Michele C. Atkins

Michele’s practice focuses on defense of complex litigation, including claims of medical and other professional liability. She has represented a wide variety of healthcare providers and has tried their cases before civil juries and professional disciplinary boards.

Practice

Medical Professional Liability Defense
Licensing and Disciplinary Actions
General Civil Litigation

Representative Cases

On 4th day of trial, Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed failure to diagnosis spinal epidural abscess that left him paralyzed.
Defense verdict for an interventional radiologist where plaintiffs alleged he was negligent and caused the death of a patient by failing to perform a blood patch at or near the level of a spinal epidural leak caused during a bilateral breast reduction surgery.
Unanimous defense verdict for two retina specialists where Plaintiffs alleged a failure to diagnose endophthalmitis (eye infection) that led to the patient’s blindness and loss of that eye
Unanimous defense verdict in wrongful death lawsuit where emergency medicine provider was alleged to have been negligent for failing to diagnose a pulmonary embolism.
Unanimous defense verdict for emergency medicine provider alleged to have been negligent in the evaluation of a patient who suffered subarachnoid hemorrhage after presenting to the emergency department.
Defense verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging premature discharge resulting in death two days later
Defense verdict for large hospital in medical malpractice lawsuit where the allegation was that hospital staff caused median nerve injury leading to permanent disability.
Defense verdict for two trauma surgeons in medical malpractice lawsuit where it was alleged that the surgeons failed to identify a peroneal tendon injury leading to permanent disability.
Defense verdict for Public Hospital District in medical malpractice lawsuit where plaintiff/patient suffered traumatic brain injury.
Defense verdict for family practice physician in medical malpractice lawsuit where allegation was delayed diagnosis of colon cancer.
Multiple successful professional disciplinary board trials where allegations were of sexual and other unprofessional misconduct.
Multiple criminal trials.

Education

‍University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, J.D., 1999
University College of London, England, Completed program in international law, Summer, 1997
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, B.S., Social Science, 1995

Admitted to Practice

‍Washington State
California State
United States District Court Western and Eastern District of Washington, Northern District of California
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Experience

Fain Anderson VanDerhoef Rosendahl O’Halloran Spillane, PLLC, Principal / Owner, 2015 – Present
Fain Anderson & VanDerhoef, PLLC, Member, 2009 – 2015
Fain Anderson & VanDerhoef, PLLC, Associate, 2002 – 2009
McIntyre & Barns, Associate, 2002
San Francisco Public Defenders Office, 1999 - 2001

Professional Memberships

American Board of Trial Advocates
American Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association
- Health Law Section
California State Bar Association
Washington Healthcare Risk Management Society
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association

Publications & Presentations

In addition to being asked to be a presenter on a wide-variety of topics in the health care arena, in her “first life” as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco, Michele was one of four featured attorneys in the PBS documentary, “Presumed Guilty”