Description
Originally a defense lawyer representing doctors and hospitals sued for malpractice, Matthew Purcell felt called to work as a personal injury lawyer. He called John Macfarlane and Ashton J. Hyde of Younker Hyde Macfarlane, and they were pleased to offer him a place at our law firm. Mr. Purcell's unique background gives him special insight into how defense lawyers and insurance companies navigate personal injury cases.
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The reason I have made
the practice of law my career,
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and specifically health care malpractice,
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is one, because I find it fascinating
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to learn the medicine and what
care and treatment can be done
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to help people when they are
experiencing health problems.
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I have not always been
a plaintiff's lawyer.
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I began my career as a defense lawyer
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working at a local
defense firm here in town.
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So I spent the first eight or so years
of my career defending hospitals,
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doctors, nurses,
when they would be sued for malpractice.
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I found it to be not only dissatisfying,
but sometimes even troubling.
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It can really work a toll on you,
and it did for me.
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There were a few cases in particular
that troubled me so much.
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It just became
a mental burden and an emotional burden
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that I could no longer carry anymore.
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I reached out to my friends here,
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John and Ashton,
and asked them if they'd be
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open to considering having
a defense lawyer come join the dark side.
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Thankfully, they were open to it,
and they offered me a position.
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The reality of working on the defense side
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is that you are usually working
with an insurance company.
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They're the ones who are making decisions
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about whether a case should
settle or go to trial.
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Knowing that
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and now being on the plaintiff side,
I know the types of information
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that these insurance companies
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and their representatives
or insurance adjusters
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want and need in order
to get the case in a position to settle.
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Ultimately, when we take on a case,
it's about getting compensation
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for the client, and most
of our cases end in settlement.
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So it gives me an advantage when it comes
to dealing with the insurance company.
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I find purpose.
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I find, frankly, joy
in coming to work each day knowing that
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I get to be one of the few who gets
to represent those injured people
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and help them
get their life back on track
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following a terrible medical incident
that they've experienced.
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While we can't guarantee results.
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I can commit that I'm going
to be tenacious in my representation
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of you and your interests,
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and that I will do my best
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to pursue justice
on behalf of you and your family,
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with the end goal
of getting you compensation
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that is fair
for the loss that you've suffered.