Friend & Associates

Friend & Associates

Representing patients and medical professionals throughout the state of Texas

Friend & Associates

Friend & Associates

Representing patients and medical professionals throughout the state of Texas

Firm Overview

The medical field is filled with potentially devastating legal issues to deal with, and if you ever do find yourself involved in a medical malpractice or healthcare law case, you need to go to an experienced attorney who understands the issues and can get you the positive resolution you deserve. At the Houston, Texas law office of Friend & Associates, we handle these issues on behalf of patients and medical professionals across the state. With more than 45 combined years of experience, we have extensive knowledge of both Texas law and the medical field - knowledge that is vital in getting results for your case.

A veteran firm supporting both victims and workers
At Friend & Associates, we provide each of our clients with the benefits of our:

Extensive experience - In addition to having more than 30 years of experience in law, Attorney Friend is also a registered nurse, spending more than 20 years as a faculty member and lecturer at Texas Woman's University College of Nursing. This knowledge of the medical field makes her uniquely qualified to handle your medical malpractice and healthcare law issues. Attorney Bouthillette has been an attorney for more than 15 years and is a member of the Houston Society of Healthcare Risk Managers.

Respected service - For her decades of work helping clients succeed in court, Attorney Friend is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available, for legal abilities and adherence to ethical standards.

Concentration on the medical field - We focus our practice on issues stemming solely from the medical field, including medical malpractice, healthcare, hospital, nursing home, assisted living, physician, practitioner, employment, insurance, licensing board and administrative matters. This exclusive focus enables us to stay informed about changes in the law to better serve our clients without getting bogged down by cases in other areas.

Areas of practice:
At Friend & Associates, we take on cases regarding:

Medical malpractice - If you have received an injury from a medical professional, our medical malpractice services can get you the compensation you deserve. We also defend doctors and nurses against unjust malpractice claims.

Healthcare law -- Our deep knowledge of healthcare law can ensure that your medical business is in compliance with regulations.

Appellate practice - With our appellate practice services, we can help bring your case back before a judge if you want to appeal a prior decision.

Main Office

Main Office
1001 Fannin, Suite 725, First City Tower
Houston, TX 77002

Phone

(713) 650-0024

Fax

(713) 650-7100

Medical Malpractice

Texas Medical Malpractice Attorneys Represent Both Sides

Representing victims of malpractice:
A special relationship exists between physicians and their patients. Physicians have a duty to their patients to provide a certain standard of care, using at least the level of skill, care and diligence that is generally exercised by fellow practitioners in the medical professions. It is considered medical malpractice when a medical professional breaches that duty through negligence or carelessness, and causes injury to a patient. Medical malpractice victims may recover compensation for their injuries, including for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost income.

Experienced medical malpractice attorneys:
At Friend & Associates, we have successfully represented medical malpractice clients in Houston and throughout Texas for more than 45 combined years, routinely obtaining generous awards on cases involving birth injuries, orthopedic surgeries, anesthesia, emergency medicine, hospital nursing care, nursing home care, cosmetic surgeries, prescription drug mistakes, psychiatric care and eye surgeries.

To prevail on a medical malpractice claim, expert medical testimony is generally required to establish that the medical care or diagnosis was negligent and that this negligence caused the patient's injuries. The attorneys at Friend & Associates regularly consult with a number of licensed medical professionals. We retain prominent medical experts who have a gift for clearly explaining medical mistakes to jurors.

Representing medical professionals in Texas:
Licensed healthcare providers accused of harming or even killing their patients often face a physically exhausting and emotionally devastating process to clear their names. The attorneys at Friend & Associates have represented medical professionals in malpractice lawsuits for more than 45 combined years. We our pride of our track record of mitigating the damage to our clients' professional reputations and of limiting the losses to their insurers. If you are a medical-care provider charged with negligence, you deserve the most vigorous defense possible to secure your good name, your livelihood and your professional license. We have experience in medical malpractice defense across a broad spectrum of areas, including such frequently litigated matters as:
-Birth injury
-Failure to diagnose
-Ignoring warning signs
-Neglecting to order tests
-Misreading test results
-Misdiagnosis
-Delayed diagnosis
-Surgical mistakes
-Prescription mistakes
-Wrong medication
-Wrong dosage
-Failure to adhere to standards
-Equipment misuse

