Jodi Terranova is a seasoned trial lawyer and a member of Wilson Elser’s highly regarded National Trial Team. She maintains a robust legal practice concentrated on litigating medical malpractice cases on behalf of physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, ambulatory surgery centers, medical transport teams, urgent care centers, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. She also represents allied health care professionals, including psychologists, nurse midwives, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners and medical assistants. Jodi is recognized for her capable defense of complex medical malpractice cases in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Experienced in litigating high-exposure cases, Jodi is a cochair of Wilson Elser's Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice. To help avoid lawsuits, Jodi routinely provides seminars on topics such as proper documentation and effective communication between health care practitioners and patients. Jodi co-authored a comparative law review on medical malpractice as it relates to COVID-19 and has given presentations on cybersecurity, HIPAA and COVID-19 liability immunity. She has developed an inclusive and practical approach to case management that gives her clients the reassurance that is vital to a strong working relationship.

Jodi currently serves as the President of the DRI Foundation. She previously served as a National Director on the DRI Board of Directors (2018-2021), as the DRI State Membership Chair for the District of Columbia and as the DRI State Representative for the District of Columbia as well as Program Chair for the DRI 2018 Medical Liability and Healthcare Seminar. Jodi was named a Washingtonian Top Civil Defense Lawyer for 2019‒2023, has been selected by Super Lawyers, 2022‒2024, as and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2013−2015. Jodi also is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

Areas of Focus

Medical Malpractice
As a cochair of Wilson Elser's Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice, Jodi leads a team of experienced medical malpractice attorneys, nurse paralegals and paralegals in developing successful medical-related defense strategies. She has extensive experience defending complex medical malpractice cases in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. She has obtained a number of defense verdicts in medical malpractice cases arising in all areas of medical specialty, including general surgery, internal medicine, orthopedics and urology. Jodi regularly handles matters involving the full range of medical malpractice claims, including misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, failure to treat, surgical or procedural errors, and childbirth injuries, among others. She also is knowledgeable about medical malpractice claims stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as damages relating to understaffing and negligent failure to warn or protect patients. Jodi also defends clients at disciplinary hearings before professional boards in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

General & Premises Liability
Jodi’s clients include insured and self-insured commercial businesses, restaurants, transportation companies, schools and public and private landlords. She defends against virtually every type of personal injury and property damage claim.

    Education

    • George Mason University School of Law (J.D., 2000)
    • Bowdoin College (B.A., 1997)

    Bar Admissions

    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia
    • Maryland
    • New Jersey

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
    • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

    Professional Affiliations

    • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
    • District of Columbia Defense Lawyers Association
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Maryland State Bar Association
    • Virginia State Bar Association
    • DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar: President, DRI Foundation (2023–2024), Vice President (2021–2023); DRI State Membership Chair for the District of Columbia; DRI State Representative for the District of Columbia (2013-2016); and Program Chair for the DRI 2018 Medical Liability and Healthcare Seminar.
    • International Association of Defense Counsel

    Awards & Honors

    • DRI Foundation Community Service Award, 2024
    • Selected for inclusion in Washington D.C. Super Lawyers®, 2022-2024
    • Washington, DC’s Top Lawyers in Civil Defense, Washingtonian Magazine, 2017– 2018, 2020–2023
    • Selected for inclusion in Washington DC Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2013-2015

Jodi V. Terranova

Jodi Terranova is a seasoned trial lawyer and a member of Wilson Elser’s highly regarded National Trial Team. She maintains a robust legal practice concentrated on litigating medical malpractice cases on behalf of physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, ambulatory surgery centers, medical transport teams, urgent care centers, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. She also represents allied health care professionals, including psychologists, nurse midwives, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners and medical assistants. Jodi is recognized for her capable defense of complex medical malpractice cases in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Experienced in litigating high-exposure cases, Jodi is a cochair of Wilson Elser's Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice. To help avoid lawsuits, Jodi routinely provides seminars on topics such as proper documentation and effective communication between health care practitioners and patients. Jodi co-authored a comparative law review on medical malpractice as it relates to COVID-19 and has given presentations on cybersecurity, HIPAA and COVID-19 liability immunity. She has developed an inclusive and practical approach to case management that gives her clients the reassurance that is vital to a strong working relationship.

