Certificate of Merit Rule Change

Pennsylvania's Certificate of Merit Rules have changed for medical malpractice cases.  Several years ago, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania adopted rules requiring lawyers to file a certificate of merit when filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.  Those rules enabled a defendant, such as a doctor or hospital, to obtain a judgment WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE against the person who filed that lawsuit, if a certificate of merit had not been filed.  That rule resulted in snap judgments against severely injured people and the families of people killed by the negligence or neglect of doctors or hospitals.   The Supreme Court has amended the rule, now requiring defendants to provide prior notice of their intent to obtain a judgment.  Injured persons and their families will now be able to file a certificate of merit and avoid snap judgments.  The new Rule went into effect on June 16, 2008.  Click here to see the new rule.

If you have a question about your case, please call us directly at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or click here.  Berger & Lagnese, headquartered in Pittsburgh, specializes in helping people who were injured by doctors and hospitals.