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If You Have Suffered Pain, Dislocation, Instability, or Revision Following Surgery by Dr. R. David Heekin at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, We Are Here to Help You.

Between 2016 and 2020, patients noticed Dr. Richard David Heekin slurring his words and having “difficulty with balance, inability to concentrate, angry outbursts, erratic behavior, gait disturbances, and impaired judgment and mood,” according to court documents.
Among his alleged errors made during surgeries were bone fractures, ruptured tendons, and severed nerves.

"If you're ever in need of an attorney Freedland Harwin Valori is the right place they will help you with any issues with these attorneys you have nothing at all to be worried about cause they will handle the case to the best of there ability I'm glad I choose the right team"

Rubin L.

"I met Dan when I was in therapy and he came and right away it felt like a family member visiting you, a connection, like a brother. He’s been on both sides of the fence. He’s represented the hospitals and the doctors, and then he jumped over to the other side. It is a fantastic group, it was like Bell Belichick leading the team. They changed my life and still check on me. I recommend FHV to anybody and they thank me."

Larry

"For anyone to represent anyone for 5 years and take the time to do it, not once just “get it out of the way” and “get it done with”. It was about what was best for Hunter and our family. It was about the case and the people." .

Ashley

"I met Dan about a year ago. He never made me feel that it was about the money. When he spoke with me he was asking how Bill (my brother) was and if he was doing better. He made me feel like family and always asked if I was alright. That means a lot. Everyday is something new and I challenge for my brother. I would recommend [FHV] to everybody because I really believe that they’re helping from their hearts… from a really good place."

Bill

What Can You Expect When You Call Freedland Harwin Valori, PL?

Free Case Evaluation

Our dedicated intake team will quickly help you identify if you have a claim that qualifies and get our investigation into your case moving forward. Get your no-obligation, free case review today!

Case strategy & implementation

Your team will handle every step of the legal process. From reviewing past claims to obtaining additional medical evidence on your behalf. We work with you to create the strongest strategy for your case!

Assigning your dedicated team

Your dedicated team of advocates will keep in close contact with you throughout the entire process. We fight to get the compensation you deserve. Expect prompt and courteous service at each step of your claim.

Over 95% Success Rate

Experience and Knowledge

Superior Results

How We Can Help You?

If you suspect that you or a loved one has been the victim of Dr. Richard David Heekin's medical negligence, it is important that you contact a lawyer right away.

Once you retain our firm, you will receive our personal attention. And, you will have  a team of hardworking, dedicated and diligent lawyers available to answer your phone calls and give you all the information you need about your case.

Contact Us Today!

Our attorneys understand the devastating effects of a disability caused by an injury. Our team of licensed attorneys has decades of combined experience fighting for the rights of the injured. We have the legal knowledge to help you apply for compensation.

An initial consultation with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer is free of charge and there is no obligation to hire our firm. We also do not charge upfront fees, so there is no risk to you in meeting with us. We are here to answer your questions.

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How do you prove negligent credentialing against St. Vincent’s?

Proving negligent credentialing is the most challenging part of medical malpractice lawsuits. It requires attorneys that are experienced with medical and legal issues. We must prove that St. Vincent’s knew that Dr. Heekin was not competent to operate and allowed him to do so anyway. This is done by reviewing thousands of documents and talking to hundreds of witnesses. We also have reviewed over 500 potentially poor outcomes. The lawyers of Freedland Harwin Valori, PL have over fifty combined years of handling these complex matters and have been dedicated to investigating and pursuing negligent credentialing claims against St. Vincent’s for over 2 years.

How long do I go against a prominent doctor, surgeon, or hospital in Florida?

It can be difficult to go up against a prominent doctor, surgeon, or hospital in Florida. You need a thorough understanding of personal injury, medical malpractice, and negligence laws, as well as the knowledge to negotiate with insurance claims adjusters without letting them take advantage of you. The defendant’s insurance company will try to get you to settle your claim for as little as possible. You need an aggressive lawyer to fight for the true value of your claim – even if that means taking your lawsuit to court.

Should I represent myself in court?

Representing yourself in a complex medical malpractice claim can lead to headaches, stress, and getting caught in red tape. You could even lose the opportunity to recover if you make mistakes or miss deadlines. Instead of going it alone, retain an experienced attorney with proven results. Our firm has everything you need to take your suit where it needs to go for maximum results. Contact us today for a free evaluation.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in Florida

The statute of limitations may be as short as two years but is often much longer depending on when you found out certain information and if information was concealed from you. At Freedland Harwin Valori, PL, we are intimately familiar with the law in this area as well as the type of information St. Vincent’s and Heekin may have failed to provide to you. We will be able to quickly advise you as to whether your case is potentially viable.

How can I afford representation?