Friend & Associates
Gail N. Friend

ISLN
907247584

University:
-Northwestern University, R.N.
-University of Wisconsin, B.S.
-University of Texas, M.S., Health Care Administration

Law School:
South Texas College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1983

Admitted:
1983, Texas; Arkansas; Missouri (inactive); Wisconsin (inactive); Colorado (inactive); Florida (pro hac vice); Mississippi (pro hac vice); Oklahoma (pro hac vice); U.S. District Court, Northern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas

Memberships:
-State Bar of Texas (Member, Revisions to Pattern Jury Charges Committee, 1993)
-State Bar of Wisconsin
-The Missouri Bar
-Arkansas Bar Association
-College of the State Bar of Texas

Birthplace:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Biography:
-Deans' List. Chi Omega; Order of Lytae.
-Licensed, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
-Member: Personal Injury Defense; Products Liability Defense; Appellate; Administrative Law Faculty.
-Full-Time Lecturer, 1973-1978 and Visiting Lecturer, 1985-, Texas Woman's University College of Nursing. Representation on governing boards of hospitals, home care and graduated living centers.
-Author: "The Anatomy of EMTALA: A Litigator's Guide," St. Mary's Law Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3, 463, 1994; "Confidentiality of Health Care Information in the Computer Age: A Litigator's Perspective," Journal of Health Care Risk Management, Summer 1995; "The New Rules of Show and Tell: Identifying and Protecting the Peer Review and Medical Committee Privileges," 49 Baylor Law Review, 607, 1997; "Nursing Today and Tomorrow," Today's Nurse, The Health Channel, April 1999; "Major Litigation Considerations for Risk Management," Hospital Management International, 1999; Firm case citations in O'Connor's, Texas Rules and Civil Trials, 2002-.
-Member: Friend & Associates, Houston, Texas, 1992-.
-Clerk, Fulbright & Jaworski, Insurance Defense and General Litigation Sections, Houston, Texas, 1983-1992.
-Intern, Harris County District Attorney.
-Consultant, Quality Assurance and Risk Management, 1981

Education

South Texas College of Law
Juris Doctorate, cum laude, 1983

Friend & Associates
Gail N. Friend

ISLN
907247584

University:
-Northwestern University, R.N.
-University of Wisconsin, B.S.
-University of Texas, M.S., Health Care Administration

Law School:
South Texas College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1983

Admitted:
1983, Texas; Arkansas; Missouri (inactive); Wisconsin (inactive); Colorado (inactive); Florida (pro hac vice); Mississippi (pro hac vice); Oklahoma (pro hac vice); U.S. District Court, Northern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas

Memberships:
-State Bar of Texas (Member, Revisions to Pattern Jury Charges Committee, 1993)
-State Bar of Wisconsin
-The Missouri Bar
-Arkansas Bar Association
-College of the State Bar of Texas

Birthplace:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Biography:
-Deans' List. Chi Omega; Order of Lytae.
-Licensed, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
-Member: Personal Injury Defense; Products Liability Defense; Appellate; Administrative Law Faculty.
-Full-Time Lecturer, 1973-1978 and Visiting Lecturer, 1985-, Texas Woman's University College of Nursing. Representation on governing boards of hospitals, home care and graduated living centers.
-Author: "The Anatomy of EMTALA: A Litigator's Guide," St. Mary's Law Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3, 463, 1994; "Confidentiality of Health Care Information in the Computer Age: A Litigator's Perspective," Journal of Health Care Risk Management, Summer 1995; "The New Rules of Show and Tell: Identifying and Protecting the Peer Review and Medical Committee Privileges," 49 Baylor Law Review, 607, 1997; "Nursing Today and Tomorrow," Today's Nurse, The Health Channel, April 1999; "Major Litigation Considerations for Risk Management," Hospital Management International, 1999; Firm case citations in O'Connor's, Texas Rules and Civil Trials, 2002-.
-Member: Friend & Associates, Houston, Texas, 1992-.
-Clerk, Fulbright & Jaworski, Insurance Defense and General Litigation Sections, Houston, Texas, 1983-1992.
-Intern, Harris County District Attorney.
-Consultant, Quality Assurance and Risk Management, 1981

Education

South Texas College of Law Juris Doctorate, cum laude, 1983


Firm Overview

The medical field is filled with potentially devastating legal issues to deal with, and if you ever do find yourself involved in a medical malpractice or healthcare law case, you need to go to an experienced attorney who understands the issues and can get you the positive resolution you deserve. At the Houston, Texas law office of Friend & Associates, we handle these issues on behalf of patients and medical professionals across the state. With more than 45 combined years of experience, we have extensive knowledge of both Texas law and the medical field - knowledge that is vital in getting results for your case.

