Personal Quote
I decided to become a lawyer because I believed in the integrity of the legal profession. I am still a lawyer because I believe in the integrity of my profession.
Biography
Kathleen L. Pine has been a shareholder at Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard since 1989. She has over twenty years of experience representing hospitals and physicians in medical malpractice cases in Illinois and Missouri.
In 2003, Kathy opened Sandberg Phoenix's first branch office in Carbondale, Illinois. The Sandberg Phoenix Southern Illinois office serves central and southern Illinois by offering legal defense to hospitals and physicians sued for medical malpractice. When a special need arises for the services of Sandberg Phoenix's excellent business and products liability lawyers, the southern Illinois office makes the connection between businesses and our lawyers in St. Louis.
A sampling of Kathy's litigation experience includes:
Cummings v. Passavant Hospital. Kathy represented Passavant Hospital in this medical malpractice case where plaintiffs alleged failure to timely diagnose and treat incompetent cervix resulting in the premature delivery and death of a newborn. Directed verdict in favor of Passavant Hospital at the close of plaintiffs’ case.
Bettorf v. Group Health Plan. Kathy represented Group Health Plan (GHP) in this case where plaintiff claimed a GHP physician failed to provide appropriate weight-lifting instructions post-injury causing plaintiff’s dismissal from his union job. The U.S. District Court granted a directed verdict in favor of GHP at the close of plaintiff’s case.
Unverferth v. Barnes Hospital. Kathy represented Barnes Hospital against plaintiff’s allegation of failure to perform carotid endarterectomy to prevent stroke. The case was tried to a defense verdict.
Daum v. Group Health Plan. Kathy represented GHP and its employed physician against charges that they failed to diagnose throat cancer. The jury returned a defense verdict.
McNew v. Barnes Hospital. The family of a police officer sued a security guard employed by Barnes Hospital claiming the guard could have done more to stop a hospital visitor from killing the police officer. Kathy represented the security guard and the hospital in this case which resulted in a defense verdict.
Neighbors v. Group Health Plan. Kathy and Ken Bean represented Group Health Plan and an obstetrician sued for negligently proceeding with a VBAC procedure that resulted in a ruptured uterus and severe neurological injuries to the baby. The result was a defense verdict after three weeks of trial.
Holder v. Passavant Hospital. A defense verdict was received after a two-week trial in this wrongful death/obstetrical malpractice case where Kathy represented Passavant Hospital.
Bolen v. BJC Corporate Health Services. Kathy represented BJC Corporate Health Services and two of its physicians where plaintiff alleged failure to diagnose and timely repair a severed tendon. The jury returned a defense verdict.
Practice Groups
-
Business Litigation
-
Health Law
Industries/Areas of Practice
- Physicians
- Hospitals
- Insurance Companies
- Business Professionals
- Nursing Homes
Civic Activities
Kathy serves on the Board of the Women's Center in Carbondale, Illinois. This not-for-profit group is dedicated to stopping violence against women and children. Kathy also serves on the Southern Illinois University's School of Art & Design's Art and Advisory Board. The main function of the Board is to raise money for the school of Art and Design through their annual art auction. She also enjoys frequent appearances as “judge” in moot court competitions including the renowned annual National Health Law Moot Court competition.
Professional Activities
Kathy is the Managing Partner of Sandberg Phoenix's Southern Illinois office in Carbondale. Kathy is licensed to practice in Illinois and Missouri. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association and the Jackson County Bar Association. She serves as President of the Southern Illinois Inn of Court and is a member of the firm's Diversity Committee.
Education
Kathy earned her Juris Doctor,
cum laude, from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1982.
She earned her undergraduate degree, high honors, from Illinois State University in 1978.