Matis Baum Rizza O'Connor

Thomas A. Matis

Focus:

The representation of physicians, physician practice groups, hospitals and other health care professionals in litigation involving malpractice, hospital and healthcare law, other professional malpractice defense including accountants and lawyers, insurance agent defense, real estate agent/broker defense, insurance bad faith defense, commercial litigation and general insurance defense.

Of Interest:

Thomas A. Matis was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2002. Fellowship is extended only by invitation to attorneys whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.

Membership can never be more than one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province, and requires lawyers to be actively engaged in trial work as their principal activity for a minimum of 15 years.Tom has also been appointed as Special Master for Civil Litigation by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania, and is an appointed mediator for the Mediation/Neutral Evaluation Program of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Tom is a founding member of Matis Baum Rizza O’Connor.

Sample of Experience and Verdicts:

  • Defense of death case involving diabetic ketoacidoses following failure to diagnose and treat diabetes in a young adult. Jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Defense of case involving claim for loss of vision following cataract surgery. Jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Defense of case involving loss of eyesight from retinal detachment. Jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Defense of claim involving stroke following left carotid endarterectomy and left atrial exploration for myoma that was not found at surgery. Jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Defense of alleged failure to diagnose and treat necrotizing fascitis. Plaintiff had left arm amputated at shoulder level and had three fingers amputated on right hand. Jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Defense of alleged failure to timely diagnose myocardial infarction in 54 year old woman admitted with chest pain. Jury returned a defense verdict.
  • Defense of claim of brain damage in 31 year old woman following conscious sedation for removal of wisdom teeth and electric convulsive therapy (ECT) for subsequent catatonic state. Jury returned a defense verdict.

Publications/Presentations:

  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “Current Issues in Medical Malpractice,” March 2007.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “Examining the Expert Witness in Medical Malpractice and Commercial Cases,” June 1996.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Course Planner and Presenter, “Annual Pennsylvania Auto Law Update - Bad Faith Litigation,” October 1995.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “Annual Pennsylvania Auto Law Update - Alternative Dispute Resolution,” October 1994.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Course Planner and Presenter, “Annual Pennsylvania Auto Law Update - Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Summary,” November 1993.
  • Pennsylvania Association of Trial Lawyers, “Underinsured Motorist Arbitration, The Defense Perspective,” 1993.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Practice and Procedure,” October 1992.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “How to Handle Personal Injury Litigation,” 1990.
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, “Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law,” 1998.