Nichols Darling PLLC, was initially established as Wellman and Nichols, PLLC in 2008 by combining the medical negligence defense practices of Mark E. Nichols and Dean T. Wellman. Nichols Darling PLLC has strategically selected the best available attorneys to carry out our maxim: “Outwork, Outlearn, Outthink.” Today, the law firm consists of four partners, one associate and two paralegals. The partners of Nichols Darling PLLC bring together over 150 years of collective experience in all aspects of the medical negligence defense practice, representing individual practitioners, as well as healthcare institutions and organizations. We are a regional firm, practicing throughout the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky and parts of Tennessee.
Four of our partners enjoy the coveted AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. Our managing partner, Mark E. Nichols, was recently named the 2015 and 2019 Kentucky Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Kentucky Trial Court Review, being the only repeat recipient of that award. He was likewise named Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants by Best Lawyers® in 2017. Nichols is also recognized as Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers®, a recognition only 5% of lawyers in America earn. The firm has been continuously recognized as a Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers® since 2011. The firm prides itself on the quality of the representation that it has provided its clients and the success which it has experienced on their behalf. The firm’s success is evidenced by its resolution of cases before trial, at trial and during the appellate process. The firm enjoys a record that is virtually unparalleled by its competitors of any size.
Nichols Darling PLLC prides itself in delivering exceptional legal services in a timely and efficient manner at a reasonable fee. We understand and fully appreciate the need for regular and timely reporting and strive to keep clients promptly advised of all significant developments in each case. Typically, within hours after initial assignment of a case, we contact our client to confirm representation and discuss a plan of action, which involves a preliminary meeting with the provider, filing an Answer or Motion to Dismiss and undertaking pertinent and strategic discovery. Clients are encouraged to contact us at any time regarding any questions or concerns.
Our Clients and Services
Nichols Darling PLLC is pleased and honored to have represented the University of Kentucky in medical negligence actions since 2010. Additionally, the firm provides similar services to many of the largest medical malpractice insurers and self-insured medical providers in the United States. These include TeamHealth, Inc., Western Litigation, Inc., the Medical Protective Company, the Doctor’s Company, OMS National Insurance Company, Fortress Insurance Company, Schumacher Group, Virtual Radiology Corporation, Jackson & Coker, Mt. Hawley Insurance, the Beazley Group, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS), Kentucky Hospital Insurance Company and Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc., to name a few.
Our approach to providing legal services has proven successful as evidenced by our significant list of regional and national clients and relevant matters handled in the last 5 years and beyond. During that time, we have handled and resolved numerous medical malpractice cases for the University of Kentucky in a favorable fashion, whether by dismissal, de minimis settlements or by trial, all of which have resulted in defense verdicts. In addition, we have handled and resolved numerous cases for other clients by dismissal, settlement and trial, including two high profile and nationally watched trials in London, Kentucky, which involved claims of unnecessary cardiology services that resulted in defense verdicts (the “ Cardiac Stent” cases).
Overall Qualifications
The partners of Nichols Darling PLLC have vast experience and a record of success in defending medical malpractice cases throughout the Commonwealth and in parts of Tennessee. As provided in Section 4.4 above, our lawyers have enjoyed significant awards and recognitions and an unmatched trial record in the past 5 years. In addition to our attorneys who enjoy the coveted AV® Preeminent™ ratings from Martindale Hubbell®, our Firm has been recognized by Best Law Firms® as a Tier One law firm for medical malpractice defense in the Lexington metropolitan area for the past ten years. While most of our current practice centers around the defense of physicians, hospitals, nurses, mid-level professionals and CRNA’s in medical negligence actions, our experience has additionally included the defense of physicians, nurses and dentists in administrative proceedings.
Nichols Darling PLLC has defended cases in almost every county in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as well as parts of Tennessee. Several clients rely on our firm as their exclusive statewide counsel. We represent local, regional and national clients. As a result of this extensive experience, we have developed a solid and credible reputation with judges throughout the state and have earned the respect of counsel for Plaintiffs and Co-Defendants. We have handled cases in the Kentucky Court of Appeals, the Kentucky Supreme Court, the United States District Court, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, the Kentucky Medical Licensure Board, the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Board of Claims. We are very familiar with the current state of sovereign immunity in the Commonwealth, as well as the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Board of Claims. Two of our attorneys are licensed in the U.S. Supreme Court.