Lori Semlies, a co-chair of the firm’s Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice, defends medical and nursing home malpractice claims in state and federal courts, including all phases of litigation through trial. She also formed the firm’s Coronavirus Task Force for the defense of health care claims. Lori is a member of Wilson Elser's Executive Committee and sits on several other firm committees.
A frequent lecturer at conferences across the country, Lori speaks on best practices in documentation in a medical institution. She also assists clients with drafting admission agreements and protocols and helps them manage crisis situations.
Lori is active in Wilson Elser’s Women Attorneys Valued & Empowered (WAVE) initiative, which exemplifies the firm’s enlightened approach to advancing the professional and personal well-being of its women attorneys. She also assists with the firm’s mentoring programs.
Areas of Focus
Medical MalpracticeLori’s practice encompasses the defense of hospitals and physicians in medical malpractice cases arising in all areas of medical specialty, from orthopedics to neurosurgery, and involving all types of claims, from brain-damaged infants to failure to diagnose cancer. She also defends dentists, podiatrists, laboratories and telehealth providers.
Long-Term Care Facilities & Nursing Homes
As chair of the firm’s national nursing home team, Lori has particular knowledge of the state and federal regulations that pertain to long-term care facilities. Cases that she handles in connection with nursing homes typically arise from the development of decubitus ulcers, falls that lead to fractures or brain injuries, and allegations of failure to diagnose or properly treat a patient. To limit or avoid punitive damages available to plaintiffs under local or federal statute, Lori and the other members of the firm’s nursing home team have developed useful strategies for getting claims dismissed and have crafted arguments for limiting the use of evidence during the liability phase of a trial. Lori is a much-sought-after speaker on best practices, known for using a mock examination of nursing staff to demonstrate the potential pitfalls of inadequate documentation.
Cannabis Law
Lori has melded her substantial risk management skills with the firm’s Cannabis Law Practice to provide expert advice to the medical community focused on medicinal marijuana. This includes advising practitioners and hospitals on drafting policies to address medicinal use and recent presentations and articles on the subject.