What They Gave Each Other
A version of this article appeared in the December, 2025 issue of the Washington State Bar News. “No need to call me back, but I wanted to say congratulations. I’m so happy for you and for Sasha. She said you did an amazing job and that you deserve to hear that from more than one […]
Oral Lichen Planus and Cancer—a Condition Every Dentist Should Know About
Oral lichen planus (“OLP”) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Although typically benign and manageable, OLP carries a small but significant risk of malignant transformation into oral squamous cell carcinoma (“OSCC”). There are different pathways for oral cancers to develop, so this article will focus on OLP. For […]
From Gatekeeper to Advocate
How adjusters quietly shape the outcome before a lawyer is ever involved Before a single pleading is filed, before experts are retained, and long before a jury is ever seated, a quiet but decisive voice is already shaping the trajectory of a medical malpractice case: the claims adjuster. I know, because I used to be […]
The Law is Struggling to Catch Up with the Corporatization of Healthcare
By Tyler Goldberg-Hoss Since the Washington State Supreme Court adopted the corporate negligence doctrine in 19841, our society has seen a change in the way in which health care is delivered. In the (mythical) past, physicians graduated medical school with the near-glow of divinity surrounding them. They were trained in the art of medicine, a secret […]
Beware the Ghost of the Locality Rule
The concept of a “locality rule” for medical negligence cases exists for many in rather a theoretical world. The reality is that the locality rule in fact remains with us, though not in a way that is always apparent. Local economic and cultural factors continue to exist that vary the standard of care in certain […]
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Introduction “Cauda equina syndrome1 is a potentially devastating spinal condition associated with substantial morbidity, and often leads to litigation.”2 Although first described nearly a century ago, the medical community continues to struggle with an agreed upon definition for Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). More importantly for patients who suffer from its often catastrophic results, the medical […]
Zoom Justice in the Time of COVID
A just result for a deserving boy and his family Six years ago, Tyler Goldberg-Hoss received a call from another medical malpractice attorney in the area. He had a conflict with a potential case that had come in – something about a baby suffering an injury during intubation – and wanted to see if Tyler […]
A Year to Forget. Or Is It?
This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of Trial News. What. A. Year. As much as has already been written about the pandemic, this piece is about how it has affected medical malpractice in Washington. Obviously, the pandemic has profoundly altered how health care is delivered. While some changes are temporary, many permanent […]
Spinal Cord Compression Cases: Different Malpractice Settings but the Same Causation Hurdles
Spinal cord injuries are devastating not just for those who suffer from them but their loved ones, too. Depending on the spinal cord level and severity of the injury, it can impact all areas of life: the ability to be independent; to be mobile; to work; to not live with chronic pain; to have bowel […]
When Nothing Seems to Go Right…
Sometimes it feels like anything that can go wrong does. That certainly felt the case for our unfortunate client who suffered a tragic string of errors during her treatment and in litigation.