John R. Hill, Esquire
John Hill is a recognized leader in medical malpractice defense and healthcare law, who has taken more than 120 jury trials to verdict during his 30-year career. Few, if any, civil attorneys can boast such robust trial experience in representing healthcare professionals and organizations. He has successfully defended healthcare professionals across a broad spectrum of specialties, including hospitals, medical doctors, surgeons, podiatrists, chiropractors, nurses, and nursing and rehabilitation centers.
Apart from his litigation experience, Attorney Hill also has an extensive practice representing physicians in disciplinary actions and investigations by the Commonwealth’s Licensing Boards including the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation and Administrative Agencies.
Notable Accomplishments
Mr. Hill has achieved many notable defense verdicts at trial and arbitration in his distinguished litigation career, including:
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A 2023 defense verdict for a gastroenterologist who allegedly performed a colonoscopy which was contraindicated under the circumstances, resulting in a perforation of the patient’s colon, several long hospitalizations and need for a colostomy bag.
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A 2022 defense verdict for an emergency medicine physician who allegedly failed to timely diagnose a thoracic aortic dissection and failed to timely transfer the patient to hospital capable of the necessary surgical intervention, resulting in the patient's death.
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A 2021 defense verdict for a dermatologist who allegedly failed to recognize correlation between Alopecia Areata and cancer, resulting in the delay in diagnosis of Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
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In September 2020 Attorney Hill became one of the first attorneys in the country to try a medical malpractice case since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. He achieved a defense verdict for a primary care physician who allegedly failed to timely treat a patient for GERD/Barrett’s Esophagus, resulting in Stage IV esophageal cancer.
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A 2019 defense verdict for a podiatrist who alleged failed to timely treat osteomyelitis in the toe, resulting in amputation.
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A 2019 defense verdict for an otolaryngologist who allegedly perforated a patient’s ear drum when removing cerumen, resulting in inner ear infection and permanent hearing loss.
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A 2019 defense verdict for a radiologist who allegedly failed to properly interpret a chest x-ray, resulting in the delay in diagnosis of lung cancer and ultimately death.
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A 2019 victory in a trial that ended in a nonsuit for an orthopedic surgeon/wound care specialist who was alleged to have failed to treat infected hardware (ORIF surgery), causing infection and subsequent below-knee-amputation.
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A 2019 defense verdict for a podiatrist who allegedly was negligent in performing an osteotomy (to repair a flat foot), resulting in permanent pain and disfigurement.
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A 2018 defense verdict for a podiatrist who was alleged to have negligently performed a hammertoe repair, resulting in fusion and permanent immobilization.
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A 2018 defense verdict for two podiatrists who allegedly failed to properly and timely treat osteomyelitis in a patient’s toe, resulting in amputation.
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A 2017 defense verdict for a podiatrist who was alleged to have been negligent when injecting a patient with steroid injection to address plantar fasciitis, resulting in infection necessitating extensive treatment.
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A 2017 defense verdict for an emergency physician who was alleged to have been negligent in prescribing an antibiotic, causing anaphylactic reaction and permanent hearing loss.
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A 2016 defense verdict for an emergency physician who had allegedly failed to properly treat patient’s abdominal pain, resulting in overdose, respiratory distress, and death.
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A 2016 defense verdict in Northampton County in an emotionally charged medical malpractice trial of an emergency physician who allegedly failed to diagnose 14-year-old patient with underlying cardiac condition (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), resulting in death.
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A 2015 defense verdict for two family physicians in a failure to provide timely diagnosis in a TMJ syndrome case.
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A 2015 defense verdict in a medical negligence case against a Lehigh Valley podiatrist.
About John
A native of Buffalo, New York, Mr. Hill now resides in the Lehigh Valley. He served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable W. Richard Eshelman of Berks County Court of Common Pleas from 1988-1989.
Mr. Hill has a reputation for zealously and aggressively defending his clients. He takes great pride in his successful track record of helping healthcare professionals protect their reputation, livelihood and professional integrity. He believes that specialized experience, detailed preparation and skilled teamwork are the keys to a successful defense in a medical malpractice case.
Mr. Hill practices in state, federal and appellate courts throughout Central and Eastern Pennsylvania and has successfully tried in excess of 120 trials to verdict.
Education
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J.D., Duquesne University, 1988
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M.A., East Stroudsburg University, 1986
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B.A., East Stroudsburg University, 1981
Admissions
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Pennsylvania – 1988
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New York – Admission Pending
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U.S. Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania – 1992
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit – 1997
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U.S. Middle District Court of Pennsylvania – 2007