, and, where relevant,
provide a pain and suffering score.
In addition, we can attend and annotate the Independent Medical Examination.
If it seems necessary, we often can determine if additional examinations are warrented.
Retaining Riggs Consulting makes good sense for any legal firm. We can save
you time and money. Trained to review the entire medical record from medical, nursing, health
administration, case management, managed care auditing and legal perspectives, we work
in a cost-effective manner with you (and your clients) to maximize the case value or
(alternatively) assist in defending the case through mitigation or obliteration of the
damage issues and award.
Dr. Riggs has successfully consulted with numerous legal firms in the Atlanta
area on cases ranging from auto accidents to wrongful death.
Riggs Consulting will prepare chronologies, summaries and develop specific
focus for cases, assess the etiology of injury; and offer educated opinions regarding future
difficulties the client may encounter.
What problems this injury may cause in the future:
Riggs Consulting can provide you with an estimate of the ways in which the
injury may affect your client now and in the future based upon established medical and statistical
probabilities. We can also help you anticipate future medical and nursing care needs,
probability of surgical intervention, and possible need for extended care or assisted
living arrangements.
In addition, where applicable, Riggs Consulting will offer suggestions as
to additional fruitful areas to explore for rapid and inclusive case resolution.
Other services offered by Riggs Consulting include but are not limited to:
- Screen possible negligence and malpractice cases for merit
- Decipher medical records
- Define, and delineate deviations from, Standards of Care
- Identify missing or relevant medical providers
- Managed Care litigation support
- Analyze and Determine relevance of institutional Policies / Procedures
- Assistance in preparing exhibits
- Detection of possible record tampering
Back to top
|