A veteran firm supporting both victims and workers
At Friend & Associates, we provide each of our clients with the benefits of our:

Extensive experience - In addition to having more than 30 years of experience in law, Attorney Friend is also a registered nurse, spending more than 20 years as a faculty member and lecturer at Texas Woman's University College of Nursing. This knowledge of the medical field makes her uniquely qualified to handle your medical malpractice and healthcare law issues. Attorney Bouthillette has been an attorney for more than 15 years and is a member of the Houston Society of Healthcare Risk Managers.

Respected service - For her decades of work helping clients succeed in court, Attorney Friend is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available, for legal abilities and adherence to ethical standards.

Concentration on the medical field - We focus our practice on issues stemming solely from the medical field, including medical malpractice, healthcare, hospital, nursing home, assisted living, physician, practitioner, employment, insurance, licensing board and administrative matters. This exclusive focus enables us to stay informed about changes in the law to better serve our clients without getting bogged down by cases in other areas.

Areas of practice:
At Friend & Associates, we take on cases regarding:

Medical malpractice - If you have received an injury from a medical professional, our medical malpractice services can get you the compensation you deserve. We also defend doctors and nurses against unjust malpractice claims.

Healthcare law -- Our deep knowledge of healthcare law can ensure that your medical business is in compliance with regulations.

Appellate practice - With our appellate practice services, we can help bring your case back before a judge if you want to appeal a prior decision.

Main Office

Main Office
1001 Fannin, Suite 725, First City Tower
Houston, TX 77002

Phone

(713) 650-0024

Fax

(713) 650-7100

Medical Malpractice

Texas Medical Malpractice Attorneys Represent Both Sides

Representing victims of malpractice:
A special relationship exists between physicians and their patients. Physicians have a duty to their patients to provide a certain standard of care, using at least the level of skill, care and diligence that is generally exercised by fellow practitioners in the medical professions. It is considered medical malpractice when a medical professional breaches that duty through negligence or carelessness, and causes injury to a patient. Medical malpractice victims may recover compensation for their injuries, including for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost income.

Experienced medical malpractice attorneys:
At Friend & Associates, we have successfully represented medical malpractice clients in Houston and throughout Texas for more than 45 combined years, routinely obtaining generous awards on cases involving birth injuries, orthopedic surgeries, anesthesia, emergency medicine, hospital nursing care, nursing home care, cosmetic surgeries, prescription drug mistakes, psychiatric care and eye surgeries.

To prevail on a medical malpractice claim, expert medical testimony is generally required to establish that the medical care or diagnosis was negligent and that this negligence caused the patient's injuries. The attorneys at Friend & Associates regularly consult with a number of licensed medical professionals. We retain prominent medical experts who have a gift for clearly explaining medical mistakes to jurors.

Representing medical professionals in Texas:
Licensed healthcare providers accused of harming or even killing their patients often face a physically exhausting and emotionally devastating process to clear their names. The attorneys at Friend & Associates have represented medical professionals in malpractice lawsuits for more than 45 combined years. We our pride of our track record of mitigating the damage to our clients' professional reputations and of limiting the losses to their insurers. If you are a medical-care provider charged with negligence, you deserve the most vigorous defense possible to secure your good name, your livelihood and your professional license. We have experience in medical malpractice defense across a broad spectrum of areas, including such frequently litigated matters as:
-Birth injury
-Failure to diagnose
-Ignoring warning signs
-Neglecting to order tests
-Misreading test results
-Misdiagnosis
-Delayed diagnosis
-Surgical mistakes
-Prescription mistakes
-Wrong medication
-Wrong dosage
-Failure to adhere to standards
-Equipment misuse

