Thomas G Kokoruda

Practice Areas

Health Care Litigation

Litigation

Professional Memberships

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow

American College of Legal Medicine

American Health Law Association

Circuit Court Advisory Committee

- Past Chair

Hospital-Medico-Legal Committee

- Past Chair

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

- Executive Committee, 1986-1994

- President, 1993

- President Past Presidents, 2021

Kansas Hospital Attorneys

Missouri Society of Hospital Attorneys

Missouri Supreme Court

- Civil Jury Study Committee, 2000-2001

National Health Lawyers Association

University of Kansas School of Law

- Board of Governors, 1991-1993

Expert in these Jurisdictions

- Kansas, 2005

- Missouri, 1972

Work Highlights

Successfully resolved Kansas and Missouri Wiretap Class Actions vs. private prison company

Handled appeal of a $26M jury verdict in the alleged wrongful termination of a physician

Successfully defended class action in Denver Federal Court re: Fentanyl diversion alleging 3,000 patients exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B & C

Successfully defended constructive discharge/retaliatory discharge case filed by multiple employees against hospital and hospital CEO

Obtained dismissal of federal court antitrust claim where orthopedic physician sued hospital and other orthopedists alleging antitrust conspiracy.

Successfully represented CEO of a large nonprofit health system in a lawsuit filed by the Missouri Attorney General attacking the then largest acquisition of a nonprofit health system by a for-profit hospital company.

Obtained Eighth Circuit affirmation of District Court grant of summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by a surgeon whose medical staff privileges were revoked alleging illegal antitrust conspiracy and monopolization.

Represented purchaser of large nonprofit health system in a state court bench trial arising out of allegations by a health care foundation formed with proceeds of the sale that the buyer failed to make $450 million in required capital expenditures.

Successfully prosecuted the revocation of medical staff privileges of a Kalamazoo, Michigan internist who subsequently failed in an antitrust case filed in federal court.

Argued the seminal Missouri Supreme Court case interpreting the scope and application of the peer review privilege in Missouri.

Obtained a defense jury verdict in what was considered to be the first trial in Missouri of a lawsuit against a hospital alleging corporate negligence and negligent credentialing arising out of the grant of privileges to a neurosurgeon whose surgery left the plaintiff paralyzed.

Obtained a defense jury verdict in a case arising out of the death of a 21-year-old mental health patient as a result of an alleged overdose of the drug Haldol.

Obtained a defense jury verdict in a catastrophic birth injury case against Baptist Medical Center where the alleged economic loss exceeded $15 million.

Obtained a defense jury verdict in a catastrophic birth injury case against a nurse, obstetrician, and hospital where the alleged economic loss exceeded $20 million.

Successfully prosecuted revocation of a laparoscopic surgeon's medical staff privileges at Baptist Medical Center without further litigation.

Successfully prosecuted the revocation of a neurologist's medical staff privileges at Research Medical Center without further litigation.

Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a domestic x-ray company against a French manufacturer of imaging equipment arising from the manufacturer's attempt to steal key employees and thus eliminate our client as a competitor.

Frequently represents hospitals and their executives in employment litigation, including wrongful discharge, constructive discharge, and allegations of hostile work environment.

Education

Awards