MISSION         SERVICES          TEAM           RON HODGES AWARD         GOVERNANCE        HISTORY  

The mission of Piedmont Liability Trust is to serve the professional liability legal needs of its covered clinicians and to be a trusted resource for all of their health law and medical/legal issues.

REBECCA WEST, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer

Rebecca is esponsible for the overall day-to-day management of the Trust. She has been CEO since creating the Trust in 1989. Rebecca specializes in health care and corporate law and is available for advice and counsel on health care matters. Rebecca’sets annual funding rates based on actuarial studies, manages cash flow on a month to month basis, oversees investments and the investment policy and assures that the Trust has a clean annual audit by an outside audit firm.

WILLIAM H. ARCHAMBAULT, J.D.
General Counsel

Bill serves as General Counsel to the Trust. In addition to providing legal advice to the Trust and clinicians, Bill is the Chief Defense Counsel for Trust covered clinicians in medical malpractice and professional association matters. Bill is also admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts.

JAMES CARNES, MBA
Director of Finance and Administration

James is responsible for the financial and administrative services of the Trust..

JUDY L. FORTINEUX, A.R.M.
Manager of Clinical Services and Risk Management

Judy is certified as a risk manager by the American Association of Health Care Risk Managers. She works in conjunction with Legal Services Counsel in providing day-to-day advice and assistance to Trust clinicians in addition to maintaining risk management records and data. Judy also facilitates providing proof of coverage and claims history upon request.

BETH SANDERFORD, R.N.
Claims Manager

Beth is responsible for managing lawsuits against Trust Covered Persons and other open claims. She investigates claims, assigning legal counsel when necessary and oversees legal counsel’s actions. Beth works with the Trust’s General Counsel, CEO and the Claims Committee to authorize and approve settlement of cases when deemed necessary and/or appropriate.

The Ronald D. Hodges Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the cooperative relationship between the sister professions of law and medicine.

Ron Hodges was an attorney who specialized in defending physicians, nurses and hospitals in medical malpractice litigation. He was a counselor, in every sense of the word, guiding the physicians and nurses who relied upon him through the personal and painful ordeal of litigation. Though Ron represented health professionals throughout the state, he had a special devotion to the University of Virginia Health System. He spent hours providing curbside consults, speaking to professional groups, and advising administrators, nurses and physicians without ever thinking about billing for his time. The legal and the medical professions lost a great friend and advocate when Ron unexpectedly passed away in 1998 at the age of 53.

Dr. Marzani, current Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, has been with UVA since arriving as a resident in 1998. She came on board as faculty in 2003.   In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Marzani currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Admissions for the School of Medicine, as Quality Officer for the Department of Psychiatry, and Director of Special Projects, Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

In 2013-14 Dr. Marzani volunteered to be the primary lecturer for the PLT Lecture Series. She created and delivered a presentation, “The Legal and Medical Issues with Opioids,” to over 500 fellow faculty members in five different locations throughout Central Virginia.   Opioid prescribing is a growing area of physician professional liability and discipline. Dr. Marzani’s ability to provide both medical and legal insight to her fellow clinicians on these important issues allows the Trust to serve the best interests of its covered providers.  Her commitment and allocation of significant volunteer time and resources in the interests of patient safety and risk management exemplifies the best qualities of this award’s namesake, Ron Hodges.

TRUSTEES
Rebecca W. West, J.D.

Raymond F. Morgan, M.D.

The Trustees are overseen by the Trust Board of Directors. Monthly oversight of Trust activities comes from the
Trust Executive Committee. Oversight of claims handling comes from the Claims Committee.

TRUST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chris A. Ghaemmaghami, M.D.

Randolph J. Canterbury, M.D., Chair
Robert L. Chevalier, M.D.
Raymond F. Morgan, M.D.
Stanton P. Nolan, M.D. (Ex-Officio, non-voting)
R. Carter Scott, III, J.D. Vice-Chair
Mark E. Shaffrey, M.D.
Rebecca W. West, J.D.
G. Frederick Wooten, M.D.

Robert P. Boren, CPA (retired)
Paul  A. Levine, M.D. (Ex-Officio)

TRUST BOARD of DIRECTORS
Randolph J. Canterbury, M.D., Chair
Robert L. Chevalier, M.D.
Bradley E. Haws,  CEO, HSF
Kenneth E. Greer, M.D.
Robert S. Gibson, M.D., Ex-Officio, President of Clinical Staff
Irving L. Kron, M.D.
Raymond F. Morgan, M.D., Co-Treasurer
Stanton P. Nolan, M.D., Ex-Officio, Past Chair
R. Carter Scott, III, J.D., Vice-Chair
Rebecca W. West, J.D., Ex-Officio, Chief Executive Officer, PLT
Munsey S. Wheby, M.D., Ex-Officio, Past Vice-Chair
G. Frederick Wooten, M.D.
Scott A. Syverud, M.D
Mark E. Shaffrey, M.D
A. Bobby Chhabra, M.D.
Robert P. Boren, CPA (retired)

CLAIMS COMMITTEE
Mark E. Shaffrey, M.D., Chair
Eugene D. McGahren, III, M.D., Vice-Chair
E. Clarke Haley, Jr., M.D.
Megan J. Bray, M.D.
Julie A. Matsumoto, M.D.
Stanton P. Nolan, M.D., Ex Officio, Past Chair
Scott A. Syverud, M.D.
Stuart M. Lowson, M.D.
Munsey S. Wheby, M.D., Ex-Officio, Past Vice Chair
Rebecca W. West, J.D.

© Copyright 2015, Piedmont Liability Trust

1020 Ednam Ctr # 100 Charlottesville, VA 22903

(434) 296-2100 

Board Member Resources
CURRENT YEAR ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIALS–PASSWORD REQUIRED

Patient Care Support

• Physician/Patient Responsibilities
• Termination of Patient Care
• Informed Consent
• Issues with Minors
• Patient Competency
• Patient Complaints
• Subpoenas for Patient Records
• Subpoenas for Treating Physician Testimony

Claims and Litigation

• Patient or Lawyer Threatening Suit
• Service of Lawsuit Papers
• Inquiry from Media re: Claim or Lawsuit

Financial Services

• The Trust funds professional liability losses for UVA Health Services Foundation employees for services provided on behalf of UVA

Administrative Documents Provided upon Request

• Terms of Coverage
• Proof of Coverage
• Claims History

ANDREW G. H. MILLER, J.D.
Associate Claims Counsel

Andrew provides legal advice and representation to Trust covered persons under the direction and supervision of the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. He also participates in Trust educational programming and writes a blog on medical professional liability issues.

LANCE FRASIER

Lance is in charge of the Trust’s Information Technology services.

The Trust is also served by two Administrative Assistants, Judy Damron and Tammy Tuthill.

BRUCE D. GEHLE, J.D.
Chief Operating Officer

Bruce supervises the risk management and general clinical service support to Trust Covered Persons. Bruce provides advice and consultation for Trust clinicians on patient care related legal matters, including subpoenas, depositions, and attorney contacts. He is also responsible for the annual Trust Lecture Series and educational programming.