You can afford help from Freedland Harwin Valori. That’s because we charge nothing for initial consultations and claim reviews, and we handle injury claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that if we agree to take on your case, we charge no upfront fees. We get paid only if we recover compensation for you. An agreed-upon percentage would be deducted from your final settlement or court award. If no compensation is recovered, you owe us nothing for our legal services.

How much does it cost to speak to an attorney?

It costs nothing to speak a medical malpractice attorney at Freedland Harwin Valori, PL.

How do you get results?

Our team puts their negotiation, arbitration, mediation and litigation skills to work on your behalf. We use these tactics to obtain full and fair settlements, verdicts and awards every day.

How do I maximize my odds of a successful claim?

The best way to maximize your odds of a successful claim is with help from experienced lawyers, like those at the offices of Freedland Harwin Valori, PL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our clients and firm are featured in the media outlets below regarding the Dr. Richard David Heekin/St. Vincent’s claims:

NBC - “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” 

YAHOO - “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” picked up from NBC

AOL- Orthopedic surgeon diagnosed with neurological disorder allegedly caused hundreds of injuries, lawsuits say

TODAY “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” picked up from NBC

NEWSBREAK “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” picked up from NBC

TELEMUNDO “Acusan a cirujano diagnosticado con trastorno neurológico de causar cientos de lesiones, según demandas” picked up from NBC 

FLIPBOARD - “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” picked up from NBC

HEAD TOPICS - “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” picked up from NBC

HEALTH LEADERS MEDIA - “FLORIDA HOSPITAL IGNORED YEARS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SURGEON, PATIENTS AND FAMILIES ALLEGE” picked up from NBC

 INTER NEWS CAST - “Florida hospital ignored years of complaints about surgeon, patients and families allege” 

NEWSER “Hundreds of Suits Blame Injuries on Impaired Surgeon”

VIGOUR TIMES “Hundreds Of Suits Blame Injuries On Impaired Surgeon” 

BECKERS SPINE REVIEW (“Florida hospital patients say they were injured during surgeries. Now a physician faces 350 lawsuits.”

NEWSBREAK “Florida hospital patients say they were injured during surgeries. Now a physician faces 350 lawsuits.”

JACKSONVILLE TIMES UNION - “St. Vincent's hospital, surgeon facing hundreds of lawsuits, allegations of ignoring complaints”

NEWS 4 JAX - Lawsuit alleges hospital knew doctor was unfit to operate

HEAD TOPICS - Lawsuit alleges Ascension St. Vincent’s knew doctor wasn’t fit to operate, but allowed him to perform surgeries

NEWS BREAK - Lawsuit alleges Ascension St. Vincent’s knew doctor wasn’t fit to operate, but allowed him to perform surgeries

SPOT ON FLORIDA - Lawsuit alleges Ascension St. Vincent’s knew doctor wasn’t fit to operate, but allowed him to perform surgeries

NEWS 4 JAX - I-TEAM: Could former Jacksonville surgeon or hospital accused in malpractice lawsuits face charges?

FLIPBOARD - I-TEAM: Could former Jacksonville surgeon or hospital accused in malpractice lawsuits face charges?

SPOT ON FLORIDA - I-TEAM: Could former Jacksonville surgeon or hospital accused in malpractice lawsuits face charges? (Video)

MEDPAGE TODAY - "Surgeon Sued for 'Hundreds' of Injuries; Alzheimer's Biotech Under Investigation".

ACTION NEWS JAX (CBS/Fox Affiliate) - Lawsuits allege local hospital knew of and ignored surgeon’s impairments and botched surgeries § YAHOO Lawsuits allege local hospital knew of and ignored surgeon’s impairments and botched surgeries

FLIPBOARD - Lawsuits allege local hospital knew of and ignored surgeon’s impairments and botched surgeries

FIRST COAST NEWS - Multiple lawsuits crop up against a surgeon at St. Vincent’s Medical Center

FIRST COAST NEWS - Fractures, ruptured tendons and death: Jacksonville surgeon faces hundreds of lawsuits due to alleged mistakes

JACKSONVILLE INSIDER - Florida surgeon faces hundreds of lawsuits after alleged mistakes

FIRST COAST NEWS - "Former patient speaks out after complaints surface regarding Jacksonville surgeon" 

FHV represents victims in over 350 Lawsuits against St. Vincent’s/Heekin

FHV has obtained awards in excess of $1.3 Million in a single claim.

FHV has taken all discovery on behalf of Plaintiffs and understands the case against St. Vincent’s.

· FHV is the only law firm that has filed in Heekin/St. Vincent’s cases.

FHV is the Court appointed Plaintiffs Liaison Counsel for all consolidated Heekin/St. Vincent’s claims.

 FHV is the only law firm to have obtained awards for Heekin/St. Vincent’s victims.