Instructor & Guest Speaker Biographies

Joan K. Magnusson, BSN, RN, LHRM, LNCC

Ms. Magnusson is the owner of JKM Consulting, LLC. For the past 20 years, she has provided legal nurse consulting services to law firms throughout central Florida. Ms. Magnusson received her diploma in nursing from Orange Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida Southern College, graduating summa cum laude.

She holds current Florida licenses as a Registered Nurse and a Health Care Risk Manager. Ms. Magnusson's clinical background includes experience in peri-operative nursing, nursing staff development/education, infection control/epidemiology, and hospital risk management. Ms. Magnusson is a charter member of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). She served on the national board of directors for five years, and was President during 1995-96.

She was the founding president of the Greater Orlando Chapter of AALNC. From 1997-2001, Ms. Magnusson served as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB) and was integral in the development of the official nursing specialty certification for legal nurse consultants. The ALNCCB administers the only accredited certification program for legal nurse consulting and is a member organization of the American Board of Nursing Specialties.

Pamela Curren, BSN, RN LNCC

Ms. Curren received her AA degree from University of Florida and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia. She has practiced as a legal nurse consultant for 15 years and was among the first group of LNC’s to achieve certification in 1998. Initially, Ms. Curren worked in-house for a defense law firm and after nine years, she began an independent consulting business, Curren Consultants, Inc. She consults with law firms in Florida for both plaintiff and defense involving medical malpractice, personal injury and nursing home cases. Ms. Curren frequently lectures to paralegals and legal nurse consultants and provides in-service programs to nurses practicing in the clinical setting.

Ms. Curren’s clinical nursing experience includes med-surg nursing and PCU, serving as the unit’s preceptor. She also worked as a home health nurse and a ship’s nurse, after which she worked in quality assurance for one of the larger hospital facilities in the Central Florida area. Her experience in quality assurance then led her into the legal nurse consulting arena.

Ms. Curren is a member of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and has been a very active member of the Greater Orlando Chapter of American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) since entering the field of legal nurse consulting. She has served on the Board of Directors and has served as the Chapter President for two separate terms. She remains active on the board, currently serving as the Treasurer.

Joseph L. Amos. Jr., Esquire, a native of Orlando, Florida, is a partner with the firm of Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Florida where he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees.

A civil trial lawyer for eleven years, his practice focuses on professional liability and personal injury, as well as general commercial, insurance and employment litigation. Mr. Amos is licensed to practice in both state and federal courts in Florida, and has tried cases at all levels.

He is also certified as a civil circuit mediator. He is an active member of the Florida and Orange County Bars, and a member and President-Elect of the Board of Trustees of the Legal Aid Society of Orlando/Central Florida. He has spoken and is published in the fields of injury and health law, as well as litigation, ethics, personnel and document management. He has also served as an adjunct professor of paralegal studies at both Rollins College and Valencia Community College.

Patricia Ann Bemis, RN CEN, is the President of National Nurses in Business Association, Inc. She is a graduate of Florida Small Business Center's New Venture Clinic and Business Planning programs. Bemis has many years of experience in various roles in healthcare; as well as experience in the legal and insurance industry related to healthcare.

She is a clinical writer and publisher providing continuing education for nurses with self-paced study, on-line, and live presentations on business topics and on clinical topics including emergency nursing and forensic nursing. Bemis has presented business topics for the Florida Small Business Development Center Network and Brevard Community College. She is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). She may be reached by phone 321 633-4610, by e-mail bemis@nnba.net, and on the Web at http://www.nnba.net

Rose Clifford, RN, LNCC, is the Executive Director of Medical Analysis Resources, Inc., a legal nurse consulting firm where she utilizes her 20 years of legal nurse consulting experience analyzing cases in medical malpractice, personal injury, criminal and healthcare issues. Ms. Clifford has authored more than 40 articles in the field of legal nurse consulting, contributed to multiple book chapters as co-author and author (in Nursing Malpractice, Nursing Home Litigation, Analyzing Medical Records and AALNC's Business Book for Legal Nurse Consultants), and is an experienced speaker.

After years of teaching nurses interested in legal nurse consulting, Ms. Clifford created a hands-on LNC internship program in which she has personally taught over 100 LNCs. In addition, she is the editor of The Medical-Legal News a national newspaper focused on the needs of legal nurse consultants, attorneys and medical experts. Ms. Clifford is actively involved in the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and was a founding member and president (1993 and 1994) of the Miami, Florida Chapter, which years later merged with the Ft. Lauderdale chapter. She was a founding member (1995) of the Lexington, Kentucky Chapter and served as president (2003 and 2007) and Treasurer (1998-2002). She may be reached at 859-234-0200 office, cliffordrz@aol.com or on the Web at www.rosecliffordinternships.com or www.medical-legalnews.com

Eric P. Gibbs, Esquire, practices with the defense law firm of Hannah, Estes & Ingram, P.A. He was admitted to the bar in 1991 and is admitted before the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; the United States Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court. Mr. Gibbs received his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia in 1986 and his J.D., with Honors, from the University of Florida in 1990. While at the University of Florida, Mr. Gibbs held an Appellate Advocacy Teaching Fellowship. Mr. Gibbs is currently a member of the Orange County, Florida, and American Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and the Central Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Council, which he served as Treasurer and President.

