Assistant Counsel - Litigation

Carle Health•Champaign, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Risk Management department of Carle Health provides enterprise risk management, insurance and claims management services to entities within Carle Health ("Carle"). As part of a team of professionals, the Assistant Counsel: Litigation represents the interests of Carle Health insureds and is responsible for managing all aspects of claims/litigation files for medical malpractice and general liability as well as other litigation, as assigned. The Assistant Counsel: Litigation is also responsible for preparing and/or assisting employed providers and other employees who have been subpoenaed for testimony or deposition.

Requirements

Licensed Attorney - Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC)
Doctorate: Law
Legal Work Experience

Responsibilities

Manages the day-to-day uncomplicated medical malpractice and general liability claims in active litigation and/or files that require the guidance of counsel. This includes, but is not limited to the following: setting initial reserves, conducting investigations, preparing initial and ongoing liability assessments, assignment, direction and control of defense counsel, negotiation, settlement, litigation management, discovery response and production, monitoring trials and providing daily progress reports and support to involved providers and defense counsel, and ensuring that defense counsel complies with the Defense Counsel Guidelines. This is done under the supervision of the SVP/Chief Risk Officer.
Collaboratively works with the SVP/Chief Risk Officer, the Associate Counsel: Litigation and Insurance, Executive Director of Risk Management and Clinical Risk Managers to review and evaluate professional and general liability potentially compensable events to determine appropriate reserves, if application, and pre-litigation resolution. This includes, but is not limited to, preparing medical record summaries, conducting witness interviews, medical literature reviews, consultant reviews and pre-litigation negotiation.
Prepares case evaluation reports and secures settlement authority on appropriate cases.
Assists with employment-related claims and administrative charges and other types of litigation, as assigned.
Prepares case evaluation reports, claims trends information, and other information as requested for the Carle Health Risk & Claims Committee and/or other relevant committees. Presents to the Committee as appropriate.
Identification of claims and lawsuits which would benefit from early resolution and negotiates/settles claims within authority.
Communicates timely and appropriately to Association Counsel: Litigation and Insurance and the SVP/Chief Risk Officer about significant case developments.
Ensures the claims database is up to date and comprehensive and contains all information received relevant to a claim. This includes documenting all important case developments for all claims/lawsuits in the claims management database.
Coordinates and/or conducts educational sessions/seminars for healthcare staff on risk exposure issues, as requested.
Identifies risk trends and issues and communicates same to the Associate Counsel: Litigation and Insurance and the SVP/Chief Risk Officer.
Engages in continual learning to address emerging general and professional liability risks as well as trends in the insurance industry.