Glorious Hightower
ghightower@messalaw.com
215.568.3500
MESSA & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Philadelphia Attorney Joseph L. Messa, Jr. Addresses
Orthopaedic Surgeons at their Annual Meeting
PHILADELPHIA (February 10, 2012) – Joseph L. Messa, Jr., founding attorney of Messa & Associates, P.C., presented “Anatomy of a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit” as a guest speaker at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting yesterday in San Francisco. Mr. Messa’s presentation focused on patient safety related lawsuits and the process of handling a medical malpractice case from the beginning phases until its conclusion.
“Medical malpractice is a serious issue that accounts for tens of thousands of deaths in this country each year. Patients suffer devastating, life-altering injuries as a result of preventable medical mistakes every day and the victims of these mistakes deserve to be heard and recover damages for their injuries. It is important that medical professionals and trial attorneys continue to engage in a dialogue about this issue so that we can continue to work to reduce the number of people injured as a result of malpractice.”
Messa & Associates has represented individuals in cases against doctors, hospitals, medical practice groups, and nursing homes. The attorneys litigate medical malpractice cases involving birth-related injuries, delayed and failure to diagnose cancer, spinal cord injuries, hospital-acquired infections, brain injury, stroke, and an array of other cases involving medical errors resulting in injury. The firm has secured multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in medical malpractice cases including a $16.5 million jury verdict for failure to investigate a seven-year-old child’s surgically correctable underlying heart condition; $12.1 million jury verdict a spinal fusion case, involving the insertion of metal screws that became infected, causing irreversible damage, into the man’s spine and a $10 million award for a man whose physician performed an unnecessary surgery, implanting an unapproved medical device in his spine.
AAOS provides musculoskeletal education to orthopaedic surgeons and others in the world. The organization offers continuing medical education activities including its Annual Meeting, multiple CME courses and various medical and scientific publications and electronic media materials.
Mr. Messa is a member of the Bars of the Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court for the District of New Jersey, as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and the First, Third, and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeals. He received his juris doctorate, cum laude, from Temple University School of Law in 1988.
In addition, he is an active member of the American Association for Justice; American Bar Association; Pennsylvania Association for Justice; New Jersey Association for Justice, Philadelphia, Camden, Burlington County New Jersey Bar Associations; and the Justinian Society. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association since 2006, and currently holds the leadership position of Assistant Secretary.
Mr. Messa is an AV-rated attorney, listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and was named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers. Mr. Messa is also an advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and has successfully litigated multiple serious injury cases to seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, in medical malpractice, products liability, fire and burn injury and construction/work injury matters.
About Messa & Associates, P.C.
Messa & Associates, P.C. represents individuals and their families in complex personal injury matters, including catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, product liability, motor vehicle accidents, fires and explosions. Our attorneys serve Pennsylvania clients throughout the state, including in Philadelphia and other surrounding communities in Montgomery County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Bucks County. Messa & Associates is also proud to serve clients throughout the state of New Jersey, and also litigate cases nationwide.
For more information, please contact Glorious Hightower at (215) 568-3500 or GHightower@messalaw.com.