California Kaiser Arbitration Lawyer

Medical Malpractice Lawyer Dr. Bruce Fagel

If you are a Kaiser member, you may not be aware that Kaiser policy limits your options for recovery for injuries sustained due to medical malpractice. Kaiser Foundation and Kaiser Permanente include group health insurance policy provisions that prohibit policyholders from filing a civil lawsuit in court for medical malpractice. Consequently, arbitration is the only means a victim or his or her family can use to seek and recover financial compensation.

Arbitration is a legal term that refers to a form of alternative dispute resolution that seeks to resolve a dispute out of court. This system was originally abused a number of years ago in Kaiser malpractice claims and victims were treated unfairly. As a result, a system was set up to help ensure that a neutral arbitrator is chosen to oversee proceedings. A semi-independent administrator selects 12 names from a list of approximately 200 names of retired judges and attorneys in either Southern or Northern California. From that list, the defense attorney and the plaintiff’s (victim’s) attorney can strike four names each. The attorneys then rank the remaining eight names, and the arbitrator will be chosen from this list. Each side then has the ability to choose a party arbitrator, or may remain with the single arbitrator whose decision will be legally binding for both sides.

Statistics show that arbitration proceedings are often difficult for the plaintiff, as from 1999 to 2007 there were only 366 cases where a monetary award was given to the victim in a Kaiser malpractice case. The average award in these was approximately $500,000. There have been only seven instances where the arbitrator awarded in excess of $2 million to the plaintiff in a Kaiser malpractice case.

For more information, click here to watch a brief video regarding Kaiser lawsuits featuring Dr. Fagel.

California Kaiser Malpractice Attorney

In contrast to the sad statistics regarding Kaiser arbitration, California medical malpractice lawyer Dr. Bruce G. Fagel has been able to successfully settle multiple cases (nine as of 2007) involving Kaiser patients, ranging from $3.5 million to $5 million each.

Contact The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates as soon as possible to see how a skilled Kaiser arbitration attorney can help you recover the financial damages you deserve. With his experience in the medical field, a current California medical license and over two decades of legal experience, Dr. Fagel is prepared to provide his services as a malpractice lawyer to help you recover maximum compensation.

If you or a loved one is facing Kaiser arbitration in California, contact malpractice lawyer Dr. Bruce G. Fagel today!