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As part of an effort to force healthcare providers into providing a higher quality of care to their patients, the Affordable Care Act allows the federal government to penalize hospitals for having to readmit too many patients within thirty days of their initial release, according to an article in the August 18, 2014 edition of Crain’s Chicago Business. In the article, entitled “Medicare to Ding 120 Illinois Hospitals Over Readmission,” author Andrew Wang revealed that in 2015…

Chicago and two California counties have filed two separate lawsuits against five drug makers for their “aggressive marketing” techniques that they alleged have fueled an epidemic of addiction and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in insurance claims and other health care costs, according to a story in The New York Times (“Chicago and 2 California Counties Sue Over Marketing of Painkillers,” Aug. 24, 2014). “The lawsuits assert that drug makers urged doctors to prescribe the…

Every year the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issues a “Most Wanted List” highlighting safety issues that it identifies from accident investigations. The purpose is to increase awareness about the issues and recommend safety solutions. For 2014, the NTSB has identified unique characteristics of helicopter operations, eliminating distractions and substance-impaired driving, pipeline safety, rail mass transit operational safety and other important issues that it sees that need improvement. For example, the NTSB wrote, “Over the…

August 22, 2014 Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices, is Planning Co-Chair and Moderator of the upcoming Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) Update and Review Seminar on Oct. 13, Columbus Day, a court holiday. The all-day seminar reviews the latest on several topics in trial litigation including “Social Media in Litigation,” a topic that will be presented by a Clifford Law Offices asaociate. The Hon. James P. Flannery, Presiding Judge of the Cook…

Lawyers from Clifford Law Offices will be featured on the Chicago television network, CAN TV, this week in three educational interviews on the legal profession. Viewers can learn about Tort Reform in Illinois, breaches in personal data, and general information about medical malpractice and what it takes to have a case. The video interviews were filmed by Clifford Law Offices with the intent to educate the Chicago community. The interviews will be screened on CAN…

Robert A. Clifford, a nationally prominent trial attorney in Chicago, attended the American Bar Association’s (ABA) annual meeting in Boston which was held August 8-10, 2014. According to the American Bar Association’s website, the organization is committed to serving its members, improving the legal profession, eliminating bias and enhancing diversity, and advancing the rule of law throughout the United States and around the world. Clifford is an active supporter of ABA and has served a…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that GM’s vehicle identification number system which allows owners to look up whether their vehicle has been effected by the millions of recalls issued this year is not listing all cars that are in need of repairs, according to The Detroit News (“Government says GM site faulty, doesn’t correctly list recalled vehicles”; 8/1/2014). Owners are able to enter their personal vehicle identification numbers with the site then…

Senior Partner and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer Magazine Robert A. Clifford of Clifford Law Offices wrote his February, 2012 column called, “Navigating the Waters of Mediation.” In this article, Clifford gives advice to his colleagues on how to properly approach mediation proceedings. Clifford advises lawyers to focus on a few main points, including the determination of the proper point in litigation to pursue mediation, allowing the client to be present for the mediation,…

Robert A. Clifford, Senior Partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his October, 2012 column entitled “Granite State, Granite Heart.” In the article, Clifford explains the dangers that come with a new medical malpractice law recently passed by the New Hampshire state legislature. In 2012, New Hampshire became the first state to approve what is known as an “early offer program” pertaining to medical malpractice litigation. Under this…