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Overview

Overview

Edward (“Ed”) Mayer, Jr. is Co-Chair of Gfeller Laurie LLP’s Healthcare and Professional Liability practice group.

Ed practices in the area of complex civil litigation, primarily focusing in the area of medical and professional malpractice defense matters.  Ed represents healthcare clients from all specialties in medical malpractice litigation, aging services litigation, general liability and product liability disputes, coverage disputes and appeals.  He has successfully defended medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, orthodontists, and healthcare institutions in all facets of medical liability cases, including litigation involving anesthesia, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, radiology, infectious disease, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.  Ed also routinely represents healthcare providers in administrative proceedings before the Connecticut Department of Health, including through the presentation of evidence and expert witnesses at contested hearings.

Ed has an active trial practice in state and federal courts throughout Connecticut as well as arbitration proceedings. He is routinely called upon to serve as trial counsel in high-exposure cases that involve catastrophic injuries.  Ed has also argued cases before the Connecticut Court of Appeals and Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ed is often asked to educate healthcare providers, their groups, hospitals and medical societies on risk management issues and has lectured at seminars on various aspects of civil litigation, particularly discovery techniques and trial strategy.

Experience

Experience

Representative Experience

  • Obtained summary judgment in a suit in the U.S. District Court for the District Court alleging deliberate indifference to serious medical needs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sect. 1983, violation of the Eighth Amendments to the Constitution and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress against an APRN regarding treatment for diabetes
  • Obtained summary judgment in a civil rights suit against an APRN in the U.S. District Court for the District Court alleging deliberate indifference to serious medical needs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sect. 1983 and violation of the First and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution.  
  • Obtained judgment of nonsuit in lawsuit alleging negligent care of a resident with celiac disease following a femur fracture.  
  • Obtained defense verdict in lawsuit alleging defendant ophthalmologist was negligent in connection with plaintiff’s post-operative bleeding following a micro-invasive glaucoma cypass surgery for a condition of pseudo exfoliation glaucoma, resulting in retinal detachment and permanent blindness in her left eye.
  • After extensive discovery, including deposition testimony of over 20 providers and experts, a plaintiff voluntary withdrew claims against the defendant hospital that CT imaging of the chest was indicative of air outside the esophagus and consistent with an atrial esophageal fistula, resulting in a stroke and permanent sequela.  
  • After depositions, plaintiff voluntarily withdrew claim against defendant hospital alleging that placement of pedicle screws during lumbar spinal fusion procedure resulted in revision surgery and permanent injury.  
  • Obtained voluntary dismissal of claims made against hospital in the U.S. District for the District of Connecticut for medical malpractice in its emergency room treatment and for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sect 1983 and violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  
  • Immediately prior to trial, obtained voluntary withdrawal of claims for medical negligence in the performance of a total knee replacement which included actual and apparent agency claims against the hospital.
  • Obtained summary judgment dismissing claims that defendant neurosurgeon failed to identify and recognize the alleged medial placement of a pedicle screw in a lumbar procedure, resulting in a foot drop, pain, loss of sensation and weakness in the lower extremity.
  • Following two weeks of evidence, obtained an arbitration award that defendant hospital had complied with standard of care in case where plaintiff alleged that the hospital had failed to institute a psychiatric hold on a patient who went on to commit suicide.  
  • Following two weeks of evidence, obtained arbitration award in favor of defendant against claims that anesthesiologist failed to properly intubate and anesthetize the patient when using general anesthesia for surgery allegedly resulting in a phrenic injury, right hemi-diaphragm paralysis and permanent injury requiring fusions to several levels of her cervical spine.  
  • Obtained arbitration award in favor of defendant neurosurgeon against claim of failure to recognize the migration of hardware following a lumbar fusion surgery resulting in permanent nerve damage and partial paralysis.
  • Following a month of jury selection and seven weeks of evidence, obtained a defense verdict in favor of hospital alleging its transport team failed to appropriately intubate an infant who decompensated during transfer to a tertiary hospital, resulting in severe brain damage and the need for lifelong care.  Experts from across the country testified in pediatric neurology, neuroradiology, infectious disease, nursing, emergency transport and life care planning.  
  • Following a week of evidence, DPH Nursing Board found in favor of an internal medicine APRN who had evaluated a patient who subsequently had a myocardial infarction that day at home.  

Professional Affiliations

  • Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association – Board of Directors
  • Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association – Officer (Treasurer)
  • Oliver Ellsworth Inns of Court – Bencher
  • Fact Finder/Arbitrator, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch

Civic Activities

  • Knights of Columbus, Santa Fe Council

Speaking Engagements

  • Current Voir Dire Issues in Connecticut, CDLA, March 2023
  • Defense Experts, CDLA Next Generation Series, August 2021
  • Plaintiff Deposition, CDLA Next Generation Series, May 2021
  • Trial Tactics, CDLA Trial Tactics Series, Effective Use and Cross of Expert Witnesses, July 2016
  • Massachusetts Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, The Medical Malpractice Climate, importance of Documentation and a Deposition, November 2014
  • MRM, Mock Depositions, May 2013 and April 2011Ed has also routinely presented to clients on issues related to lessons learned from trials and arbitrations. He has also been involved in several mock trials including cases involving specialties such as ophthalmology, cardiology and general surgery.

Credentials

Credentials

Admitted to Practice

  • Connecticut
  • United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Connecticut

Education

  • Northern Illinois University, B.S.
  • Quinnipiac University School of Law, J.D., cum laude

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