Nancy is a member of the Health Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, and Medical Malpractice practice groups. Her practice focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on the defense of long-term care companies in a variety of litigation areas such as medical malpractice, general negligence, premises liability, and contract disputes.

Nancy has litigated cases as a first-chair trial attorney in tort defense cases for over 25 years. She has tried the difficult cases to verdict and won; however, she understands that early case resolution benefits her clients and encourages mediation when appropriate. She is a trained mediator with experience guiding cases through the mediation process and defending cases in arbitration. She works with her clients to determine the best course of action and uses the information gathered in litigation to evaluate and modify policies and practices.

Additionally, Nancy has successfully represented medical providers before the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Licensed Nursing Home Administrators, and Pharmacy. She has represented oncologists, eye surgeons, optometrists, dentists, surgeons, and other medical providers in medical malpractice litigation.

Nancy also provides advice to her long-term care clients on regulatory compliance; risk management with residents and families; and contents of resident admission, arbitration, and CCRC agreements.

Nancy graduated from the College of William & Mary and graduated with honors from The Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law. Nancy has received the Award for Excellence and Innovation in Alternative Dispute Resolution from The Center for Public Resources Legal Program. She currently serves as the Vice President and President-Elect of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and serves on the board of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.

Thought Leadership

Publications

Responding to Virginia Consumer Protection Act Claims in Medical Negligence Cases, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Vol. XXXII, No. 3, Fall 2020

SNFs Face Troubling Trend Following Golden Gate Decision, McKnight’s Long Term Care News, November 26, 2018

Current News on Oyer Motions: A New Wrinkle for an Old Tool, The Journal of Civil Litigation, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Vol. XXX, No. 3, Fall 2018

Salus Decision Offers a Golden Ticket to Some Long Term Care Facilities, McKnight’s Long Term Care News, March 14, 2018

As Demand Increases for Granny Cams, What Should LTC Facilities Do?, McKnight’s Long Term Care News, December 20, 2017

Avoiding Legal Claims in Assisted Living Facilities, I Advance Senior Care, February 10, 2017

The Negligence Duty of Assisted Living Facilities: Between A Rock and A Hard Place, 24 Health Law, Issue 7, December 2016

Defuse Disputes With Arbitration Clauses, Long Term Living, August 26, 2016

Representative Matters

  • Defense verdict in death case for assisted living facility with resident suffering four falls
  • Defense verdict in carpal tunnel surgery resulting in de Quervain’s syndrome case
  • Defense verdict in oncologist failure to diagnose lung cancer metastasis case
  • Defense verdict in appendix removal with artery laceration malpractice matter
  • Resolved over 200 long term care negligence cases involving pressure ulcers, falls, medication errors and abuse resulting in personal injuries, including death
  • Obtained decisions in more than 50 cases that internal policies and procedures cannot be used to establish a long term care facility’s negligence duty and breach of duty
  • Successfully argued the Virginia opt-out statute for arbitration clauses in medical negligence cases is in violation of the Federal Arbitration Act
  • Obtained dismissal under the workers’ compensation act of a 362 plaintiff hearing loss case
  • Dismissal of federal antitrust litigation by pulmonologist denied hospital privileges

Attorney Perspectives

Speaking Engagements

  • 2024 Virginia Assisted Living Spring Conference | Breakout Session: Avoiding Claims and Liability
    March 27, 2024
  • 2024 Virginia Assisted Living Spring Conference | Keynote Speaker on Avoiding Claims and Liability
    March 26, 2024
  • 5th Annual Long Term Care Insurance ExecuSummit | Defending Against Consumer Protection Claims in Malpractice Litigation
    September 13, 2023
  • 5th Annual Long Term Care Insurance Summit | Defending Against Consumer Protection Claims in Malpractice Litigation
    September 13, 2023
  • Lawline | Gender Diversity in the Practice of Law
    December 16, 2022
  • Long Term Care Insurance ExecuSummit | Defending Against Resident Abuse Cases
    June 21, 2022
  • VADA Annual Conference | Defending Against Virginia Consumer Protection Act Claims in Medical Malpractice Cases
    October 21, 2021
  • Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys | Update on Motions Craving Oyer: Evolution of a Valuable Defense Tool
    November 17, 2020
  • Highland Ridge Rehab Center | Personal Liability as a Healthcare Professional
    June 20, 2019
  • Long Term Care and Senior Care Compliance, Risk Management, and Litigation Strategies Conference | Drafting Effective Arbitration Agreements that Will Withstand Attack
    January 23, 2019

Recognition