Laraine Kelley

Laraine Kelley has decades of experience in personal injury litigation, with a focus on medical malpractice and product liability law. Peers, opposing counsel, and members of the judiciary recognize Ms. Kelley as one of the nation’s preeminent medical malpractice attorneys.

Ms. Kelley provides answers for victims of medical malpractice who seek to understand: what went wrong; who is at fault; and how the negligent may be held accountable.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Kelley has represented thousands of clients who were injured in a wide spectrum of catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice matters, including:

•birth injury
•cancer misdiagnosis
•cerebral palsy
•delayed diagnosis
•emergency room error
•medication error
•nurse error
•nursing home negligence
•optometry error
•surgery error
•construction accidents
•defective products

As a result of decades of experience litigating complex medical malpractice matters, Ms. Kelley has a mastery of medical knowledge that rivals healthcare professionals. Ms. Kelley’s legal skill, medical knowledge, and investment of resources, levels the playing field for clients who are battling medical professionals, large institutions, and insurance companies.

Speaking Engagements

•Frequent lecturer in the area of civil litigation, particularly medical malpractice, products liability law, and civil trial procedure

Results

Ms. Kelley has counseled and represented thousands of individuals and families. The following are examples of results she has obtained behalf of catastrophically injured plaintiffs:.

•$10,000,000 for a birth injury that resulted in cerebral palsy
•$9,000,000 for brain injuries caused by a delayed cesarean section
•$8,800,000 for a severe injury caused by a defective post-hole digger
•$4,500,000 for improper handling of an allergic reaction by ambulance paramedics
•$3,000,000 for the death of a man due to medical malpractice
•$2,450,000 for a misdiagnosis of eye disease resulting in loss of vision
•$2,300,000 for mishandling of an endotracheal tube resulting in cardiac arrest
•$2,100,000 for a birth injury that resulted in shoulder dystocia
•$2,000,000 for the loss of a limb due to the delayed diagnosis of an infection
•$1,900,000 for liver damage sustained due to the lack of monitoring of a prescription drug
•$1,800,000 for damages resulting from a workplace fall
•$1,500,000 for delayed diagnosis of cancer
•$1,500,000 for surgery error leading to permanent injury
•$1,450,000 for delayed diagnosis of an infection following cardiac surgery
•$1,000,000 for delayed diagnosis of melanoma
•$1,000,000 for delayed diagnosis of pneumonia and need for emergency surgery
•$1,000,000 for misdiagnosis of an abdominal aneurism as a hernia
•$1,000,000 for failure to recognize deep vein thrombosis
•$900,000 for delay in corrective surgery following complications of a hysterectomy
•$750,000 for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer
•$500,000 for a delayed emergency room diagnosis of a heart condition
•$450,000 for misdiagnosis of kidney cancer and delay in treatment
•$450,000 for a nursing error resulting in overdosing of insulin in diabetic patient

Awards and Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America
Named to Best Lawyers in America from 2003 to 2024; recognized for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2018
Named “Buffalo Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2018 by Best Lawyers in America.

Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2014
Named “Buffalo Best Lawyers Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 by Best Lawyers in America.

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Women Helping Women Award
Winner of “Women Helping Women” award presented by the National Organization for Women

Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2019
Named “Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2019 by Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2017
Named “Buffalo Best Lawyers Medical Malpractice Law-Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2017 by Best Lawyers in America.

Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2013
Named “Buffalo Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2013 by Best Lawyers in America.

Super Lawyers
Among the Top 25 female attorneys named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers from 2007 to 2022; no more than 5 percent of attorneys in any state are named to this publication.

Who’s Who in Law
Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s final 2012 issue of “Who’s Who in Law” for Personal Injury

In the News

Laraine Kelley is regularly featured in regional media, providing analysis on issues concerning medical malpractice law and commenting on results she has achieved for her clients. Below are links to some of stories featuring Ms. Kelley.

Additional Medical Malpractice Caps Aren’t Necessary, Several Attorneys Agree, interview with Laraine Kelley

Laraine Kelley is interviewed in the Buffalo Law Journal for an article featuring attorneys named to the “Top 25 Women” list in Super Lawyers magazine

Buffalo Business First interviews Laraine Kelley for perspective on medical malpractice reforms

Buffalo Law Journal article on the demands on trial attorneys features comments by Laraine Kelley

The Buffalo News reports on $8.8. million jury verdict obtained by Laraine Kelley and Richard Weisbeck on behalf of their injured client