CHRISTINA ESSEX

• Provide proactive education, strategy, and tools to private practice physicians facing professional licensing issues before the Georgia Composite Medical Board, third party billing disputes, overpayment demands, and litigation emotional support.

• Managed the firm's healthcare practice while leading a group of junior attorneys.
• Assisted physicians, physician practices, and other healthcare providers in an array of regulatory and compliance matters including administrative hearings, government investigations, licensing board investigations, and peer review matters.
• Directed communications with healthcare clients and representatives of various state and federal agencies such as the DOJ, HHS, CMS, OIG, and DCH.
• Assisted healthcare clients with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer investigations, audits, and overpayment appeals.
• Provided legal counsel and strategy for healthcare clients who are facing adverse actions related to state, federal, and commercial payer networks, including revocations, exclusions, and suspensions.
• Obtained favorable overpayment appeals before Administrative Law Judges including the return of over $95,000 plus interest to the provider.

• Represented healthcare providers, including long-term care providers, against professional liability and medical malpractice claims as well as defend general liability and insurance defense matters in state and federal court.
• Conducted internal client investigations related to potential claims and lawsuits involving professional negligence, wrongful death, staffing, and abuse.
• Analyzed state and federal regulatory investigations and findings to evaluate impact on legal and business exposure.
• Managed and lead team members in all aspects of the litigation process including mediation and arbitration.
• Directed and supervised litigation strategy and risk mitigation solutions such as opportunities for early dismissal and removal to federal court.
• Successfully negotiated a long-term care case saving the client over half a million dollars.
• Successfully forced the dismissal of a 4-year-old personal injury case days before trial after obtaining the case within months of trial.

• Represented healthcare providers, including long-term care providers, against professional liability and medical malpractice claims in Georgia.
• Conducted pre-suit and internal investigations including witness interviews, detailed document review, assessments and communicate findings, updates and recommendations for resolution.
• Conducted site visit and investigation to locate an enforceable arbitration agreement which successfully moved a high exposure case from court to arbitration.
• Evaluated legal risks in connection with litigation to protect client interests and achieve positive outcomes.
• Monitored and analyzed CMS/Medicare regulations, guidance, and federal and state legislation to address impact on legal risks and reduce exposure such as COVID-19 immunity statutes.
• Negotiated favorable settlement terms on behalf of clients in numerous cases using common sense solutions, saving time and resources.
• Assisted with medical records requests to ensure compliance with HIPAA.

• Represented healthcare professionals, including physicians, home health, and correctional health care providers, against professional liability and medical malpractice claims throughout the State of Georgia.
• Analyzed confidential, protected health information to analyze and identify risks to advise clients on best course of action.
• Supervised and managed staff to oversee litigation process.
• Managed all aspects of litigation and report risk mitigation and resolution strategies to clients.

• Defended health care providers, including long term care providers, through all aspects of litigation, including mediation and appeals, throughout the State of Indiana and before the Indiana Department of Health.
• Counseled clients on state and federal regulatory deficiencies related to claims. Investigated claims and interviewed witnesses to determine risk assessment, strategy, and resolution potential.
• Discovered through detailed and early investigation Plaintiff's non-confidential settlement agreement in a prior lawsuit which waived the right to pursue future claims related to the same injury alleged against my client. Plaintiff's attorney demanded $1 million dollars but accepted $100,000 to dismiss the case as a result of this discovery which saved the client money and resources.
• Dismissed several lawsuits against clients through oral advocacy and motions practice. For example, a dispositive motion was argued before the court after diligent discovery that Plaintiff's counsel failed to timely substitute and identify a real party in interest following the death of Plaintiff. The motion was granted, and the case dismissed. The dismissal was leveraged to negotiate other cases involving the same issue with the same attorney which saved the client money.
• Collaborated with client on proposed language changes to arbitration agreement in compliance with state and federal law and advised on associated legal risks.
• Collaborated with long-term care team to monitor CMS guidelines and mandates related to COVID-19 pandemic in anticipation of COVID-19 claims and lawsuits.
• Leader on the Diversity and Recruitment, Social Justice, Marketing, and Onboarding Committees.

• Represented defendants in complex civil litigation in both State and Federal Court in trucking and transportation liability defense, general liability, personal injury, product liability and medical malpractice.
• Conducted pre-suit investigations including scene investigations involving transportation vehicles.
• Communicated with clients regarding defense strategy and recommendations.

Associate at Kopka Pinkus Dolin, P.C. in Indianapolis, IN and Dickie McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. in Pittsburgh, PA representing defendants in insurance defense, trucking and transportation, medical malpractice, and toxic torts.