PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE

       The last few decades have seen an increased tendency of parties to look for relief against professionals when financial loss or personal injury has been caused by actions or omissions which would not be expected from reasonably competent service. These professionals include physicians and other medical providers, accountants, lawyers, engineers, and a variety of other occupations. Both the legislatures and the courts have responded by setting various guidelines for the protection of those who have received such injury and for the protection of those professions. For example, the Montana legislature created the Montana Medical-Legal Panel and required that all claims for medical malpractice be filed first before that tribunal for a confidential hearing before the claim can be filed with a court of record. In several cases there are special statutes of limitation -- the time period in which a claim can be filed -- which apply only to certain fields of professional practice.

        The presentation or defense of a professional malpractice claim usually depends greatly upon sufficient preparation, adequate research into the particular field under scrutiny, and securing superior experts who are not only able to understand the basic principles involved, but also are able to give testimony which will relate well to a jury. Several lawyers at Moulton Bellingham have broad experience in handling malpractice claims. Additionally, the firm has extensive resources enabling it to develop the research and preparation necessary for the presentation of a successful case. We also have access to a wide variety of professional persons who are willing to act as expert witnesses in such cases.