Practice limited to medical negligence, serious injuries from defective products/accidents
Profiles
March 22, 1995

She's experienced it from two sides, rising through the ranks of one of the last "old boy's clubs," and defending women, children, and the elderly maltreated by a thoughtless, at times callous medical community.

"It's the way society is set up, the values it places on women and children," explained attorney Gayle R. Lewis. "Their complaints are often not heard. The legal community is only a reflection of society at large.

"I am very sensitive to the care that women and children receive." It's her sub-specialty: birth injuries, OB/GYN complaints, even the failure to diagnose breast cancer.

"Women use health services three times more frequently than men," Lewis said. "Older people are often forced into the health care system because of a problem. But often they are not taken seriously. They need advocates."

Gayle Lewis is a specialist in medical negligence and catastrophic accidents, and a solo practitioner since 1981. When you hire Gayle, you get Gayle, not an untried legal associate.

It's how Lewis has fostered the many long-term relationships of her client base. "It's through accessibility and honest and open communications," she said.

"I keep my clients informed and current on all phases of their litigation, as well as to the legal consequences of the decisions that happen regarding their claim."

In a large firm, a client is often shuffled among the partnership's aides and support staff.

"You may see the managing partner once in the first day of your case," Lewis said, "then the others, many inexperienced, will come and go. I don't come and go, I'm there from the beginning to the end."

To maintain her philosophy, Lewis accepts a limited number of cases. "This is not a legal mill," she said. "I offer a personalized, professional relationship."

You also get Lewis's wealth of experience. Upon finishing law school, Lewis became an assistant attorney general in the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, where she specialized in health care and health insurance.

She them became a special assistant to the state Insurance Commissioner.

"In this position, I saw how injured persons can get lost in the legal shuffle, between lawyers and the court system," she said. "I wanted to help them. "I had made the broad strokes, molding regulations for newborns, and other health care consumers, but I wanted to help individuals."

She then became a deputy administrator with the Arbitration Panels for Health Care.

"We would review and adjudicate all medical malpractice claims file in Pennsylvania," Lewis said.

Lewis has published a number of local articles on her expertise, served six years on the board of trial lawyers, and in June will offer a lecture for the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers on the challenges facing women litigators.

If you would like a personal consultation, call Gayle, at 496-9342. Her office is at 2000 Market Street, suite 1805. She also has an office in Cherry Hill, NJ, at 1040 Kings Highway, 609-482-0033.