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Frederick Cummings has extensive trial experience in the areas of health care, medical malpractice, and medical products liability defense litigation. Mr. Cummings also has significant experience in all aspects of complex litigation. He has served as an arbitrator and mediator in over 100 matters.
In his health care/medical malpractice defense practice, Mr. Cummings has represented more than 1,000 physicians and dentists in malpractice suits before federal and state courts and in disciplinary and licensing proceedings before the state licensing boards. He also has defended lawsuits on behalf of a number of major Arizona hospitals and has defended medical products manufacturers, distributors, and retailers against products liability claims.
Professional Associations
- Maricopa County Superior Court, Judge Pro Tem (1996-2012)
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow (2007-present)
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
- Maricopa County Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Board of Directors (2001-2005)
- Arizona Board of Dental Examiners
- Committee on Legislation
- Committee on Complaint Procedure Reform
Professional Recognition
- AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Medical Malpractice Law –Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law -Defendants (2007-2024)
- Lawyer of the Year Phoenix, Personal Injury Litigation (2021)
- Lawyer of the Year Phoenix, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2022 and 2024)
- Southwest Super Lawyers®, Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice; Personal Injury Defense: General, and health care (2008-2020)
- Phoenix Magazine 2023 Top Lawyers – Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice – Defense; Professional Malpractice – Defense and Plaintiff
- Top Lawyers List (health care), Arizona Business Magazine (2014)
- AB Top Lawyer (Commercial Litigation), Arizona Business Magazine (2008)
- Top Lawyers, Phoenix Magazine (2007)
- Best of the Bar, The Business Journal (2004)
Presentations & Publications
- Presenter, “The Physician as a Witness,” American Educational Institute’s Medical-Dental-Legal Update (2021-2022)
- Author, “Risk Management in the Time of Coronavirus,” Risk Advisor published by Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (December 2020)
- Quoted in Relias Media: https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/146072-malpractice-risksduring-covid-19-really-enormous-for-ed-providers
- Speaker, “Medical Economics: How to prevent a malpractice lawsuit,” Medical Economics.com (January 2020)
- Presenter, Legal Considerations in Nutrition Care during the Patient Safety, Organizational
- Practices and the Legal System, ASPEN 2019 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference (March 2019)
- Speaker, “The Myth and Mysteries of Electronic Medical Records,” Arizona State Bar Convention (June 2015)
- Speaker, “Voir Dire: What to Expect that the Defense is Expecting,” Arizona Association for Justice/Arizona Trial Lawyers Association’s Fifty Shades of Voir Dire (May 2013)
- Speaker, CNA Risk Management Conference (November 2010 and April 2011)
- Speaker, “New Horizons for Managing Risks,” Phoenix College (April 2010)
- Speaker, “Dealing with Difficult and Disruptive Doctors,” Arizona Society for Healthcare Risk Management (November 2008)
- Speaker, “Informed Consent, an Ethical Obligation and a Legal Requirement” Psi Omega Pi Behavioral Therapists/Counseling Honor Society at the University of Phoenix (November 2008)
- Speaker, “New Legal Developments You Should Know to Manage Risks for your Emergency Department,” Arizona Society for Healthcare Risk Management Conference (September 2008)
- Speaker, “Legal Challenges facing Health Care Practitioners” Mesa Community College (April 2007 and April 2008)
- Author(s): Frederick M. Cummings, Paul G. Johnson, The Four Paths of Dispute Resolution (March 2008)
- Lecturer, Third Annual Quality Assurance/Risk Management Workshop for Clinical Faculty and Staff, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, A.T. Still University (April 2007)
- Speaker, “Your Brave New World: Managing Risks in Your New Practice,” Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, A.T. Still University (April 2007)
- Speaker, “Risk Management – An Attorney’s Perspective,” CNA HealthPro (April 2006, September 2006, March 2006 and September 2007)
- Speaker, “Drunks, Druggies, and Crazies: Coping with Difficult Doctors, Patients, and Co-Workers,” Darwin Risk Management Conference (September 2007)
- Speaker, “Defending Yourself Before Licensing Boards and in Malpractice Litigation,” Phoenix College (April 2006)
- Speaker, “Tort Reform: Past, Present, and Future,” Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (July 2004)
Community Involvement
- Arizona Zoological Society
- Board of Directors (2010-2018)
- Secretary, Executive Committee of Board of Trustees (2012-2015)
