Katherine Hekstra

Analysis and Impact of April 2024 Supreme Court Medical Malpractice Decision Estate of Essex v. Grant County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 1

Health Care

The Washington Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on April 11, 2024, in Estate of Essex v. Grant County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 1, No. 101745-6 significantly expands the scope of hospital liability and raises questions about the corporate practice of medicine doctrine. This opinion is bound to alter hospital claims for years to come.


Katherine Hekstra

Analysis and Impact of Latest WA Supreme Court Medical Malpractice Decision M.N. & G.T. v MultiCare Health System, Inc.

Health Care

In a 5-4 decision on January 18, 2024, the Washington Supreme Court reversed both the Court of Appeals and the Pierce County Superior Court in M.N. & G.T. v MultiCare Health System, Inc., No. 101537-2 with holdings bound to make waves in the medical malpractice field related to class action lawsuits for personal injury cases. […]


The Rules in Washington Medical Malpractice Cases Continue to Shift

Health Care, Litigation

Earlier this morning, a deeply divided Washington Supreme Court issued an opinion that allows defense lawyers in certain cases to speak privately with a medical malpractice plaintiff’s treating physicians. The Court’s decision today in Youngs v. PeaceHealth fundamentally changes the status quo in handling and investigating medical malpractice cases in Washington.


Washington Supreme Court Rules Another Medical Malpractice Reform Law Unconstitutional

Health Care, Litigation

This past week, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that yet another aspect of Washington’s recent medical malpractice reform laws is unconstitutional. In the case of Schroeder v. Weighall, the Court on Thursday ruled that minors who are plaintiffs in medical negligence cases are entitled to “toll” the statute of limitations applicable to their claim (a sort of “time out” from the statute of limitations)