Richard K. Delo

Mr. Delo practices primarily in the areas of medical malpractice defense, healthcare law, personal injury, and commercial litigation and currently serves on the Firm’s Management Committee. He focuses his practice on the defense of physicians in medical malpractice cases on behalf of the largest medical liability insurer in Arizona and other carriers.

Mr. Delo has significant experience in litigating healthcare coverage issues and has represented health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in numerous matters. He also represents physicians in disciplinary hearings before the Arizona Medical Board and the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners.

Admitted to Practice

• Arizona (1991)
• Colorado (Inactive)

Court Admission

• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (1994)

• Successfully defended a physician in medical malpractice trial arising out of patient’s epidural abscess resulting in paraplegia
• Successfully defended orthopedic surgeon in medical malpractice trial alleging patient sustained significant nerve injury resulting in “dead arm” following arthroscopic surgery
• Successfully defended family practice physician in medical malpractice trial alleging patient suffered a stroke resulting in hemiplegia due to failure to appropriately treat pleural effusion
• Successfully defended gastroenterology physician in medical malpractice trial arising out of upper endoscopy resulting in perforated esophagus
• Successfully defended orthopedic surgeon in medical malpractice trial alleging patient lost use of arm due to failure to appropriately treat wrist fracture
• Successfully defended two OB/GYN physicians in a medical malpractice trial alleging improper treatment of mother’s gestational diabetes resulted in stillbirth of baby
• Successfully defended orthopedic surgeon (foot and ankle specialist) in a medical malpractice trial alleging patient developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) following foot surgery resulting in an above the knee amputation
• Successfully defended internal medicine/addiction medicine physician in a medical malpractice trial alleging improper treatment of patient’s drug addiction resulted in death of patient
• Successfully defended a large HMO in a breach of contract trial arising out of denial of benefits
• Defended numerous large HMOs in other bad faith/breach of contract cases arising out of denial of benefits

State Bar of Arizona

American Bar Association

• Member, Health Law Section

Arizona Association of Defense Counsel

• AV Preeminent^® Peer Review Rated™, Martindale-Hubbell
• Phoenix magazine, “Top Lawyer,” Medical Malpractice – Defense (2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America^© Phoenix “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Healthcare (2023); Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America^©, