Patrick M. Shegon

Pat joined the firm in 1995 and became a shareholder in 2000.  He practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on representation of healthcare providers.  He has significant trial and appellate experience and routinely defends hospitals, nurses, and physicians throughout the state of Alabama in medical liability actions. He has also represented dentists, retail pharmacies and home health agencies. In addition to his trial work, Pat represents clients in the healthcare industry regarding credentialing issues and in matters before administrative agencies. Mr. Shegon also defends product liability and premises liability claims.

Recent Practice Highlights

Obtained judgment as a matter of law at trial in wrongful death action against a hospital and family practice physician working in emergency department accused of failing to diagnose and treat leaking cerebral aneurysm.

Obtained defense verdict for hospital where elderly patient fell and broke her hip; plaintiff alleged she was confused and should not have been left alone in her room

Obtained defense verdict for psychiatrist in action alleging breach of confidentiality due to method of disposal of office computer, obtained by individual with motives to harm the psychiatrist who then wrote to approximately 1,000 patients that their confidential information had been abandoned

Obtained summary judgment for cardiothoracic surgeon accused of wrongful death of patient due to failure to treat dissecting aortic aneurysm; surgeon was on call but did not accept patient based on his own illness on the night in question; trial court granted summary judgment on the basis of lack of duty/lack of physician-patient relationship

Presentations

Pat has been a frequent lecturer to healthcare groups relating to various issues of risk management and trends in healthcare liability.  He has also been a speaker at continuing legal education courses regarding civil litigation issues.

Honors and Awards

Pat has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers of America (2009 – 2013) as well as in Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2010). While in law school he served as senior editor of the Alabama Law Review and was named to the John A. Campbell Moot Court Board and the Order of the Coif. He is a Hugo Black Scholar and recipient of the Dean M. Leigh Harrison Award.

He is also AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Shegon has recently been named "future star" in litigation in the 2012 edition of Benchmark Litigation, the definitive guide to America's leading litigation firms and attorneys.

Mr. Shegon is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which is by invitation only and requires extensive experience as lead counsel in numerous civil trials.

Community Involvement

Pat attends St. Peter’s Catholic Church, where he is a past president of the parish council. He is on the board of advisors for Resurrection Catholic Missions.  He also serves as a youth sports coach.