HEALTHCARE DEFENSE SUMMIT
The Healthcare Defense Summit is a series of gatherings presented by American Legal Connections. Our series of events bring together healthcare professionals, defense attorneys, insurers, and risk leaders to address the evolving challenges shaping healthcare defense.
Contacts: Olivia Potter & Olivia Rios
Introducing
Healthcare Defense Summit
Midwest Series
July 1, 2026
University of Missouri Law School - Columbia, Missouri
Presented by American Legal Connections (ALC)
Contacts: Olivia Potter & Olivia Rios
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Contact Us
Thank you for your interest in the Healthcare Defense Summit. Registration for the Midwest Series is now closed. If you would like to learn about future events, sponsorships or joining American Legal Connections, please complete the form below.
Why Attend
Gain real-world tools for countering modern plaintiff strategies
Learn advanced mediation techniques tailored to healthcare
Understand the psychology and narrative framing driving today’s verdicts
Improve teamwork across counsel, carriers, providers, and institutions
Strengthen damages defenses and clinical accuracy in case presentation
Build connections with national leaders in healthcare defense
Leave with specific 2025–2026 plaintiff tactics you’ve never seen before—and exact countermeasures that are working right now in venues across the country. As part of American Legal Connections’ mission to develop defense leaders, the event provides both rising and seasoned professionals with practical insights in medical professional liability and institutional defense. The Defense Summit also complements our new Affiliate Attorney Membership available by nomination from an ALC healthcare system or insurer member, offering younger attorneys a unique opportunity to build skills and relationships early in their careers.
SCHEDULE
2026 Midwest Healthcare Defense Summit
University of Missouri School of Law | Columbia, Missouri
This program is designed for attorneys at all levels of experience who represent healthcare systems and providers, as well as claims professionals, insurers, and brokers involved in healthcare liability defense.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Registration and Breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Comments
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
John Hall, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Session 1
Defending Healthcare Heroes
This opening session examines the current litigation environment facing healthcare systems and providers and outlines practical strategies for defending complex medical liability claims in an era of expanding damages models and increasingly aggressive plaintiff tactics.
9:15 AM – 10:20 AM
John Hall, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Break
10:20 AM – 10:30 AM
Session 2
Deconstructing the Plaintiffs’ Playbook
This session specifically examines the modern plaintiff’s playbook in medical malpractice litigation, with a focus on anchoring, narrative framing, and negotiation tactics that shape outcomes long before trial, and outlines practical strategies for countering these approaches and maintaining control of case value.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Michael Murphy, Healthcare Services Group
Cecilie Loidolt, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP
Session 3
Technology Update: Second Chair AI, and the Strategic Advantage of Collaboration
This presentation explores how emerging technologies and products are changing litigation strategy, including the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced litigation modeling combined with the timeless strategy of grass roots collaboration
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Jay Sarmaz, Turbo Law
Dennis Costello, Second Chair
Lunch
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Session 4
Defending Damages in Catastrophic Healthcare Cases
An examination of modern damages models used in high-exposure healthcare cases, including life care plans, future medical projections, and economic damages strategies.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Drew Graham, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Session 5
Nine Quadrant Trial Decision Matrix
This program presents a structured approach to evaluating high risk healthcare cases and making disciplined trial decisions.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
John Hall, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Drew Graham, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Closing Comments and Recap
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
John Hall, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Reception & Networking
4:00 PM
John Hall, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
Presented by:
Strategic Sponsor:
Sponsorships Now Available
We extend our deepest appreciation to the generous sponsors whose support makes this conference possible. Their commitment to advancing meaningful dialogue, professional growth, and collaborative innovation ensures that we can bring together leaders, practitioners, and emerging voices from across the field. By investing in this important event, our sponsors help create opportunities for learning, connection, and impact that resonate far beyond the conference itself. To receive further information about available partnerships and sponsorships, email Olivia Potter or Olivia Rios at info@healthcaredefensesummit.com.