Senior Claims Attorney - Gainesville OR Jacksonville

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

17h

About The Position

The Senior Claims Attorney is responsible to the Deputy Administrator and may be located in Gainesville or Jacksonville. The position manages incidents and covered claims reported or referred to the Self-Insurance Program (SIP), including investigation, analysis, evaluation, presuit handling, settlement or denial, and defense of claims and lawsuits involving SIP participants. The role also coordinates risk-reduction work with SIP Loss Prevention staff and provides investigative and administrative support to healthcare providers involved in administrative proceedings related to their licenses. The position reviews reported incidents for patient-care and healthcare-delivery improvement opportunities and potential claims. Duties include recording reports in the Riskonnect database, conducting interviews and record reviews, establishing incident chronologies, and notifying SIP administration about significant incidents. The attorney works with faculty, staff, and administrators across participating universities, medical colleges, hospitals, and affiliated facilities throughout Florida. For assigned claims, the incumbent conducts factual investigations; evaluates negligence, causation, and damages; prepares claim summaries and reserve recommendations; and advises the Self-Insurance Program Council and its Claims and Litigation Committee. The role manages presuit information requests, responses, negotiations, settlement offers, denials, discovery, expert retention, and witness preparation, while monitoring reserves and payments. For litigated claims, the incumbent coordinates investigations and responses, tracks cases, develops defense strategies, helps select and work with outside counsel, prepares witnesses, and participates in significant hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials. The position also identifies claim-related risks, recommends and supports loss-prevention activities, provides advice concerning patient-care liabilities and protocols, and conducts educational programs and presentations for healthcare providers. Extensive travel is required, including travel to prepare expert witnesses and attend depositions throughout the United States and occasionally in foreign countries. Attorneys licensed in Florida may prepare witnesses for presuit unsworn statements and, with prior approval, represent covered entities at unsworn statements and depositions. They may also prepare legal memoranda and responses, prepare witnesses before trial, and conduct legal research. The expected salary is commensurate with education and experience. The position is open until filled. A cover letter and resume must be uploaded to be considered. A health assessment is not required.

Requirements

Law degree (L.L.B. or J.D.).
Three years of experience in the legal, medical, or health care fields.
Upload a cover letter and resume to be considered.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of tort law, healthcare systems, and risk-management techniques.
Medical malpractice claims-handling experience.
Ability to perform under great pressure in a multitasking environment.
Competency in medical research and internet research.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to interact with individuals from all social and economic backgrounds.
Florida license to practice law is relevant to the specified attorney duties.

Responsibilities

Receive, process, investigate, and disposition incidents reported or referred to the Self-Insurance Program.
Review incidents for patient-care and healthcare-delivery improvement opportunities and potential claims; record reports in Riskonnect and notify appropriate SIP administration of significant incidents.
Conduct interviews, review records, analyze information, and establish incident chronologies and outcomes.
Identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate medical, legal, and fiscal issues related to potential or asserted covered claims.
Conduct factual investigations and evaluate claims for negligence, causation, and compensable damages.
Present claim summaries to internal committees, recommend indemnity and allocated loss expense reserves, and advise the Self-Insurance Program Council and its Claims and Litigation Committee.
Manage assigned claims through presuit investigation and resolution, including responses to information requests, negotiations, settlement offers, denials, and defense.
Coordinate and execute presuit legal and administrative processes required by Florida statute and SIP policy.
Initiate the employment and retention of experts; prepare witnesses; and participate in unsworn statements and other presuit discovery.
Coordinate and manage litigation defense, including investigations, discovery responses, case tracking, defense strategies, and timely resolution.
Assist outside counsel with the preparation of fact and expert witnesses and participate in significant hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials.
Assist in selecting outside legal counsel and monitor claim files, reserves, allocated loss expenses, and indemnity payments against authorized limits.
Identify claim-related risk factors and coordinate with SIP Loss Prevention staff to recommend and follow up on loss-reduction activities.
Provide advice and assistance regarding patient-care liabilities and protocols; conduct in-service education, seminars, and presentations for healthcare providers.
Provide investigative and administrative management for healthcare providers facing license-related administrative proceedings and facilitate procurement of legal counsel.
When licensed to practice law in Florida, prepare witnesses for presuit unsworn statements and, with prior approval, represent covered entities at unsworn statements and depositions.
Perform legal work as needed, including preparing legal memoranda and responses, preparing witnesses before trial, and conducting legal research.
Travel extensively to meet with and prepare expert witnesses and attend depositions, including travel throughout the United States and occasionally to foreign countries.