Nurse Legal Consultant Cynthia G. Secondi offers support in medically-related litigation matters. She assists with the identification and analysis of medical-legal issues in a claim or case and the coordination and interpretation of medical documents and other evidence.

Cynthia G. Secondi has eleven years experience as a nurse-paralegal in tort litigation practice at Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. Prior to joining the firm, she spent 14 years as a critical care registered nurse. During her years at Fletcher Allen Health Care Center in Burlington, Vermont, she provided direct care to patients and families, as well as taught and prepared patients and families for post-discharge care in the following units: Post-Surgical Intensive Care, Intensive Care, Respiratory Care, Coronary Care, and Emergency Care.

In particular, a nurse legal consultant assists in the following ways:

Document Review & Organization

• Review and analyze documents and compare them to the allegations.
• Organize medical records and other medically-related litigation materials.
• Prepare chronology of medical events and correlate them to the allegations.
• Screen for record tampering.
• Assist in obtaining medical records and identifying missing records

Medical-Legal Assistance

• Educate attorneys regarding medical facts and issues relating to a case or claim.
• Research applicable literature and evidence to determine the merits of a case.
• Summarize medical literature.
• Assess issues of damage and causation.
• Define and evaluate the standards of care practices.
• Evaluate the possible breach of duty on the part of the healthcare practitioner or facility.

Physician, Client & Expert Relationship Management

• Act as a liaison with attorneys, physicians and clients.
• Prepare witness and exhibit lists.
• Interview witnesses and involved parties.
• Identify and retain expert witnesses.

Offering Assistance at Each Stage of Litigation

• Prepare persuasive graphic exhibits for trial.
• Develop collaborative case strategies with those practicing within the legal system.
• Provide support during discovery, depositions, trial and other legal proceedings.
• Testifying at depositions, hearings, arbitrations, or trials as expert health care witnesses.

During her years as a Staff Nurse at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT, Mrs. Secondi provided direct care to patients and families, taught and prepared for continued care after discharge in the following units: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory Care Unit, and Coronary Care Unit. Mrs. Secondi took the care and knowledge gained and applied it to the legal community.