Friend & Associates
Gail N. Friend

ISLN
907247584

University:
-Northwestern University, R.N.
-University of Wisconsin, B.S.
-University of Texas, M.S., Health Care Administration

Law School:
South Texas College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1983

Admitted:
1983, Texas; Arkansas; Missouri (inactive); Wisconsin (inactive); Colorado (inactive); Florida (pro hac vice); Mississippi (pro hac vice); Oklahoma (pro hac vice); U.S. District Court, Northern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas

Memberships:
-State Bar of Texas (Member, Revisions to Pattern Jury Charges Committee, 1993)
-State Bar of Wisconsin
-The Missouri Bar
-Arkansas Bar Association
-College of the State Bar of Texas

Birthplace:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Biography:
-Deans' List. Chi Omega; Order of Lytae.
-Licensed, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
-Member: Personal Injury Defense; Products Liability Defense; Appellate; Administrative Law Faculty.
-Full-Time Lecturer, 1973-1978 and Visiting Lecturer, 1985-, Texas Woman's University College of Nursing. Representation on governing boards of hospitals, home care and graduated living centers.
-Author: "The Anatomy of EMTALA: A Litigator's Guide," St. Mary's Law Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3, 463, 1994; "Confidentiality of Health Care Information in the Computer Age: A Litigator's Perspective," Journal of Health Care Risk Management, Summer 1995; "The New Rules of Show and Tell: Identifying and Protecting the Peer Review and Medical Committee Privileges," 49 Baylor Law Review, 607, 1997; "Nursing Today and Tomorrow," Today's Nurse, The Health Channel, April 1999; "Major Litigation Considerations for Risk Management," Hospital Management International, 1999; Firm case citations in O'Connor's, Texas Rules and Civil Trials, 2002-.
-Member: Friend & Associates, Houston, Texas, 1992-.
-Clerk, Fulbright & Jaworski, Insurance Defense and General Litigation Sections, Houston, Texas, 1983-1992.
-Intern, Harris County District Attorney.
-Consultant, Quality Assurance and Risk Management, 1981

Education

South Texas College of Law
Juris Doctorate, cum laude, 1983

Friend & Associates
Gail N. Friend

ISLN
907247584

University:
-Northwestern University, R.N.
-University of Wisconsin, B.S.
-University of Texas, M.S., Health Care Administration

Law School:
South Texas College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1983

Admitted:
1983, Texas; Arkansas; Missouri (inactive); Wisconsin (inactive); Colorado (inactive); Florida (pro hac vice); Mississippi (pro hac vice); Oklahoma (pro hac vice); U.S. District Court, Northern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas

Memberships:
-State Bar of Texas (Member, Revisions to Pattern Jury Charges Committee, 1993)
-State Bar of Wisconsin
-The Missouri Bar
-Arkansas Bar Association
-College of the State Bar of Texas

Birthplace:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Biography:
-Deans' List. Chi Omega; Order of Lytae.
-Licensed, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
-Member: Personal Injury Defense; Products Liability Defense; Appellate; Administrative Law Faculty.
-Full-Time Lecturer, 1973-1978 and Visiting Lecturer, 1985-, Texas Woman's University College of Nursing. Representation on governing boards of hospitals, home care and graduated living centers.
-Author: "The Anatomy of EMTALA: A Litigator's Guide," St. Mary's Law Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3, 463, 1994; "Confidentiality of Health Care Information in the Computer Age: A Litigator's Perspective," Journal of Health Care Risk Management, Summer 1995; "The New Rules of Show and Tell: Identifying and Protecting the Peer Review and Medical Committee Privileges," 49 Baylor Law Review, 607, 1997; "Nursing Today and Tomorrow," Today's Nurse, The Health Channel, April 1999; "Major Litigation Considerations for Risk Management," Hospital Management International, 1999; Firm case citations in O'Connor's, Texas Rules and Civil Trials, 2002-.
-Member: Friend & Associates, Houston, Texas, 1992-.
-Clerk, Fulbright & Jaworski, Insurance Defense and General Litigation Sections, Houston, Texas, 1983-1992.
-Intern, Harris County District Attorney.
-Consultant, Quality Assurance and Risk Management, 1981

Education

South Texas College of Law Juris Doctorate, cum laude, 1983


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