Personal:
LeAnn Sanders has lived in Nevada since 1984 and focuses on health care, employment, and insurance law.

LeAnn was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and grew up in Kansas. She earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Kansas State University. She then began a variety of interesting jobs, including advertising account sales for a newspaper, retail sales, and substitute teacher, before deciding to go to law school. She obtained her law degree from University of Kansas, moved to Las Vegas and began a one-year clerkship for District Court Judge Michael Wendell. LeAnn joined the firm in 1985 and accepted a partnership in 1995. She was the first woman in Nevada to be a named partner in a major law firm.

LeAnn has a long history of defending doctors and hospitals in malpractice actions in both Las Vegas and Reno. She has represented Dignity Health (fka Catholic Healthcare West) for many years, defending claims against their three hospital campuses in Las Vegas. In addition, she has defended numerous doctors, nurses and medical groups in both litigated cases and actions before the applicable licensing Boards.

LeAnn also has extensive experience in representing the legal interests of businesses and individuals in many types of civil litigation, including personal injury, employment, bad faith, and professional negligence.

LeAnn is a member of three of the most prestigious trial lawyer organizations in America—the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). She is the first woman lawyer in Nevada to be accepted into membership by all three of these organizations.

LeAnn has an “AV Preeminent” rating with Martindale Hubbell and is listed in the area of Personal Injury Defense and Medical Malpractice by Mountain States Super Lawyers. She has also been selected as one of Nevada’s top attorneys by the Nevada Business Journal.

Education:
Kansas State University (B.S., cum laude)
University of Kansas (J.D.)

Bar and Court Admissions:
Nevada Supreme Court  – 1985
U.S. District Court, District of Nevada – 1985
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit – 1985

Professional Associations:

Professional Recognition:

Special Distinctions and Achievements:
Law Clerk, District Judge Michael Wendell, 8th Judicial District Court of Nevada

Presentations:

Representative Cases:
Archer v. Dr. Chaudhari: The female Plaintiff, age 55, alleged that pathologist Chaudhari negligently diagnosed the biopsy of Plaintiff’s legion as benign when the biopsy slides revealed malignant melanoma. Plaintiff claimed that the delayed diagnosis resulted in extensive spread and progression of the cancer and substantially decreased her five-year survival rate. After an eight day jury trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Painter v. Dr. McMillan: The heir of the decedent alleged that the emergency room physician failed to recognize a life threatening condition and initiate appropriate treatment, which caused or contributed to the death. After a seven day jury trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Gomez v. Dr. Rivers: Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant gynecologist fell below the standard of care during a vaginal hysterectomy when she negligently failed to tie off a “bleeder” and then during the repair of that error, damaged Plaintiff’s bladder. As a result of the alleged negligence, Plaintiff required two additional surgeries and claimed residual painful urinary frequency due to surgical scarring. The court granted Defendant’s motion for judgment as a matter of law as to the punitive damage claim. Plaintiff asked the jury to award $2 million and after a seven-day trial the Plaintiff was awarded $200,000, which was later reduced to $150,000.

Jackson-Cornell v. Dr. Shafi: Plaintiff sought the services of Defendant internist and surgeon due to difficulty in swallowing and burping. Plaintiff alleged negligence by failing to perform an imaging procedure of the Plaintiff’s neck that would have revealed a cancerous thyroid tumor. The delay resulted in the cancer becoming substantially worse, requiring extensive surgeries, radiation, and radioactive hormone therapy. Further, her condition changed from a potentially curable one to a potentially fatal condition from which she sustained emotional trauma. After receiving the news of Plaintiff’s condition, her husband suffered a severe mental breakdown that required substantial medical care. After a five-day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Hano v. Dr. Wattoo: Decedent’s surviving spouse alleged that Defendant doctor failed to diagnose and treat decedent’s heart condition. Shortly after an examination, decedent died from a massive heart attack. After a five-day jury trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Coulthard v. Dr. Manthei: The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant negligently perforated her esophagus during an esophagoscopy procedure. After an eight-day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Gold v. APL: The Plaintiff alleged that he suffered permanent nerve damage as a result of a negligently performed phlebotomy procedure. After a five-day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Sperry v. Drury: The Plaintiff alleged that she was discriminated against and wrongfully terminated from her employment due to her pregnancy. After a two-day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.

Jadran v. Equity Residential: An 11-year-old male alleged Defendant was negligent in the maintenance and supervision of a vehicle gate providing egress from Defendant’s property. Plaintiff sustained a fractured arm resulting in approximately $16,000 in medical bills for which Plaintiff demanded $65,000 settlement. After a four day trial the jury returned a verdict of approximately $26,000 which was reduced by Plaintiff’s contributory negligence to $15,500.

Brooks v. Dr. Weisner: As a result of past suicidal thoughts, decedent voluntarily admitted himself to the hospital for psychiatric care. After five days, he voluntarily discharged himself. While a patient, he was put on 24-hour suicide watch. Twelve to eighteen hours after discharge, decedent hung himself. Plaintiffs alleged the decedent was never properly treated and should never have been allowed to be discharged. Plaintiffs made a demand of $1 million and, after a six-day trial, the jury awarded $150,000.

Boquin v. Serge: The female Plaintiff alleged the Defendant crossed into the left turn lane, collided with her head on, fled the scene, and then reported the vehicle stolen in order to avoid liability. Defendant argued that the vehicle had in fact been stolen the night before and the thief caused the accident. Plaintiff sustained cervical, thoracic, and lumbar soft tissue injuries. Plaintiff asked the jury for $13,500, and after a two-day trial the jury returned a defense verdict.