Michele On-Ja Choe

Practice Details

• Firm Information
  Position

  Partner

  Firm Name

  Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP
• Representative Cases & Transactions
  Cases

  Representative Cases: Michele Choe has developed a strong track record defending hospitals
  healthcare providers, medical device
  drug manufacturers,
  employers in lawsuits involving a variety of tort claims. She has particular experience h
  ling medical malpractice, product liability,
  wrongful termination matters.
  Medical Devices & Pharmaceuticals
  Represented Boston Scientific in multiple cases in pelvic mesh MDL, including two that settled favorably
  others that are ongoing.
  Represented GE Healthcare in claims relating to its healthcare product Omniscan, an imaging agent alleged to cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a chronic debilitating disease, in some patients.
  Represented pharmaceutical manufacturers in multidistrict litigations involving Baycol, Seroquel,
  various diet drugs.
  Represented a medical device manufacturer in litigation involving cold therapy devices.
  Represent one of the nation's largest providers of home respiratory therapy
  devices in prelitigation evaluation involving ventilators
  litigation involving home oxygen equipment.
  Medical Malpractice
  Won affirmation of an Illinois defense verdict for a hospital client in an appeal of a case alleging that nurses failed to convey vital information
  allowed for early discharge of a newborn. The child later developed sepsis
  meningitis,
  catastrophic brain damage, which the plaintiffs claimed were avoidable. The plaintiffs had claimed $31 million in damages in the underlying suit.
  Won a complete defense jury verdict in a $31 million medical malpractice lawsuit in Illinois involving a newborn who contracted meningitis.
  Won a defense decision for a Philadelphia psychiatric hospital in a two-day medical malpractice arbitration involving the death of a patient killed in an auto accident hours after being discharged.
  Won a complete defense verdict for a Florida hospital in a three-week medical malpractice trial. The case involved a baby who suffered cerebral palsy after a rare delivery complication. The plaintiff sued the hospital for $7 million, claiming complications could have been avoided had a C-section been performed. The WTO team successfully argued the complication was unpredictable
  unpreventable,
  the doctors actually saved the mother
  child.
  Long-term Care
  Represent a national long-term care provider
  its management
  operating companies in cases involving claims of negligence, personal injury,
  wrongful death in multiple states.
  Employment
  Obtained dismissal of all claims against University of Colorado Hospital Authority in a whistle blower case filed in district court in Colorado Springs.
  Advised a client on the defense of a unique theory of liability brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
  Represented an investment company against wrongful termination
  retaliation claims brought by the company's former CFO, who also alleged breach of contract
  tortious interference. Following depositions, the matter settled favorably for WTO's client.
  Prevailed against allegations of racial discrimination against a tech industry employer in Nevada. Following a two-
  -a-half-year investigation, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concluded that no discriminatory conduct had occurred.
  Represented a leading telecommunications company as a third-party respondent in discovery relating to a lawsuit involving claims that an executive violated the terms of a noncompete agreement
  misappropriated proprietary information from his prior employer. The case eventually settled, absolving WTO's client of its role in the litigation.