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: Insurance Defense; Medical Malpractice; Nursing Home Defense; Church Law; Sexual Abuse Defense; Wrongful Death Actions; Brain and Serious Personal Injury Cases; Civil Rights Defense; and Family 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

Biography:

Ms. Kane's practice focuses on cases that involve serious personal injury, professional malpractice, death, and/or sexual abuse. 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.