Rebecca D. Hattabaugh

"My passion is for litigation & the focus of my practice is defending doctors, nurses & other medical professionals in malpractice cases."

Although I especially enjoy trial work, particularly cross-examining expert witnesses, I am also a bit of a closet law nerd. I have a real appreciation for motion practice and particularly how to win cases without going to trial. I have also handled a number of cases at the appellate level before the Arkansas Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. While defending medical malpractice cases is the majority of my practice, I also handle other types of civil litigation including insurance defense and employment law.

I am a native Arkansan, tracing my roots to the rural community of Elm Park where I was raised. I attended college and law school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. When it came time to choose where I would practice, I knew it would be Fort Smith. In fact, I refused to interview elsewhere over my Dean’s objections. Fort Smith is close enough to family to attend Sunday dinner and a great place to live and work.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time at Lake Ouachita with my family, playing with my goldendoodles, reading a book and cooking. On a good weekend, you will find me at the lake with my husband and our teenage children. When we are not on the water, I will be cooking brunch and dinner for the band of teenagers that roams the area, as well as chocolate chip cookies, upon request.