Carol D. Carlson
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Biography

Defending health care providers and facilities in a wide variety of medical malpractice cases for over 33 years, Carol Carlson has dedicated her litigation practice to achieving superior results while maintaining the highest professional standards. From pre-claim negotiations through trials and appeals, she offers creative, thoughtful representation focused on results.

Carol has defended doctors, hospitals, and nurses in circuit courts across Michigan, as well as in federal court and the Michigan Court of Appeals. Specializing in cases involving birth trauma, nursing negligence, emergency medicine care, and a variety of surgical areas, Carol has successfully defended cases from the most frivolous to the most complex.

Having achieved summary dismissal of dozens of cases following careful analysis of both legal and medical issues, Carol has also won numerous trials in front of diverse groups of jurors, on a wide variety of claims.

She is frequently invited to present seminars to healthcare providers to help them avoid being sued in the first place or to deal with the consequences when a claim occurs.

Admitted

State Bar of Michigan, 1988

Education

Kalamazoo College (B.A., cum laude, 1980); Who's Who Amongst College and University Students, National Merit Scholar

Macalester College

University of Notre Dame (J.D., 1987); Weber Award in Oral Advocacy, National Moot Court Team

Accolades

Included in the 2012-2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Listed as a "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation (2021-22) - Professional liability, Medical malpractice

Listed in Leading Lawyers (2014-2017) -- Medical Malpractice Defense Law

Listed as a "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation (2015-2017) -- Medical Malpractice Defense

Listed in Best Lawyer's "Women in the Law" (2017) -- Medical Malpractice Law

Named to the 2021-2023 Grand Rapids Magazine Top Lawyers lists for Medical Malpractice Law

Affiliations

Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management (first attorney elected to the Board of Directors)

American Society for Healthcare Risk Management

American Bar Association

Michigan Bar Association

Michigan Society of Hospital Attorneys

Defense Research Institute

West Michigan Literacy Center (Tutor)

Family Resource Council (Former Board of Directors)

Judicial Review Committee, Kent County

Board of Directors – Grand Rapids Civic Theater