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Peter Anderson Recognized as a 2025 Leader in Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
On Thursday, October 30, 2025, Peter Anderson was recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as one of this year’s Leaders in the Law. Pete truly deserved this honor, and we are very proud of him.Among Rawls Law Group attorneys, Pete is not the first one to be recognized. Brewster Rawls was named a leader in 2017,…
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Telemedicine and Medical Malpractice: New Challenges in Digital Healthcare
The rapid expansion of telemedicine, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed healthcare delivery. While telehealth offers significant benefits including increased access and convenience, it also creates new opportunities for medical errors and raises complex questions about liability and standards of care.The Telemedicine RevolutionTelemedicine use increased by over 3,000% during the early pandemic period and…
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The Two-Year Trap: Why Most Veterans Miss Their Window for VA Medical Malpractice Claims
One of the hardest conversations we have is with veterans who contact us about VA medical malpractice after the two-year statute of limitations has expired. We hear variations of the same story: they received negligent care, focused on recovery, assumed someone would tell them if they needed to take legal action, and now it’s too…
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When Hospital Protocols Fail: Understanding Institutional Negligence in Virginia Medical Malpractice Cases
When we talk with potential clients about medical malpractice, they often focus on individual doctors—the surgeon who made a mistake, the physician who missed a diagnosis. But some of the most serious cases we handle involve something broader: institutional negligence, where the hospital’s own systems and policies contributed to patient harm.Institutional negligence is different from…
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VA Mental Health Treatment Limits: When Administrative Policies Harm Veterans
Recent reports reveal that some VA facilities are enforcing strict limits on veterans’ individual mental health therapy sessions, sometimes cutting off treatment after eight to twelve visits regardless of clinical need. For veterans with PTSD, depression, and other service-connected conditions, this raises serious questions about adequate care.Multiple VA mental health providers have told media outlets…
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Hospital-Acquired Infections: When Healthcare Settings Become Dangerous
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect millions of patients annually, representing one of the most serious complications of medical care. While some infections may be unavoidable despite best efforts, many result from preventable failures in infection control practices that can constitute medical negligence.Understanding Healthcare-Associated InfectionsHAIs are infections that patients acquire during medical treatment, typically developing 48 hours…
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Founders Day, Again
On October 1, 1996, Brewster S. Rawls and Associates (our original name) commenced operations.Our beginning was not auspicious. Six weeks before, I was fired from my position as a partner in another firm – a named partner, in fact. It was not an “amicable departure,” it was quite ugly. Nonetheless, I had plenty of work…
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Brewster Rawls Reflects on a $300,000 Settlement and What Makes Rawls Law Group Different
As Virginia state law malpractice cases go, a $300,000 settlement is a bit unusual.The facts were straight forward: During a colonoscopy, the patient’s gastroenterologist identified a 4 cmprecancerous polyp and marked its location with an endoclip and India ink before referring the patient for surgical removal. The patient underwent a laparoscopic hemicolectomy to remove the…
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Nursing Home Care Standards: Protecting Vulnerable Residents
The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home represents one of the most difficult choices families face. Understanding what constitutes acceptable care—and recognizing warning signs of neglect or abuse—is essential for protecting vulnerable residents who may be unable to advocate for themselves.Federal Regulations Governing Nursing Home CareNursing homes that accept Medicare or…
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Houston VA Nurse Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Medical Records Before Veteran’s Death
Criminal Case Exposes Routine Medical Record Falsification at VA Medical Centers NationwideA shocking case at the Houston VA Medical Center has exposed one of the most insidious forms of VA medical negligence – the systematic falsification of patient care records. Former VA nurse Christiana Ogbonnaya recently surrendered her Texas nursing license after pleading guilty to…
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VA Inspector General Exposes Dangerous Patient Safety Failures at Shreveport Medical Center
A damning new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) has uncovered serious VA patient safety deficiencies at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. The investigation reveals the kind of systematic medical negligence that frequently leads to Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) lawsuits against the VA -…
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Second Circuit Court Delivers Victory for Veterans in Medical Malpractice Cases
Victory for veterans in VA medical malpractice cases