Michael F. Ball

Experience

Mr. 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 the firm’s Hiring Partner.

Mr. Ball has tried numerous jury trials in state court in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Merced, Visalia, Hanford, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, 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® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated with Martindale-Hubbell. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Mr. Ball was selected for inclusion in the Northern California Super Lawyers list (2008-2011) for his primary area of practice in Professional Liability: Defense. He was also honored by Fresno Magazine as one of the “Top Attorneys as Chosen by Their Peers” (2008-2010).

Professional Associations

Mr. Ball is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), currently serving as Past-President of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter and on the Board of Directors of CAL-ABOTA, 2009-2011. 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), and the Northern California Association of Defense Counsel. 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

“Medical Malpractice Litigation: ‘Been There, Done That’ -- Sympathy and Sound Advice,” Community Medical Providers Medical Group, 2011 Annual Provider Meeting, Santa Cruz, CA, August 2011.

“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
“The Perils of Diagnosis,” 2011 TDC Patient Safety Seminar, Children’s Hospital of Central California, Madera, California, April 2011.

"Handoffs: A Critical Communication Process," 2010 Patient Safety Seminar, Children’s Hospital of Central California, Madera, California, October 2010.

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.


Reported Cases

(past 10 years)
Gehrke v. CMP, 2011, Fresno Superior Court No. 09CECG03794 DRF
Stankovic v. Meagher, 2010, Los Angeles (Glendale) Superior Court No. EC 044877
Jimmeye v. Eustermann, 2010, Kings Superior Court No. 07C 0266
Yocum v. Shantharam, 2009, Fresno Superior Court No. 08CECG02228
Vildosola v. Saavedra, 2006, Fresno Superior Court No. 03 CE CG 02573
Crisp v. CVGH, 2004, Kings County Superior Court No. 03 C 0273
Hood v. Billys, 2003, Tulare Superior Court No. 01-197451
Mousey v. Zuniga, 2003, Fresno Superior Court No. 654977-8
Salazar v. Buxton, 2002, Kern Superior Court No. 243223
Flowers v. CalFarm, 2002, Tulare County Superior Court No. 00-0190410
Wilder v. Tran, 2002, Kern County Superior Court No. 241600
Howard v. Shariatmadari, 2002, Kern Superior Court No. 243566
Bucio v. Brown, 2001, Fresno Superior Court No. 651122-4
Parksion v. Madera Hospital, 2001, Madera Superior Court No. CV07738
Cappelletty v. Wild Waters, 2001, Fresno Superior Court Limited C00000298-0

Community Involvement

Mr. Ball currently serves on the WASC (Western Association of Schools & Colleges) Accreditation Steering Committee for San Joaquin Memorial High School. He 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.

Education

Juris Doctor, 1984 (cum laude)
University of Illinois, College of Law

Bachelor of Arts, 1981 (cum laude)
University of Miami