Michele G. Thompson

Partner

Michele G.  Thompson practices in the area of civil litigation, including general negligence, professional liability, medical malpractice, personal injury, and employment law. She focuses her practice on defending hospitals, physicians, employers and other insureds in complex litigation. In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Thompson represents healthcare providers, including physicians, dentists, nurses and behavioral health providers, before regulatory agencies on matters concerning discipline and licensure. She also represents employers in employment discrimination matters before the EEOC/ARCD.  In addition, Ms. Thompson represents healthcare providers in responding to HIPAA violations before the Office for Civil Rights as well as assists providers in breach notifications required under the HITECH Act. She has presented several seminars and in-house training on various HIPAA issues.

 

Representative Matters:

• Defends healthcare providers in medical malpractice litigation.
• Represents national insurance carriers and insureds in claims involving personal injury and general negligence.
• Represents major corporations as well as small businesses in litigation including, but not limited to claims involving discrimination, wrongful termination and personal injury.
• Represents healthcare providers, including physicians, dentists, nurses, and behavioral health professionals, before regulatory licensure boards.
• Represents employers in employment discrimination claims before the Arizona Civil Rights Division/EEOC.
• Assists healthcare providers in handling HIPAA complaints and breaches.
• Defends health care providers in matters involving HIPAA complaints/violations before the Department of Health and Human Services/Office for Civil Rights.

 

Education:

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (J.D., 1999)

University of Arizona,(B.A., Psychology, magna cum laude, 1996)

 

Court Admissions / Memberships:

Arizona State Courts                                                       State Bar of Arizona

U.S. District Court of Arizona                                       Pima County Bar Association

U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals                           Arizona Association of Health Care Lawyers

Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Board Member

Tucson Defense Bar

Arizona Women Lawyers Association

Defense Research Institute

 

Published Decisions:

Levine v. Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C., 1-CA-CV-16-0590 (App. 2018)

Miller v. Kelly, 212 Ariz. 283, 130 P.3d 982 (App. 2006)

 

Presentations & Publications:

Shifting Landscapes: Adapting Your Firm To Emergent Threats, CNA Insurance, November 2018 (Speaker)

Navigating the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners, Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity-Phoenix, November 2018 (Speaker)

Developments in Cybersecurity Law, Take A Shot at Cybersecurity Seminar Sponsored by Silverado Technology, November 2018 (Speaker)

Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice, Arizona Civil Litigation Seminar sponsored by Udall Law Firm, March 2018 (Speaker)

Actions Speak Louder than Words…A Seminar on Non-Verbal Communication, State Bar of Arizona, August 2007 (Speaker)

Practical Implications of HIPAA in Litigation, Lorman Education Services, December 2008 (Speaker)

Legislative Update – State and Federal, including new HIPAA Regulations, Arizona Society Healthcare Risk Management, September 2009 (Speaker)

Medical Records Law, Lorman Education Services, May 2010 (Speaker)

Bouncing Back from a Burglary: How to Survive a HIPAA Nightmare, Leslie Burling-Phillips, EyeNet Magazine (American Academy of Ophthalmology), January 2013 (Interviewee)

Untangling Your Client’s Breach Notification Under HITECH, Common Defense (Arizona Association of Defense Counsel), Fall 2013 (Author)