Deborah E. Kane

Partner
dkane@hartelkane.com
301-486-1200
301-486-0935

Born: Washington, D.C., June 5, 1958

Education: University of Maryland (B.A., Law Enforcement, 1980; J.D., 1991)

Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Insurance Defense and Coverage; Church Law; Sexual Abuse Cases; Nursing Home Litigation; Construction Cases; Brain Injury; Serious Personal Injury; Family/Domestic Law.

Membership: Defense Research Institute; Prince George's Co. Bar Association (Board of Directors, 1995-1998; President's Award, 1996, 1997, 1998); Maryland State Bar Association (Panel Member, Attorney Grievance Commission, 2001-2003); Women Lawyers Caucus (Vice President, 1992); American Inns of Court, Marlborough Chapter (Treasurer, 1995-2002); Women's Bar Association (Judicial Selections Committee, 2000-2002); District of Columbia Bar Association; Virginia State Bar Association.

Admissions: 1991, Maryland; 1992, Virginia and District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia

Miscellaneous Information:

Listed, Maryland Super Lawyers 2011, 2012 and 2013 and Washington DC Super Lawyers, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Biography:
Ms. Kane’s practice focuses on serious personal injury, professional malpractice, death, family law/domestic matters, and sexual abuse cases. She has extensive experience defending insurance companies and their insureds against claims of medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, sexual abuse, premises liability, lead paint, defamation, wrongful death, and/or other complex matters. Ms. Kane also represents and advises churches on a variety of legal issues. She has tried numerous jury trials, handled multiple appeals, participated in numerous binding and non-binding arbitrations and/or mediations, and conducted settlement negotiations in high exposure cases. She handles cases in state and federal courts throughout Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Appellate Decisions:

Blythe v Greater Southeast Community Hospital, et al. (D.C. 2009): Summary judgment in favor of defendants upheld to protect hospital's statutory peer review privilege under DC Code 44-801.
Minor v Springfield Baptist Church et al. (D.C. 2009): Plaintiffs' appeal unsuccessful in overcoming low lead paint judgment.
Briggs v Israel Baptist Church, et al., 933 A.2d 301 (D.C. 2007): Summary judgment in favor of defendants upheld in lead paint case.
Davis v Greater Southeast Community Hospital Corp., et al. (D.C. 2005): Summary judgment in favor of defendants upheld in wrongful death/survival and medical malpractice case where plaintiffs failed to identify causation expert.
Heard v. Johnson, 810 A.2d 871 (D.C. 2002): Dismissal of pastor upheld after summary judgment in favor of defendants.
Hill v. Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, 779 A.2d 906 (D.C. 2001): Summary judgment in favor of defendants upheld when plaintiff failed to identify liability expert in trip and fall case.
Lewis v. Voss, 770 A.2d 996 (D.C. 2001): Reversal on jury selection issue after Plaintiff appealed low verdict.
Black v. Leatherwood Motor Coach Corporation, 295 Md. 92; 606 A.2d 27 (Md. 1992): Application of statutory cap to out-of-state bus accident.

Sample representative cases:

After initial verdict over $750,000 by other counsel and successful appeal, defense attorney Kane successfully tried case with jury verdict of only $28,000 in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County (Wielepski v Doebler, et al.).
Successfully investigated, defended and/or settled high exposure cases, including sexual abuse cases, nursing home cases, lead paint and/or brain injury cases, either pre-suit or after lawsuit filed.
Obtained dismissals through preliminary motions filed in multiple cases involving prisoners' civil rights claims.
Successfully defended church/school in premises liability case involving a nine-year-old student who fell and alleged brain injury.
Obtained dismissal of certified respiratory nurse anesthetist defendant prior to trial in paraplegia case.