Contact
M. Brian O’Connor
moconnor@bocclawfirm.com
Phone/Fax: 412-338-4762
Assistant Contact
Cheryl Hajduk
chajduk@bocclawfirm.com
412-338-2078
Mr. O’Connor has been a member of the firm for 23 years. His practice is concentrated in the defense of physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes in the defense of medical malpractice cases. Brian also represents physicians in licensing matters before the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. Brian has particular expertise in the defense of ophthalmologists, optometrists orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, ENT physicians, medical oncologists, and internists. Additionally, a portion of his practice is devoted to defending businesses in products liability matters, including elevator accidents and power line accidents.
Mr. O’Connor has tried over 50 jury trials in all counties of western Pennsylvania and the federal courts of the Western District and Middle District of Pennsylvania. He has represented countless defendants in mediations and arbitrations in healthcare-related litigation.
Brian is a Fellow in the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County and an Adjunct Professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is a frequent lecturer to physician groups, as well as the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Brian is also a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Healthcare Law Section.
Since 2009, Brian has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for the defense of medical negligence cases. Brian was recognized in the 2016 edition of Best Lawyers in America for his work in the practice area of “Medical Malpractice Law- Defendants.”
Prior to joining Baum O’Connor Cullen Chmiel, Mr. O’Connor served as an Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County, where he tried numerous non-jury trials and multiple jury trials on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Brian is active in the Pittsburgh community. He served for two decades as President of Christian Housing, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to providing housing to the elderly poor. Brian is also a former president of the Pittsburgh St. Thomas More Society.
Brian is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as in federal court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Results
March 2018: Plaintiff alleged family practice physician was negligent in treatment of congestive heart failure. Jury verdict in favor of the defense in Westmoreland County.
February 2016: Plaintiff alleged podiatrist was negligent during the performance of heel spur surgery. Jury verdict in favor of defense in Butler County.
Plaintiff alleged ENT surgeon was negligent in retained pledget during ZMC surgery. Verdict in favor of defense on motion for non-suit after 2 days of trial.
Plaintiffs alleged failure to adequately treat glaucoma resulting in blindness. Verdict for defense
Plaintiff claimed radiologist failed to properly interpret CT scan of abdomen and pelvis resulting in delay in diagnosis of Thymoma. Verdict for defense.
Plaintiff claimed obstetrician/gynecologist was negligent for perforating ureter during C-Section. Verdict for defense.
Plaintiff claimed failure to diagnose pituitary tumor resulting in blindness. Non-suit granted after six days of trial.
Plaintiffs alleged failure to timely diagnose lung cancer. Verdict for defense
Plaintiffs alleged failure to adequately treat glaucoma resulting in blindness. Verdict for defense
Publications and Presentations
September 2017 Pennsylvania Bar Institute Lecturer, Discovery Issues
The Current State of Medical Malpractice Litigation in Pennsylvania
- ACBA Health Care Section Meeting
The Medical Protective Company Risk Management Seminar
GE Medical Protective Company Risk Management Education Presentation
MCare Act, Informed Consent, Certificates of Merit and Status of Tort Reform
Evidence in Personal Injury Cases – Demonstrative Evidence
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute
Podiatric Risk Management Seminar
Tough Problems in Medical Malpractice
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI), Pittsburgh, PA
Medical Malpractice? A Case Study
- The Western Pennsylvania Hospital
Recent changes in PA Law Affecting Physicians
Informed Consent and Other Issues Facing Physicians
- Blair Medical Associates, Altoona, PA
Status of Tort Reform in Pennsylvania
Malpractice Issues for the Primary Care Physician
- St. Francis Medical Center – Medical Grand Rounds
Medicolegal Issues in Foot and Ankle Surgery
- The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Scott Alter, DPM, Memorial Lecture Series
Admissions
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1989
District of Columbia, 1991
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2007
US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2018
Education
John Carroll University, B.A., 1986
The Catholic University of America, J.D., 1989
Professional & Community Involvement
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, 2009-Present
Member Allegheny County Bar Association, Health Care Law Section
American Bar Association-Litigation Section
Defense Research Institute-Medical Malpractice Section
President, Christian Housing, Inc., 2006-July 2017
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