Carolyn Lavecchia, J.D., R.N., F.N.P., B.S.N., M.S. – Carolyn brings a unique perspective to the practice of law. Before she became a lawyer representing victims of elder abuse and medical malpractice, Carolyn served on the faculty of the Medical College of Virginia (now Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center) where she provided care to patients and was the Nurse Director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program.
Prior to her position at the Medical College of Virginia, Carolyn was a Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department and Triage Clinic at the V.A. Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and was also an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Tennessee. Earlier in her career, she was a head nurse in the Coronary Care Unit at the University of Virginia Medical Center and a public health nurse. In the early 1980’s she decided to become a lawyer and help people injured by the wrongful conduct of health care providers.
For over twenty-five years, Carolyn has successfully represented patients and their families in cases against negligent physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and adult homes. Combining her health care experience with her skills as a trial lawyer dedicated to helping the injured has earned Carolyn the admiration of her clients and the respect of her opponents. She has also written and lectured extensively on medical malpractice and related topics.
Carolyn is an “AV” rated lawyer. This is the highest peer review rating bestowed by the Martindale-Hubbell listing service. An “AV” rating identifies a lawyer with very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from other lawyers and judges.
Carolyn Lavecchia’s complete CV.
Education:
- University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, VA, 1985 J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
- University of Tennesse, Memphis, 1974 M.S. Nursing
- University of Virginia, 1970, B.S. Nursing
Examples of Cases:
- Injuries due to unnecessary surgery
- Failure to diagnose and treat heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases
- Failure to diagnose and treat infection and different types of shock due to sepsis (infection)
- Surgical procedures performed improperly (surgical malpractice)
- Surgical procedures performed without consent
- Unnecessary foot surgery (podiatry malpractice)
- Improperly performed Nissen fundoplication – click here to read a trial report published in Virginia Lawyers Weekly
- Nursing home abuse and neglect (malnutrition, pressure ulcers, fractures)
- Failure to prevent pressure ulcers
- Medication errors in hospitals and pharmacies
- Death due to entrapment from improper restraints in a nursing home
- Failure to diagnose and treat cancer (breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer)
- Injuries from IVs and drawing blood
- Failure to prevent suicides
- Nursing malpractice
- Pharmacy malpractice
- Retained objects from surgery (surgical sponges, medical tools)
Honors:
- Virginia Super Lawyers 2011 – Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice
- Metro Richmond Women’s Bar, Woman of Achievement Award
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Former President Metro Women’s Bar Association
- Former President John Marshall Inn of Court
- American Association for Justice – Nursing Home Litigation Group
- Virginia Super Lawyers – Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice
- American Bar Association
- Richmond Bar Association
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Past Member of Board of Governors)
- Former Assistant Professor of Nursing, Medical College of Virginia
- Former Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Tennessee
Community Activities:
- Legal Counsel – Lakeside Volunteer Resque Squad
- Legal Information Network for Cancer (Past Member of Board of Directors)
- Virginia Treatment Center for Children (Chair of Advisory Counsel 1999-2001)
Selected Publications:
Medical Malpractice
- Legal Counsel – Lakeside Volunteer Resque Squad
- Legal Information Network for Cancer (Past Member of Board of Directors)
- Virginia Treatment Center for Children (Chair of Advisory Counsel 1999-2001)
About Our Lawyers
Court Opinions in Cases of Our Lawyers
- Vaughan, Adm’r v. Southside Cardiology Associates, P.C., Virginia Supreme Court
- Centra Health v. Mullins, Virginia Supreme Court (representing amicus curiae)
Selected Lectures & Presentations:
- April 23-24, 2002 – Virginia CLE, “Statutes and Rules,” Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia, Richmond and Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.
- April 17, 2002, “2002 Update Prevent Malpractice Claims & Ethics: Personal Injury -General Practice,” Richmond, Virginia.
- February 19, 2002, “Medical Malpractice in Virginia,” National Business Institute, Richmond, Virginia.
- January 30, 2002 “Documentation Issues and Charting for the Future,” Lorman Education Services, Richmond, Virginia.
- October 14, 1999, “Discovery of Experts,” Civil Discovery in Virginia, Virginia CLE, Falls Church, Virginia.
- October 20, 1998, “Obtaining and Review of Medical Records,” Virginia Personal Injury Practice for Paralegals, Richmond, Virginia.
