Armstrong, Donohue, Ceppos and Vaughan, Chartered is a litigation law firm of fifteen attorneys.  The firm was established in 1987 when the four named principals split from the former firm of Donahue, Ehrmantraut and Montedonico.   Based in Rockville, Maryland,  our lawyers practice throughout the State of Maryland, in the District of Columbia, and, on a limited basis, in Northern Virginia.     

Since our inception, the focus of our practice has been primarily on the defense of medical negligence cases.   Our success in the representation of health care institutions, health care delivery systems, and health care professionals has resulted in the growth of our practice into related areas of licensing and certification, credentialing, professional discipline, and professional business-related litigation.    

We believe that the depth and breadth of the experience of our lawyers are unmatched by any firm in our field.  We have represented leading area hospitals and hospital systems, the areas largest staff model health maintenance organization, nursing homes, mental health facilities, ambulatory care facilities and the health care providers that they all employ, in every imaginable professional liability scenario.  Our lawyers have represented countless physicians, across the broadest possible spectrum of medical specialties.  We have defended cases that range in severity from potential eight figure exposure, perpetual care, neurological injury cases, to those involving a tooth loosened during anesthesia.   

With this experience comes the working knowledge of the complex medical issues presented, the familiarity with the counsel and experts witnesses who inhabit this arena, the respect of the courts and our opponents, the capacity to efficiently and economically manage litigation, and the ability to accurately evaluate cases for trial or settlement.  The  named principals have over one hundred years of combined trial experience between them.  Two of the principals are fellows in the American College of Trial Lawyers.  All of our lawyers handling major cases have years of extensive experience, as well as exceptional skills. 

Some of our lawyers acquired valuable experience in other endeavors before coming to our firm.  For example, Eric Rhoades was a surgical assistant and served an organization that harvested and distributed organs for transplant.  Susan Boyce was a registered nurse before she became a lawyer.  Eddie Horowitz was a well-known and highly respected plaintiff's malpractice lawyer for over 30 years before he came to our firm.  Ed Gonsalves had done both plaintiff and defense in malpractice cases in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia before joining us.  

Our firm has built its reputation on two pillars---delivering the highest quality legal product for a fair bottom line,  and on providing highly responsive client service.  Our institutional and non-institutional clients, alike, have a right to receive not only first rate representation, but to be involved in a frequent dialogue about the shape and progress of the litigation, as well.  We know that our capable case development must be accompanied by timely and analytical reporting. 

We are pleased to provide ancillary client service; sometimes, simply as a response to a telephone question relating to a non-litigation matter, other times in the form of a free in-service teaching session to health care professionals.    We have taught in areas such as litigation implications of nursing documentation, dealing with patients and families in the wake of an adverse outcome, do's and don'ts of deposition and trial testimony, and other related topics.  For the second consecutive year, our firm has been asked to be the sole source for a series of CME lectures to physicians throughout the state on litigation topics.  

The highest compliment paid to our firm is reflected in our client loyalty.   Although we have proudly added clients during our eighteen year history, we have also enjoyed a remarkable level of client retention.  Nearly all of our leading clients and accounts have been with us from the very beginning.  For example, our relationship with Doctors Community Hospital extends back to the 1980's, when it was operated by American Medical International.  Our representation of the Adventist hospitals in Montgomery County parallels that experience, and Kaiser Permanente has been a faithful client since the day we opened our doors.  So it goes.