7:30-8:15

Registration & Breakfast

8:15-8:30

Introduction & Welcome – James Ragain, Billings

8:30-9:30

Not-so-Soft Tissue Injuries

9:30-10:30

The Neurologic Examination

10:30-10:45

BREAK

10:45-11:45

The Pitfalls of The Forensic Autopsy

11:45-1:00

LUNCH (on your own)

1:00-1:45

End-of-Life Issues: Ethical Issues In Representing Patients, Physicians and Families – .75 ethics credit

•Brain Death – John Moseley, M.D., Billings

•Assisted Suicide – Mark Connell, Missoula (Baxter v. State, 2008 Mont. Dist. LEXIS 482)

1:45-2:45

Patrick Cobb, M.D., Billings

2:45-3:00

BREAK

3:00-4:00

The Ethics of Medical Negligence – 1 ethics credit

Neel Hammond, MD, JD, Missoula

4:00-5:00

Evidentiary Issues In Medical Litigation – A Panel Discussion

•Hon. G. Todd Baugh, 13^th Judicial District*
•Hon. Russell C. Fagg, 13^th Judicial District
•Hon. Ingrid G. Gustafson, 13^th Judicial District
•Hon. Gregory R. Todd, 13^th Judicial District
•Hon. Susan P. Watters, 13^th Judicial District*

Hon. G. Todd Baugh earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1967 and his undergraduate degree from Rice University in 1964. He maintained a general law practice in Billings from 1968 to 1984. Judge Baugh was elected Thirteenth Judicial District Judge in 1984. Judge Baugh has been reelected four times and has served on the bench for 24 years.

Thomas L. Bennett, MD, earned his medical degree at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and is board certified in anatomic, clinical and forensic pathology. He currently serves as associate Montana state medical examiner and consulting pathologist at St. Vincent Health Care and Billings Clinic. Dr. Bennett is an adjunct professor of science at Rocky Mountain College and a guest lecturer on forensic pathology and medicine throughout the country. He has written numerous articles for professional journals. He is a member of Montana Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, National Association of Medical Examiners and American Association of Clinical Pathology.

Patrick W. Cobb, MD, received his undergraduate degree at Louisiana Tech and then earned his medical degree from Tulane University in 1985. He completed his internship and residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver, and his fellowship in hematology and oncology at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Dr. Cobb served as an oncologist in the Army for four years, helping to direct the developmental therapeutics and Phase I programs at Brooke. After completing his military obligation in 1995, he joined Hematology-Oncology Centers in Billings, Montana, where he is the managing partner of a nine-physician practice. He has been the principal investigator of the Montana Cancer Consortium, and now serves as president of the Community Oncology Alliance, a national advocacy group for cancer patients and oncology practices.

Hon. Russell Fagg was first elected to the bench in 1995, and has been re-elected twice. Before becoming a judge he was a member of the Montana legislature for two terms and served as the House Judiciary Chairman. Judge Fagg clerked for the Montana Supreme Court, was in private practice, was the Billings City Prosecutor, and was a Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney before becoming a judge. Judge Fagg loves jury trials and has tried well over 100 as a state judge. Judge Fagg earned his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 1986. He likes to play tennis, ski, run a little, read, and recently got his private pilots license. Judge Fagg is married to the former Karen Barclay, and they have 11 year old twins, Harrison and Barclay.

Hon. Ingrid G. Gustafson graduated from University of Montana School of Law in 1988 and then worked as staff attorney with the Social Security Administration for three years. Following that, Judge Gustafson maintained a private practice in Billings until appointment as Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judge in January 2004. Her private practice was broad based and included criminal defense, personal injury and medical malpractice, and domestic relations cases.

Neel Hammond, MD, JD earned his law degree from the University of Montana,School of Law in 2003 and became a member of the Montana bar in October of that year. He earned his medical degree from University of Miami School of Medicine in 1971 and his Fellowship training in Oncology and Hematology concluded in 1977. He practiced Oncology in Billings from 1977-2000. Prior to forming his own firm, Hammond Law, he was an associate in the Billings firm of Harman, Warren and Harris. Neel is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and is Board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine. He currently practices health-related law in Missoula, Montana.

John Moseley, MD, a founding member of the Yellowstone Neurosurgical Associates in Billings, was treating neurological surgeon to President Ronald Reagan. Dr. Moseley’s special interests include thoracic outlet surgical treatment, movement disorder surgery, brain trauma and tumor surgery, and spine surgery. He is board certified and a member of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. John earned a medical degree, a masters degree in neurophysiology, and a bachelor of science degree in chemistry at the University of Washington. Dr. Moseley completed a surgical internship at Duke University and a five-year residency at UCLA School of Medicine. He taught as assistant neurosurgical professor at UCLA for ten years. Moseley has published numerous articles and chapters in neurosurgical textbooks and has been involved surgically in over 5000 cases during 35 years of practice.

Jim Ragain earned his J.D. from Washburn University in 1979 and his LL.M. from the University of Florida Law School in 1981. He has been in private practice in Billings since 1981, and is currently a partner in the firm of Ragain, Christensen, Fulton & Filz, PLLC. Jim’s practice consists of representing plaintiffs in negligence, products liability, professional negligence, and commercial disputes. He is a sustaining member of MTLA, has served on the MTLA Board of Directors and as chair of the Education Committee.

Hon. Gregory R. Todd graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 1977 and spent three years as a Deputy Gallatin County Attorney in Bozeman. He then moved to Billings and had a twenty year litigation practice that emphasized personal injury, domestic relations and criminal defense. He was appointed as a District Court Judge in Billings in December 2000.

Hon. Susan P. Watters is a district court judge in the Thirteenth Judicial District, Yellowstone County, Montana. She was appointed to the bench in 1997, elected to the bench in 1998 and re-elected to the bench in 2000 and 2006. In addition to her regular judicial duties, Judge Watters presides over the Yellowstone County Family Drug Treatment Court and was instrumental in the development of that court. Judge Watters received her JD from the University of Montana School of Law. After graduation, she was a prosecutor for Yellowstone County for five years and then was in private practice prior to being appointed to the bench.

Roger Williams, MD earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia in 1966. He completed a neurological residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he also served as chief resident. Dr. Williams is board certified in neurology and earned certification as a multiple sclerosis specialist from the Consortium of MS Centers. Williams is a past president of the Montana Medical Association and has taught medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Montana State University (WWAMI program). Dr. Williams has been honored with the American Medical Association’s physician recognition award.