Jennifer Harrison
Biography
Jennifer Harrison is a Partner in our Memphis office and is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Her experience as a former cardiovascular ICU nurse and occupational health nurse is invaluable in her defense of health care practitioners, which she has done for more than 20 years. Jennifer enjoys integrating medicine and law and utilizing her combined experiences to be a staunch and zealous advocate for her clients. In 2014, Jennifer obtained a Master of Laws in Trial Advocacy from Temple University.
Jennifer has several published appellate decisions and numerous summary judgment awards. She enjoys teaching lawyers and legal staff about medical terminology, medical record review and organization, medical research, and other related subjects. She has presented informative seminars to physicians, nurses, risk managers, and more. In addition, Jennifer has also served as a mentor to several law students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, boating, listening to music, and spending time with her family, friends, and miniature Schnauzer, Sugar.
Experience
Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in protecting health care providers and facilities. She works closely with risk management, administration, and staff on many issues including quality improvement, risk management, conservatorship, power of attorney (health care), peer review matters, root cause analysis, documenting, vicarious liability issues, credentialing, policies and procedures, and EMTALA. She has served as defense counsel for hospitals and acute care clinics in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
In her proactive protection of individual health care providers in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, Jennifer works closely with clients, experts, and other parties to achieve the best strategies, defenses, and outcomes. She researches the practice of medicine, procedures, medications, and related relevant subject matter as they relates to allegations against numerous medical and nursing specialists. She has successfully tried cases for providers who practice pursuant to boards of medicine and nursing.
Jennifer is also experienced in mediating cases in various stages of the litigation process as well as pre-suit mediations. She performs a prompt and thorough investigation, conducts all necessary research, secures and reviews pertinent medical documents, obtains expert opinions, considers potential dispositive motion success, and provides candid feedback to clients and carriers. She has had great success in mediating professional negligence cases (in suit and prior to suit) to resolution.
Jennifer represents skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities as well as home health agencies, across Tennessee for multiple types of litigation including wrongful death, failure to monitor, and potential ethical violations
Jennifer represents care providers with a variety of issues including state board complaints, licensing, hospital/facility privileges and/or credentialing, state health investigations, trial subpoena protection, and assistance with depositions.
Jennifer litigates from inception of lawsuit to trial. Her nursing background provides exceptional insight into the medical issues of the litigation and assists in the cross-examination of a variety of health care providers/specialists at trial. Jennifer is well acquainted with experts in a variety of medical fields which allows her to secure outstanding experts in pertinent specialties. She has successfully argued Motions to Dismiss and Motions for Summary Judgment in local courts, the U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She excels in preparing clients for trial and in trying cases to defense verdicts.
Credentials
Admitted
State Courts:
- Arkansas, 2010
- Mississippi, 2012
- Tennessee, 2003
- Supreme Court, 2003
U.S. District Courts:
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, 2012
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, 2012
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 2006
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, 2015
U.S. Courts of Appeals:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2010
U.S. Supreme Court
Certifications
- Mississippi Civil Mediator
- Tennessee Rule 31 Civil Mediator
Education
- J.D., University of Memphis, 2003
- LL.M., Trial Advocacy, Temple University, 2014
- B.S., Nursing, University of Memphis, 1998
Memberships
- Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel
- Arkansas Bar Association
- Association of Women Attorneys
- DRI
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Memphis Bar Association
- Mississippi Bar Association
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Best Lawyers®, 2022-2024
- Recognized in: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Peer Reviewed, Martindale-Hubbell
- Tennessee Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers®, 2014-2018
- Tennessee Rising Star, Super Lawyers®, 2011-2013
Presentations
- Medical Terminology and How to Review a Medical Record
Memphis Bar Association Seminar - Medical Terminology and Deciphering a Medical Record
The Greater Memphis Paralegal Alliance - Bitter Pill: Vulnerabilities in Health Care Related to Opioids
ASHRM National Conference Panel, 2018
Publications
- Happiness and the Practice of Law
Memphis Lawyer Magazine