Associate Litigation Counsel - South

About the role

This position is responsible for assisting the Regional Litigation Counsel in managing litigation matters involving West Virginia United Health System, Inc. and its related entities. This responsibility includes daily interaction with the employees of WVUHS and related entities, outside retained counsel and opposing counsel. The position reports to the Regional Litigation Counsel and interacts with all areas of WVUHS and related entities as well as external representatives of the legal system.

Core duties and responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day legal representation of WVUHS and related entities in open unasserted claims, open asserted claims and open suits.
• Manages a full case docket representing WVUHS and related entities in litigation related matters to include medical negligence and general liability cases.
• Makes defensibility determinations for each case, prepares cases for pre-suit resolution, mediation, trial, and tries cases on behalf of WVUHS entities.
• Handles post-trial motions and appeals.
• Responsible for all aspects of litigation management and trial preparation.
• Analyzes complex medical issues requiring the assimilation and understanding of medical textbooks, articles and journals.
• Creates and executes discovery plans and trial strategies.
• Prepares comprehensive exposure determinations and damage assessments.
• Makes recommendations regarding expense and indemnity reserves, settlement and or trial.
• Responds in a timely manner to request for advice or information.
• Supervises and manages outside litigation counsel as retained by Regional Litigation Counsel or AVP/Sr. Litigation Counsel.
• Works with risk managers to take measures to minimize hospital liability through the prevention of risks and through the investigation and correction of identified problems.
• Supervise litigation paralegals to include daily supervision, performance appraisal, and issuance of disciplinary actions.
• Supervise nurse paralegals to include daily supervision, performance appraisal, and issuance of disciplinary actions.
• Supervise assistant litigation counsel to include daily supervision, performance appraisal, and issuance of disciplinary actions.
• Under the direction of the Regional Litigation Counsel and AVP/Sr. Litigation Counsel, manages and/or provides oversight and input into Legal Services budgeting.
• Demonstrates regard for the dignity, respect and safety of all patients, family members, visitors and hospital personnel as defined in the philosophy of the organization.
• Maintains the confidentiality of patient and unit information, 100% of the time without infraction.
• Promotes and contributes positively to intradepartmental and interdepartmental relationships.
• Maintains proper attendance and punctuality to ensure that the Legal Services department is operated in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
• Participates in meeting the goals and objectives of the work unit and department to ensure that the department contributes to the attainment of the hospital’s goals and objectives.
• Participates in planning and implementing change and maintaining and improving productivity through attendance and participation in staff meetings, task forces, projects and discussions with supervisor

Physical requirements

• Ability to concentrate and sit at a desk for long periods of time
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment including live hearings
• Visual requirements: Near Vision, Depth Perception, Extensive Exposure to Video Displays
• Ability to hear normal conversation, telephone communications
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling up to 25 lbs.

Skills and abilities

• Knowledge of state and federal civil legal system and methods of alternative dispute resolution.
• Ability to communicate and interact with the medical staff, nursing staff, administration, department heads, and other hospital personnel preferred.