In an article published in Bloomberg Law on April 14, 2021, Partner Drew Graham and Associate Danielle Walker discuss the implications of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new guidance on nursing home visitation. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS has recognized the toll the pandemic has taken on nursing home residents, from infection outbreaks to social isolation. In its recent guidance issued on March 10, 2021, CMS offered advice as to how residents, staff and visitors should navigate the risks and challenges associated with the resumption of visitation in skilled nursing facilities. “Skilled nursing facility staff have done heroic work

SADDLE BROOK, NEW JERSEY – April 12, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to welcome Attorney Brooke E. Reddin to its growing office in Saddle Brook as the firm expands its medical malpractice team. Brooke focuses her practice on health care, medical malpractice and aging services litigation. She defends physicians, nurses, insurers and other health care professionals in a wide range of complex matters. In addition, she is certified as a mediator. Prior to joining HBS, she was an Associate at a civil litigation defense firm where she specialized in representing health care professionals and other insureds of

In an article published in the Daily Business Review, HBS Miami Partner John Goran discusses how to avoid common mistakes in medical malpractice claims. “Sooner or later, many health care providers will find themselves in the unfortunate situation of being sued for alleged medical malpractice,” Goran writes. “An all too common mantra within this industry is ‘when, not if,’ a health care provider will be involved in medical negligence claims. These claims are getting more complex and expensive to litigate as the plaintiffs bar attempts to find new ways to succeed.” Medical malpractice claims are complicated in nature, and common mistakes can

In the 2021 edition of the New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) has once again been recognized for its outstanding legal work as three of its attorneys are on the Super Lawyers list. Partners Jeffrey M. Daitz, Harry D. Norton, Jr. and Brian M. Murphy have all received this honor that seeks to recognize outstanding New Jersey attorneys from a variety of practice areas. Jeffrey M. Daitz was recognized for his work in the defense of employment litigation. At HBS, Jeffrey serves as the Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Group, as well

In an article published by Healthcare Risk Management on March 29, 2021, Partner Jodi Barrett is quoted discussing pandemic litigation for skilled care and assisted living facilities in 2021. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities faced the most devastating personal and litigation consequences from COVID-19. In the wake of the pandemic, these facilities may face lawsuits related to the care provided. “Risk management for assisted living facilities should be more responsive, nimble and organized than ever before,” Barrett says. “COVID-19 litigation is widespread, despite federal laws that were specifically implemented to mitigate risk and provide immunity for providers. The impact on the

ATLANTA – April 1, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is expanding in the New Jersey and New York area with the addition of Attorneys from the law firm of Norton, Murphy, Sheehy & Corrubia, P.C., as it continues to strengthen its insurance and liability defense services. Seven Attorneys from the firm will be joining Hall Booth Smith. Harry D. Norton, Jr. is joining HBS as a Partner, and he has more than 40 years of experience defending insurers and insureds in personal injury claims, premises liability, construction, governmental liability and other disputes. He is sought after by both courts and

In an article published by Healthcare Risk Management on March 29, 2021, Partners Jack Gresh and James Looper are quoted discussing medical malpractice defenses and common mistakes to avoid when facing a lawsuit. The first actions taken after receiving notice of a medical malpractice lawsuit can have significant implications for the outcome of the case. Awareness of the most commonly made mistakes can help healthcare professionals achieve a favorable outcome. A few practices healthcare professionals should add to their “don’ts” list include defensiveness, altering records, and failing to consider early offers in the litigation process, among others. Gresh suggests that two specific issues

TAMPA, FL – March 24, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) welcomes Attorney Olivia M. Mejido to its Tampa office as the firm expands to serve client needs in the state of Florida. Olivia concentrates her practice on long-term care, medical malpractice and dental litigation defense. In addition, she represents clients in premises liability and general liability matters, as well as in arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution forums. Olivia earned a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law with a certificate of concentration in elder law. During law school, she was an Associate Editor of the Journal of International Aging

In an article published in Physicians Practice on March 22, 2021 Partner James “JJ” Maskowitz discusses pandemic litigation for skilled care and assisted living facilities in 2021 and tips to mitigate risk. “Physicians have had to become more agile and nimble than ever in providing care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Maskowitz writes. “As we look to a post-COVID era, now is a good time to step back and bring this fresh mindset to reassessing policies and procedures.” From expanding telehealth capabilities to instituting new policies for in-person patient visits, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a wealth of learning opportunities for physicians

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – March 22, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to welcome Attorney Gaylon C. Hollis to its Atlanta office as the firm expands its intellectual property practice to serve the needs of its clients. Gaylon works closely with clients on a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patentability opinions, foreign and domestic patent applications, trademark analysis and filings, claim coverage for new products prior to market launch, IP portfolio management, licensing and compliance, SaaS agreements and measures to protect against infringement. Prior to joining HBS, Gaylon was an attorney at several law firms, including his own

NEW YORK, NY – March 18, 2021 – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce the addition of Daniele DeZago as Of Counsel to its growing office in New York City, as the firm expands its medical malpractice team. Daniele concentrates her practice on medical malpractice defense and insurance coverage disputes. Specifically, she has extensive experience defending hospitals, nursing homes, dental and other high exposure cases. Prior to joining HBS, she worked as in-house counsel at a major New York insurance carrier where she worked on all aspects of cases from inception to trial. Daniele earned a J.D. from

In an article published in Annals of Long-Term Care on March 17, 2021 Partner James “JJ” Maskowitz discusses the importance of proper documentation for long-term care providers. “The swiftness of the global spread of the novel coronavirus caught many public health professionals and government leaders off guard and made for a chaotic and reactive situation that underscored the importance of developing, implementing and frequently updating policies and procedures to be better prepared for future emergencies,” Maskowitz writes. As long-term care facilities established new policies and procedures last year in response to the evolving pandemic, proper recording became essential to mitigating liability. “2020 taught