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WSET-TV in Lynchburg took a look at medical malpractice in plastic surgery, finding that some doctors performing plastic surgery operations simply aren’t qualified.  One example is the case of woman represented by partner Gary Brooks Mims whose doctor left her left eye irrevocably damaged.

https://wset.com/news/local/unqualified-plastic-surgeons-loophole-in-va-law-lets-any-doctor-perform-plastic-surgery

Mims presented evidence that the procedure his client needed should have been performed by an ophthalmic surgeon — one who specializes in surgery involving the eye and surrounding tissue.  Through the testimony of expert witness, Mims successfully argued that the plastic surgeon violated the standard of care by performing an operation for which he was not qualified.

The Virginia personal injury law firm of Sickels, Frei and Mims has once again been ranked in the 2019 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list.  The firm has earned this distinction every year since the list was first published in 2010.

The firm is especially proud to announce that Sickels, Frei and Mims has earned the top tier ranking for the Washington, D.C. region for both Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Sickels, Frei & Mims attorneys have again been recognized as among the top 5 percent of lawyers in Virginia by Super Lawyers. Firm attorneys have been named to the list every year since 2007.

Partner Steve Frei was recognized under the category of Personal Injury General, Plaintiff.  Partner Gary Brooks Mims was named as Personal Injury Medical Malpractice, Plaintiff.

Associate Matt Perushek was named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars roster for the fourth consecutive year.  Matt was recognized under the category of Personal Injury General, Plaintiff. Only 2.5 percent of Virginia attorneys are Rising Stars, which recognizes attorneys who are forty years old or younger or in practice for 10 or years or less.

Why “reasonably calculated” language must be changed.

The scope of discovery is improperly stretched by insurance companies and defense attorneys to gain overly broad access to plaintiffs’ medical records, according to an article recently published as part of the “Practice Tip Series” on the Virginia State Bar website.  “Reasonably Calculated: Confusion Over the Scope of Discovery” was authored by Sickles, Frei & Mims attorney Matt Perushek.

Perushek argues that “reasonably calculated” language should be removed from Virginia Rules as it has been removed from Federal Rules.  In 2015, Federal Rule 26 was amended to remove “reasonably calculated” because the phrase was used by some, incorrectly, to define the scope of discovery.

Partner Gary Brooks Mims has been appointed by Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons of the Supreme Court of Virginia to the faculty for the Virginia State Bar Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course. The course is mandatory for all members of the Virginia State Bar.

The course must be completed within 12 months of becoming an active member of the Virginia State Bar, as established by the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1987.  The course faculty is drawn from “among the best judges and lawyers in Virginia who have a deep commitment to the principles that underlies the Rules of Professional Conduct and inspire professionalism in the practice of law.”

Fairfax, VA, United States — Monday, August 15, 2016 — Sickels, Frei and Mims, L.L.P. attorney Gary Brooks Mims was recently selected as 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan region.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

McDonald’s Hot Coffee– Lesson for Trial Lawyers
The telling of stories is a natural way for people to learn and convey ideas. In fact, it is so natural that at times people will complete lessons they think they have learned by inventing facts that fit their perceived story. This is particularly problematic for trial lawyers. If you tell an incomplete story to a jury–someone will complete it for you and do so through their own experiences, real or perceived. Once a juror has completed your story, it becomes the only story and will guide that juror’s thinking and communication with his fellow jurors.
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Matthew (Matt) graduated magna cum laude from George Mason University School of Law in May 2012. Immediately upon graduation he served as law clerk to The Honorable Michael F. Devine, Judge, Circuit Court of Fairfax County. Matt will be involved in all aspects of the firms civil litigation practice.

On December 14, 2012, a 36 year old man entered a primary school in central China, intent upon injuring school children. He was apprehended after injuring 20 students, with no fatalities. Two days later, a 20 year old man entered an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut with the same intent–but with hugely different results. In Newton, Connecticut, 20 children and 6 adults were killed and the police were unable to apprehend the shooter before he fatally shot himself.
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