Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

California
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
U.S. District Court Central District of California
U.S. District Court Northern District of California

Terri D. Keville

Partner

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Los Angeles

T213.633.8660

F213.633.6899

Terri Keville advises health care clients on credentialing, peer review and other medical staff issues, consent (including end-of-life issues), confidentiality, clinical research, emergency care requirements (EMTALA), and other operational matters. Her litigation practice emphasizes case-dispositive motions and appeals involving hospitals, physician groups and other health care clients. Terri has made new law for California health care organizations in cases involving physician peer review, Medicare and ERISA preemption, and California’s Unfair Competition Law.

Practice Highlights

Advise numerous hospital clients such as Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Dignity Health, and Huntington Memorial Hospital on complex peer review and patient-care issues, including dealing with impaired and disruptive practitioners, sexual harassment allegations against medical staff members, clashing medical groups and medical staff factions, and difficult end-of-life decision-making
Defend hospitals, medical staffs and physician groups against claims by individual physicians for wrongful exclusion that involve complex issues of alleged disability discrimination, substance abuse, peer review duties and procedural rights, and the interplay of those elements with physician employment or partnership agreements
Review and revise medical staff bylaws, rules, regulations, and policies to bring them into compliance with legal and accreditation standards for multiple health care providers
Advise medical staffs on issues relating to credentialing for appointment, review and new privileges for multiple health care providers
Assist medical staffs in addressing clinical and behavioral deficiencies of their members, including by serving as an advocate or hearing officer in peer review hearing proceedings for multiple health care providers

Representative Experience

Amicus Curiae Representation

El-Attar v. Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center

Submitted amicus curiae briefs to the California Supreme Court on behalf of healthcare providers in high-profile case concerning the authority of hospital governing boards in peer review matters. (Ongoing)

Sorrell v. IMS Health Inc.

Submitted amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of First Amendment rights of marketers and advertisers against Vermont statute requiring "opt-in" for any use of prescriber-identifiable data regarding prescription drug information. The Court held 6-3 that the state cannot restrict commercial speech for being too persuasive. Read the amicus brief. (U.S. 2011)

Mileikowsky v. West Hills Hospital Medical Center

Represented Catholic Healthcare West and Tenet Healthcare as amici curiae in support of West Hills Hospital in California Supreme Court case involving the authority of hearing officers in medical staff peer review hearings. 45 Cal. 4th 1259 (Cal. 2009)

Kibler v. Northern Inyo County Local Hospital District*

Represented Catholic Healthcare West and the Regents of the University of California as amici curiae in support of the hospital district in this California Supreme Court case involving applicability of California's anti-SLAPP law to hospital peer review proceedings; the Supreme Court cited our brief in its opinion holding that the anti-SLAPP statute does protect peer review. 39 Cal. 4th 192 (2006)

Medical Staff of Sharp Memorial Hospital v. Superior Court (Pancoast)*

Represented the California Hospital Association as amicus curiae in support of the hospital in a writ proceeding. The court of appeal ordered the trial court to vacate its ruling requiring reinstatement of a medical staff physician, and recognized the hospital's legal authority to summarily suspend the physician based upon potential danger to unidentified patients. 121 Cal. App. 4th 173 (2004)

Peer Review and Disciplinary Matters

Ellison v. Sequoia Health Services

Represented hospital board of directors in internal appellate review proceeding that led to termination of a medical staff physician for lying on his application; both the trial court and the court of appeal upheld the hospital board's decision. 183 Cal. App. 4th 1486 (2010)

Connor v. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center*

Obtained dismissal of physician's wrongful peer review lawsuit, and award of attorneys' fees, by prevailing on anti-SLAPP motion. (L.A. Cnty. (Cal.) Super. Ct. 2008)

Blau v. Northridge Hospital Medical Center*

Prevailed in mandamus action and on appeal by a physician challenging his exclusion from the hospital for disruptive behavior. (Cal. App. 1st Dist. Div. 5 2007)

Blau v. Catholic Healthcare West*

Obtained dismissal of physician's damages action for alleged wrongful exclusion from the defendant hospital, and affirmance on appeal, because the physician had failed to exhaust his internal administrative remedies. (Cal. App. 2d Dist. Div. 1 2003)

* Denotes experience completed at a prior firm

Professional & Community Activities

Member; President, 2004-2005 – California Society for Healthcare Attorneys
Board of Directors, Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library
Co-chair, Joint Committee on Biomedical Ethics, Los Angeles County Medical Association and Los Angeles County Bar Association
Executive Committee, Appellate Courts Section; Past Member and Co-chair, Bioethics Committee, 2000-2002; Member, Helthcare Law Section – Los Angeles County Bar Association
American Health Lawyers Association
Health Law Section, American Bar Association
California State Bar Health Law Committee

Professional Recognition

Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America," in Health Law by Best Lawyers, 2007-present
Named one of "America’s Leading Lawyers for Business" in Healthcare (California) by Chambers USA, 2007-2012
Selected to "Southern California Super Lawyers" by Thomson Reuters, 2004-2013; in Health Care, 2004-2013; in Appellate, 2004-2013; in Business Litigation, 2004-2013
Named in Who's Who in America, 2006-present
Named in Who's Who in American Law, 2005-2011
Named in Who's Who of American Women, 2007, 2010

Education

J.D., University of Southern California Law School, 1992
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, Southern California Law Review
Graduate Studies, Philosophy, California State University, Northridge, 1974
B.A., Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania, 1972