Joan focuses her practice exclusively on medical malpractice litigation involving the defense of hospitals, doctors, nurses, physicians' assistants, nursing homes, long-term care facilities and behavioral health treatment facilities. She also handles other healthcare-related issues. Throughout her career, Joan has handled in excess of 500 medical malpractice cases, including numerous high-exposure cases involving catastrophic injuries and death in infants and adults. She has taken more than 50 major jury cases to verdict in state and federal courts with overwhelmingly favorable results.
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from LaSalle University in 1984, Joan attended Widener University where she earned her juris doctor in 1986. At Widener, she participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Her legal education also included courses at Notre Dame School of Law in London, England, and The Dickenson Law School in Florence, Italy. Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey in 1997, Joan worked for a defense firm for nine years where she also concentrated on medical malpractice defense, primarily representing physicians.
Joan has lectured for various organizations over the course of her career, and has given presentations to nursing and medical staff at multiple hospitals on litigation related issues. In addition, she has served as an instructor in the firm's annual Advanced Trial Advocacy Mock Trial Program.
Honors & awards
AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Year joined
1997
Thought Leadership
Seminar on case evaluations and jury verdicts in medical professionals liability cases
October 1, 2011
Kevin FitzPatrick (King of Prussia, PA), Chandler Hosmer (King of Prussia, PA), Bill Banton (Philadelphia, PA), and Joan Orsini Ford(Doylestown, PA) presented a seminar on case evaluations and jury verdicts in medical
CORONAVIRUS AND THE LAW: A Legal Guide for the Healthcare Industry
COVID-19 Task Force 2020
Health Care Liability
Long-Term Care Liability
Workers Compensation
Behavioral Health Risk and Liability
March 31, 2020
In late 2019, news of a new virus began to emerge from China The material in this newsletter has been prepared for our readers by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.
Long-Term Health Care Dealt Another Blow
King of Prussia
Long-Term Care Liability
December 4, 2017
Defense Digest, Vol. 23, No. 4, December 2017By Joan Orsini Ford, Esq.*Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 23, No. 4, December 2017. Defense Digest is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers.
Nurses: Their Expanding Role as Expert Witnesses
King of Prussia
Health Care Liability
January 3, 2013
Update on E-Discovery and the Electronic Medical Record
King of Prussia
Health Care Liability
December 1, 2012
Key Points: Defense Digest, Vol. 18, No. 4, December 2012
How to Avoid EMR Legal Pitfalls
King of Prussia
Health Care Liability
Electronic Medical Record and Audit Trail Litigation
September 14, 2012
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Classes/Seminars Taught
Opioid Toxicity and Reversal: Attorney Perspective on Hospital Liability & Patient's Rights, American College of Medical Toxicology Seminar, December 11, 2017
Opioids in Civil Proceedings: Perspectives from the Defense, American College of Medical Toxicology Seminar, December 11, 2017
Trial Negotiation and Business Skills for Women Trial Attorneys , Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, April 11, 2001
Treatment and Consent for Minors , Insurance Society of Philadelphia, February 21, 2001
Medical Treatment to Minors , Lehigh Valley Risk Management Society, March 1, 2000