Michelle M. Garzon

Practice Medical Professional Liability Defense Licensing and Disciplinary Actions Behavioral Health/Guardianships Healthcare Risk Management Representative Cases Unanimous defense verdict in a wrongful death case where plaintiff claimed the cardiothoracic surgeon employed by the firms client, a health care system, was negligent in deciding to perform a triple bypass surgery on the decedent without completely working up various other health issues before surgery. Directed verdict for defense in a case where plaintiff claimed hospital and emergency medicine physician were negligent for failing to suspect and report child abuse, resulting in infants death. Dismissal after discovery in case where plaintiff claimed hospital and physicians negligently managed sickle cell anemia, resulting in patients death. Successful defense in case where plaintiff claimed hospital emergency providers improperly treated sting ray injury, resulting in permanent injury. Multiple Involuntary Treatment Act cases. Western State Hospital refused to accept involuntarily committed patients from acute care hospitals, alleging that patients had medical needs preventing their admission to Western. Result: Western admitted the patients; in one instance, court awarded sanctions. Education Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, J. D., cum laude, 2001 Reed College, B. A. Anthropology, 1996 Admitted to Practice Washington State Oregon State U. S. District Court, Western District of Washington and District of Oregon Professional Experience Fain Anderson Van Derhoef Rosendahl OHalloran Spillane, PLLC, Principal/Owner, 2022 - Present Fain Anderson Van Derhoef Rosendahl OHalloran Spillane, PLLC, Principal, February 2015 - 2021 Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC, Associate, 2004 - 2015 Assistant Attorney General, Labor & Personnel Division, 2003 - 2003 Judicial Law Clerk to Judge David Armstrong, Washington State Court of Appeals, Div. II, 2001 - 2003 Law Clerk, Attorney General of Washington, 1999 - 2001 Professional Memberships Washington State Bar Association Oregon State Bar Association Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association Washington Healthcare Risk Management Society - President 2012-2015 American Society for Healthcare Risk Management - Chapter Leader 2012-2015 Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Defense Research Institute Publications & Presentations Presenter, Social Media Backlash: Practicing medicine in the world of social media and online reviews, Washington State Obstetrical Association Annual Meeting, December 2020 Co-Presenter Guardianships and Common Legal Issues for Hospital Systems, Puget Sound In-House Counsel Forum, February 2019 Contributor, Keep in Mind Legal Risks When Transferring ED Psychiatric Patients, ED Legal Letter, November 2016 Co-presenter, Spillover: Legal, Regulatory, and Risk Consequences of Psychiatric Boarding, American Society for Healthcare Risk Management Annual Conference, Indianapolis, October 19, 2015 Moderator, Triage for the Healthcare Lawyer, Washington State Society of Healthcare Attorneys Spring Health Law Conference, April 2015 The Washington Supreme Courts Boarding Ban, and What Comes Next, Williams Kastner Health Care Alert, December 24, 2014 Presenter, Youre Fired! Why, When, and How to End the Patient-Provider Relationship, Williams Kastner Health Care Seminar, December 2014 Contributor, EMR Charting and Shortcuts, and E-Discovery, Physician Risk Management, July 2014 Presenter, Guardianships and QI/QA/Peer Review: Protecting the Privileges, Williams Kastner Health Care Seminar, February 2013 Presenter, Charting Issues in Litigation: Common Mistakes and Things to Avoid, Hospital Grand Rounds, August 2011 Presenter, Falls Risk Reduction, Washington Health Care Association, May 24, 2011 Presenter, Medical Records Law, Lorman Education Services, Tacoma, WA, June 11, 2010 Presenter, Witnesses 101: Effective and Ethical Witness Interviews, Williams Kastner Health Care Seminar, November 2009 Presenter, HIPAA, ADA and FMLA, Legal & Regulatory Issues for Employers and Counsel, The Seminar Group, Seattle, WA, April 22, 2009 Its Over: The Who, When, Why and How of Ending the Physician-Patient Relationship, WSMGMA E-Update, December 2008 Presenter, Interpreting Medical Information: Finding the Clues for Your Case, National Business Institute, Seattle, WA, November 20, 2008 Presenter, Prescription Narcotics: Legal Issues and Why it Matters, Williams Kastner Health Care Seminar, May 2008 Presenter, Medical Records Law in Washington, Lorman Education Services, Tacoma, WA, August 22, 2007 Honors & Awards Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Community Leadership Award, 2018 Named a Rising Star for 2009 - 2012 by Washington Super Lawyers Community Involvement Tacoma-Pierce County Volunteer Legal Services - Pro Bono Services Volunteer LArche Tahoma Hope Community - Associate Member