|
|
Eric Schoonveld is a trial lawyer who currently focuses his practice on defending healthcare providers around the country. Eric is particularly adept at assessing difficult cases in a fresh light. Eric is often sought out by clients to consult on and/or try catastrophic cases when problems arise in the days, weeks or months before trial is scheduled.
Eric’s most recent trial victory was on a multi-million dollar exposure in Las Vegas, Nevada. Eric was retained shortly after the deposition of plaintiff’s experts and disclosure of defense experts. Key hospital witnesses and a key defense expert had admitted to deviations from the standard of care. Faced with horridly inflated demands from plaintiff’s attorney, Eric developed new defense strategies, filed an appearance on the case, moved to Las Vegas for six weeks, exhaustively prepared the trial witnesses and led the jury trial to a not guilty verdict in less than twenty minutes of deliberations.
Healthcare providers and other defendants can not afford to accept the status quo when it comes to their trial attorneys, Eric and all the attorneys at HPS are committed to finding solutions to difficult cases regardless of what stage the litigation is in.
While trial skill and resolve is essential in handling lawsuits, many cases can be resolved long before trial. Eric combines his ability to see litigation through a successful jury verdict when necessary with strong alternative dispute resolution experience to assist in obtaining timely and efficient settlements for his clients where possible.
Eric has represented healthcare providers and their employees for over a decade. This representation includes all aspects of malpractice defense including numerous jury trials and various aspects of health care counseling including licensing and regulatory issues. Eric’s clients include local and national healthcare providers.
Eric has co-authored chapters on medical malpractice and wrongful death. He has lectured before hospital and physician groups on documentation and risk management, and has taught negotiation seminars.
Although medical negligence is a significant part of Eric’s current practice, he has handled a number of products liability actions and has experience in the technical aspects of automobiles, aircraft, watercraft and motorcycles. Eric has also represented and counseled businesses involved in the Internet, financial services, real estate, construction, aviation, transportation and other sectors. He has experience in the disputes that today's businesses face including contracts, non-compete clauses, intellectual property, regulatory enforcement, and class actions. While this commercial litigation experience is not a primary part of his practice, it provides exposure to advanced trial technologies and other strategies necessary to try difficult cases.
Eric has practiced in state and Federal Courts in Illinois, Nevada, Virginia, Indiana and elsewhere. He is a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Eric was previously a partner at Lord, Bissell & Brook in both the Medical Litigation and Commercial Litigation Departments.
In the past several years, Eric has:
- Successfully defended client hospital in a three month jury trial seeking multi-million dollar recovery.
- Successfully defended client hospital in four week jury trial seeking multi-million dollar recovery.
- Successfully defended client hospital in three week jury trial seeking multi-million dollar recovery.
- Defended client hospital in four week jury trial seeking multi-million dollar recovery and settled the matter in the post-trial phase for less than plaintiff’s pre-trial demand.
- Consulted on catastrophic malpractice trials in Illinois, Texas and Nevada, assisting in trial strategy, witness preparation, and expert witnesses.
- Used mediation to settle client hospital's multi-million dollar exposure before suit was filed.
- Represented an infant formula company in a successful suit to enjoin its competitor from false advertising and recover damages in Federal Court.
- Negotiated with the OIG on behalf of a client hospital to settle alleged violations of Federal anti-dumping requirements. (EMTALA).
- Pursued emergency injunctive relief for a client HMO against governmental agencies that threatened to discontinue access to governmental payments for healthcare services.
- Represented a health care system in connection with its proposed affiliation.
- Represented a hospital in connection with construction litigation.
- Developed compliance strategies for medical equipment manufacturer.
- Litigated a third-party products liability action involving wrongful death.
- Counseled and defended employers and employees regarding restrictive covenants to protect trade secrets, goodwill and relationships.
|
Education
Northwestern University, J.D., 1991
Trinity Christian, B.A., 1988, high honors
Bar Admissions
Illinois, 1991
Courts
U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois, 1991
Professional and Community Organizations
American Bar Association
Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Board of Directors
|
|
|
The firm of Hall Prangle & Schoonveld is committed to delivering the highest quality litigation services to the defense community. Our emphasis is on trial work, with many of our cases involving catastrophic loss. While the majority of our practice involves medical malpractice defense, we also handle numerous other matters including product liability, employment issues, physician credentialing and commercial litigation. Our hand picked team of seventeen attorneys is devoted to the tireless defense of our clients, including many prestigious hospitals, health care systems, and professional liability carriers operating both locally and nationally.
|
|
