Youngentob Meets With Students
The Center for Excellence in Advocacy hosted a lunchtime discussion with Harold S. Youngentob of Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds, & Palmer, L.L.P. on Thursday, October 14, 2004. Mr. Youngentob discussed a recent architectural malpractice suit in which he won a judgment of $1.2 million for Newman Medical Plaza. The defendants, Everton Oglesby Architects, failed to take into account the soil composition in Kansas. Because of this oversight, the hospital was built on a rather unstable foundation. The jury's award was based on the cost of remedial repair and the projected loss of rental income.
Mr. Youngentob also discussed his work as a defendant's attorney in medical malpractice litigation. He described trial advocacy as a race to establish credibility in front of a jury. Because this is the central goal at trial, Mr. Youngentob expressed doubt that anyone could make an effective practice in representing both sides in any one type of litigation. An attorney must be in the habit of believing that medical professionals are doing good work in order to make that argument ring true at trial.
This event, the first of its kind for the Center, brought together a small group of student members for a discussion with Mr. Youngentob. Professor Curtis J. Waugh also joined the group, adding his experience as former litigator with Goodell Stratton.
