Michael F. Ball
Partner
Fresno, California
5 River Park Place East
P.O. Box 28912
Fresno, CA 93720
Concentrating in Litigation, primarily Professional Liability Defense, including Medical Malpractice, Physician Administrative Defense, Medical Products Liability and General Negligence as well as Elder Abuse, Civil Practice, Nursing Home Litigation, Torts and Premises Liability.
ExperienceMr. Ball has been practicing litigation since 1984. Prior to that, he completed his undergraduate degree cum laude at the University of Miami in three years, in programs of honors and privileged studies. After subsequently graduating with honors from the University of Illinois College of Law, he joined McCormick Barstow handling all types of civil litigation, and currently is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, while also serving as Vice-Chair of the firm’s Management Committee.
Mr. Ball has tried numerous jury trials in state court in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Merced, Visalia, Hanford, Bakersfield, and Modesto. His trial experience has included the following areas: medical malpractice, wrongful death, wrongful termination, breach of contract, industrial accidents, products liability, general negligence, insurance agent/broker liability, auto accidents, and slip-and-fall accidents. He has also represented hospitals in privileging matters and professionals in administrative matters with hospitals, the Medical Board of California, the State of California Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the State of California Department of Insurance. He has served as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Fresno County Superior, Municipal, and Small Claims Courts.
Mr. Ball is admitted to practice in California and Illinois.
Honors and Awards
Mr. Ball is AV rated with Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Ball has been selected for inclusion in the Northern California Super Lawyers list (2008-2010) for his primary area of practice in Professional Liability: Defense. Mr. Ball was honored by Fresno Magazine as one of the “Top Attorneys as Chosen by Their Peers” (2008-2010).
Professional AssociationsMr. Ball is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), currently serving as President of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter and on the Board of Directors of CAL-ABOTA, 2009-2010. He is also a member of the California Medical-Legal Committee, the Board of Directors of the California Society for Healthcare Risk Management (2004-2010, 2008-2009 President), Northern California Association of Defense Counsel, and the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL). Mr. Ball is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Society. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association and is an active member of the Fresno County Bar Association. Currently, he is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Litigation, Trial Practice and Health Care Sections of the American Bar Association.
Publications & Lectures“Mock Deposition: Litigation Survival Training for Health Care Providers,” Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2010 Annual Provider Meeting, Carmel, CA, August 2010.
“You Bet Your License! -- Complying With the Medical Board of California,” Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2009 Annual Provider Meeting, Seascape, CA, August 2009.
“Understanding How to Prepare for and to Give a Deposition”, ChildNet Medical Associates, Children’s Hospital of Central California, Madera, CA, September 2008.
“Are You Smarter Than An Administrator? -- Risk Management Edition,” Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2008 Annual Provider Meeting, Carmel, August 2008.
“Risk Management Jeopardy, Part II,” Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2007 Annual Provider Meeting, Seascape, CA, August 2007.
“Mock Deposition: Survival Training for Physicians”, ChildNet Medical Associates, Children’s Hospital of Central California, Madera, CA, September 2006.
“Risk Management Jeopardy”, Community Medical Providers Group, 2006 Annual Provider Meeting, Carmel, CA, August 2006.
“Risk Management Challenges: What Would You Do? What Should You Do?”, Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2005 Annual Provider Meeting, Seascape, CA, August 2005.
“End of Life Care for Pediatrics,” ChildNet Medical Associates’ Pain Management & Palliative Care Symposium, Children’s Hospital of Central California, Madera, CA, July 2005.
“Protection of Privacy vs. Need for Disclosure,” Adventist Health/Hanford Community Medical Center, CA, July 2005.
“Managing Your Risk, Part II - The Medical Board of California,” Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2004 Annual Provider Meeting, Monterey, CA, August 2004.
“Understanding and Managing Your Risk”, Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2003 Annual Provider Meeting, Carmel, CA, September 2003.
“Avoiding Medical Malpractice,” Central California Women’s Healthcare, February 2003.
“Malpractice Litigation - What You Can Do to Minimize Your Exposure”, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center-Fresno, 2000 Medical Staff Annual Meeting, November 2000.
Lecturer and Co-Author
“Introduction to Risk -- We Have All Been There,” California Society for Healthcare Risk Management, 2008 Annual Conference, Walnut Creek, CA, March 2008.
“Analyzing Medical Records” National Business Institute, Inc., August 2003.
“Nursing Home Malpractice in California: Successful Case Management From Investigation to Trial,” National Business Institute, Inc., October 2002.
“Legal Liability and Risk Management for Health Insurance Agents and Brokers,” Avante Health, October 2002.
“Medical Malpractice in California,” National Business Institute, Inc., January 2002.
Guest Speaker
Civil Litigation Panel Discussion, ABA Law Student Division 2010 Ninth Circuit Spring Meeting, Chapman University School of Law, Orange, California, February 2010.
“Masters in Trial: From Opening Statements to Jury Deliberations in a Sexual Harassment Case,” San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), September 2005.
“Issues in Risk Management,” County of Fresno Department of Behavioral Health and Department of Children and Family Services, July 2005.
“Managing & Improving Healthcare Delivery,” Sante Community Physicians, 2003 Annual Meeting, September 2003.
“Do Not Resuscitate Symposium”, Fresno County Office of Education, June 2000.
Author:
“Trial Attorney Gets Chance to See How the Jury Side Lives”, San Francisco Daily Journal, April 19, 2006.
“Physician Law 2000 - National Data Bank Update - HIPDB Final Regulation Published”, February 2000.
“Medical Malpractice - Beware of Surprise Standard-of-Care Testimony from Treating Physicians”, January 2000.
“Elder Abuse - Increased Incentives for Litigation Against Long-Term Care Providers”, September 1999.
Community InvolvementMr. Ball has performed pro bono work for the Fresno County Volunteer Legal Services Program. He served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Fresno, 2003-2006, and is a member of the Catholic Professional and Business Club in Fresno. Mr. Ball served on the Business Advisory Committee for KVPT Valley Public Television, 2000-2004. He has also coached many local baseball and soccer teams.
EducationJuris Doctor, 1984 (cum laude)
University of Illinois, College of Law
Bachelor of Arts, 1981 (cum laude)
University of Miami
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