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Carolyn S. Stevens

Of Counsel

P. 303.244.1924 | F. 303.244.1879

Biography

Carolyn Stevens has more than three decades of experience defending physicians, hospitals, and health systems in complex medal malpractice litigation matters. She has extensive experience defending healthcare providers in high-exposure cases and providing her clients with unique insight and perspectives in professional liability matters. Carolyn has been named to the Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Litigation since 2021 and for Insurance Law since 2022.

Cases

  • Won summary judgment for a dental school in a wrongful death case in district court. The plaintiff alleged the university dentistry team should have administered antibiotics before a dental procedure, which would have avoided the plaintiff contracting influenza, pneumonia, and eventually dying from complications related to an infection. Agreeing with WTO's arguments that the plaintiff did not prove that the failure to administer antibiotics caused death, the court granted summary judgment and dismissed the claim with prejudice.
  • Won summary judgment for a hospital in a medical malpractice case in Utah state court. WTO proved the absence of medical negligence through requests for admission and a lack of expert testimony to support the plaintiff's case. The court granted summary judgment based on a lack of evidence of negligence after discovery.
  • Won a defense verdict in a multimillion-dollar medical negligence trial in Utah for an orthopedic surgeon and physician's assistant accused of allowing a patient to slide off the operating table, allegedly leading to permanent brain and spine injuries. WTO demonstrated that the plaintiff's complaints were actually due to prescription drug overuse and that the plaintiff had lied under oath.
  • Successfully defended medical malpractice claims against a radiologist and orthopedic surgeon alleging failure to diagnose and treat a rotator cuff injury resulting in lost range of motion and pain. The jury found no cause of action in favor of the client.
  • Successfully defended an emergency medicine physician against medical malpractice claims. The plaintiff alleged the client had negligently removed a foreign body from a child's ear leading to multiple surgeries and hearing loss. The jury found the client not liable.
  • Defended a urogynecologist accused of medical malpractice and negligence during bladder surgery resulting in suffering and requiring repair procedures. The jury ruled favorably for the client.
  • Won a unanimous arbitration award for an orthopedic surgeon facing medical malpractice claims.

Other Experience

Litchfield Cavo LLP, Partner
Frankenburg Jensen, Partner

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

The Defense Research Institute
Salt Lake County Bar Association 
Utah State Bar
The Best Lawyers in America
    Insurance Litigation, 2021-2022, 2024
    Litigation - Health Care, 2024
    Insurance Law, 2022, 2024
    Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2024
    Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2024
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated

Personal Interests

Yoga, vegetable gardening, baking

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