Ronald S. Gilbert, Esquire, of Morgan, Colling & Gilbert, P.A., was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1958; admitted to the Bar 1983, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Furman University (B.A., 1980); Cumberland School of Law of Stamford University (J.D., 1983). Member Order of Barristers. Chief Justice, The Henry Upson Sims Moot Court Board, 1981-1983. Member: Trial Advocacy Board, 1981-1983. Associate Editor, The American Journal of Trial Advocacy, 1982-1983. Member: County and American (Member, Young Lawyers Committee, 1985) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; Medical Malpractice Task Force; Advisory Committee - The Law, Government, and Public Service Academy; Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Concentration: Medical Malpractice.

J. Chuck Ingram, Esquire, was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1982 and is admitted before the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. He received his B.A. in 1979 from the University of South Florida and his J.D., with honors, in 1982 from Florida State University. While at Florida State University, he served as Articles and Notes Editor for the Florida State
University Law Review 1980 -1981. He has served as Adjunct Faculty, Rollins College, 1992 -1993 and Valencia Community College, 1995.

Mr. Ingram's publications include: "And The Walls Came Tumbling Down: Applying Strict Liability to Real Property Improvements", published at 1 Products Liability: Commentary and Cases 8, January 1987; "The Subject of Money", Preparing for Trial, Desk Reference Manual, and "Trying the Medical Malpractice Claim", both published by National Education Network, 1993; "For All You Do, This Chart's For You," published in both the Florida Hospital News, February, 1994 and The Risk Writer, 1995; "Professional Liability Insurance," Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage in Florida (1997) "Ethics & Other Settlement Considerations," Personal Injury Settlements in Florida (1998) and "Current Issues in Nursing Liability," Nursing Law in Florida (1999), “Ethical Considerations” and “Trial of the Case - The Defense Perspective - Trying the Soft Tissue Injury Case in Florida (200) all published by National Business Institute. Seminar Presentation: “Trying the Soft Tissue Injury Case in Florida”, National Business Institute, 11/16/00. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Florida Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Ingram is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Certification. E-mail address: jci@hei-law.com.

Scott R. McMillen, Esquire, is owner of the McMillen Law Firm, a Professional Association. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Government from Florida State University in 1976, and his Doctor of Law degree from Emory University in 1979. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia. Mr. McMillen has over 20 years experience in the area of medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. He
has served as a member and Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeals. Currently he is the President of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. McMillen is a frequent lecturer to other lawyers and to the medical profession about medical malpractice issues. He currently serves as the author of the monthly medical malpractice law column in the Journal of the Academy
of Florida Trial Lawyers.

Chuck J. Meltz, Esquire, is with the defense law firm of Grower, Ketcham, Rutherford, Bronson, Eide & Telan, P.A.. His practice areas include: Medical Malpractice Defense; Accountants Malpractice Defense; and Dental Malpractice Defense. He was admitted to the bar in 1993 to the Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. He attended the law school at the University of Florida, J.D., and graduated in 1993. He is the member of the Florida Bar. Prior legal experience includes: Moot Court and Assistant State Attorney, 18 Judicial.

Paul A. Shoucair, Esquire, received his J.D. degree in 1992 from the University of Florida College of Law. He has significant experience in claims involving medical negligence, nursing home liability, personal injury and wrongful death. He also serves as a Mediator and has been a mediator with Fraxedas Mediation Firm since 2003. He mediates a broad range of general civil and personal injury matters as well as business and insurance disputes.

Richard B. Schwamm, Esquire, received his B.A. in 1988 from Rollins College then attended Stetson University where he obtained his J.D. in 1991. He currently practices with the law firm of with Haliczer, Pettis & White, P.A. His practice areas include Trial Practice; Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law; Administrative Law; Appellate Practice. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association; The Florida Bar (Member, Health Law Section); Defense Research Institute; and Florida Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Schwamm also served as a member on the Editorial Board of the Stetson Law Review from 1990-1991. He authored "Recent Developments in Local Government," Vol 20-3, Stetson Law Review; and "AIDS: The Physician's Duty to Treat," Stetson Law Journal, Spring, 1991.

Judy A. Spears, R.N., B.S.N., LNCC, is an independent legal nurse consultant. Her clinical experience is in critical care nursing, renal dialysis, and home care. Judy has been involved in legal nurse consulting since 1995, initially as an independent contractor, then as a full time employee for four years with the law firm of E. Clay Parker, a plaintiff personal injury firm. She has just recently returned to the independent arena. The emphasis of her practice has been in the field of medical malpractice, although she has also had experience with products liability. Judy is a member of AALNC and is an active member of the Greater Orlando Chapter of AALNC, serving on the board of directors.

Melvin Wright, Esquire, received his juris doctor degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in 1985. He began the practice of law in 1985 in Orlando with the emphasis in wrongful death and personal injury litigation and represented both the injured and insurance industry until 1993 when he joined the law firm of Morgan, Colling and Gilbert, P.A.. At that time, he began representing injured victims and their families. Mr. Wright now practices with an emphasis in nursing home abuse and neglect cases however he still handles all types of personal injury and wrongful death litigation. He also handles “false claims” cases involving fraud upon government institutions such as Medicare and Medicaid when contacted by a “whistleblower” or informant having inside knowledge of such fraud. Mr. Wright is a member of several professional associations some of which include: the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, the American Trial Lawyers Association, and the Nursing Home Litigation Group of the American Trial Lawyers Association.

Beth Whitcomb, R.N., B.S.N., C.E.N., is the president of Whitcomb Legal Nurse Consulting, Inc. After working as a legal nurse consultant for a local defense firm, for several years, she started her independent business, serving the interests of both plaintiff and defense firms in medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. She has over twenty years of experience in emergency nursing and has testified as a nursing expert on occasion. Beth has been an active member of the Greater Orlando Chapter of AALNC and served on the Board of Directors in 1999 and 2000.