Jodi currently serves as the President of the DRI Foundation. She previously served as a National Director on the DRI Board of Directors (2018-2021), as the DRI State Membership Chair for the District of Columbia and as the DRI State Representative for the District of Columbia as well as Program Chair for the DRI 2018 Medical Liability and Healthcare Seminar. Jodi was named a Washingtonian Top Civil Defense Lawyer for 2019‒2023, has been selected by Super Lawyers, 2022‒2024, as and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2013−2015. Jodi also is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

Events

Jodi Terranova is a seasoned trial lawyer and a member of Wilson Elser’s highly regarded National Trial Team. She maintains a robust legal practice concentrated on litigating medical malpractice cases on behalf of physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, ambulatory surgery centers, medical transport teams, urgent care centers, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. She also represents allied health care professionals, including psychologists, nurse midwives, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners and medical assistants. Jodi is recognized for her capable defense of complex medical malpractice cases in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Experienced in litigating high-exposure cases, Jodi is a cochair of Wilson Elser's Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice. To help avoid lawsuits, Jodi routinely provides seminars on topics such as proper documentation and effective communication between health care practitioners and patients. Jodi co-authored a comparative law review on medical malpractice as it relates to COVID-19 and has given presentations on cybersecurity, HIPAA and COVID-19 liability immunity. She has developed an inclusive and practical approach to case management that gives her clients the reassurance that is vital to a strong working relationship.

Jodi currently serves as the President of the DRI Foundation. She previously served as a National Director on the DRI Board of Directors (2018-2021), as the DRI State Membership Chair for the District of Columbia and as the DRI State Representative for the District of Columbia as well as Program Chair for the DRI 2018 Medical Liability and Healthcare Seminar. Jodi was named a Washingtonian Top Civil Defense Lawyer for 2019‒2023, has been selected by Super Lawyers, 2022‒2024, as and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2013−2015. Jodi also is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

Jodi V. Terranova

Terranova, Lefko, and Davis Win Unanimous Defense Verdict in 30 Minutes After Two-Week Medical Malpractice Trial

Jodi Terranova (Partner-Washington, DC), Nathan Lefko (Associate-Washington, DC), and Stuart Davis (Associate-Washington, DC) secured a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case in the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, Maryland, following a two-week-long trial. The case involved allegations of negligence against Wilson Elser’s gastroenterologist client arising from a colonoscopy that was complicated by a perforation, which was identified in the PACU following the procedure. The plaintiff alleged the perforation resulted from excessive use of CO₂ (barotrauma) during the procedure, and sought damages for a subsequent ileocecectomy, ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium (along with his wife), and past medical bills. Jodi, Nate, and Stuart demonstrated that the physician encountered a tortuous colon with extensive diverticula immediately upon entering the colon and relied primarily on water infusion, with continuous suctioning throughout the procedure, rather than excessive CO₂. The team further established that the perforation was consistent with a shearing injury due to the tortuous colon, supported by pathology findings showing microscopic adhesions and a bowel-on-bowel connection. After just 30 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the client.

Jodi V. Terranova, Nathan Lefko and Stuart W. Davis

Terranova, Grove and Bonafede Obtain Unanimous Defense Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case

Jodi Terranova (Partner-Washington, DC), co-chair of Wilson Elser’s Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice, Callyson Grove (Partner-Washington, DC) and Giovanna Bonafede (Associate-McLean, VA) obtained a unanimous defense verdict in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria on behalf of a general surgeon and his employer, a medical group practice. The plaintiff alleged that our client breached the standard of care in performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy by failing to perform other surgical techniques when he was unable to identify anatomy, resulting in a transected common hepatic duct. Jodi, Callyson and Giovanna successfully argued that the plaintiff had distorted anatomy at the time of surgery due to inflammation and a rare genetic anomaly, causing the common hepatic duct to be in front of the infundibulum of the gallbladder, making the injury unavoidable. After a five-day trial and ten hours of deliberation, the jury of eight returned a unanimous verdict in favor of our client surgeon and his employer.

Jodi V. Terranova, Callyson T. Grove and Giovanna R. Bonafede

Terranova, Goodson, and St. Louis Secure Appellate Affirmance Denying Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict Motion

Jodi V. Terranova (Partner-Washington, DC), Robert Goodson (Senior Counsel-Washington, DC), and Justin St. Louis (Associate-Washington, DC) prevailed in the D.C. Court of Appeals, with the court affirming the trial court's rulings denying the plaintiff's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, following a defense verdict Bert obtained for Wilson Elser's client, a gastroenterologist, and his practice. The plaintiff's appeal sought reversal on the grounds that the verdict sheet improperly included the phrase "proximate cause," including a question regarding proximate cause on the informed consent claim, and improperly included questions about contributory negligence. Jodi successfully argued before the three-judge panel, and Justin wrote the appellee brief, assisted by Bert. The case involved allegations of medical malpractice, lack of informed consent, and wrongful death following a colonoscopy for failure ensure the decedent resumed his anticoagulation medication, leading to a deep vein thrombosis, amputation and death. Jodi is the co-chair of Wilson Elser's Medical Malpractice & Health Care Practice.

Jodi V. Terranova, Robert W. Goodson and Justin St. Louis

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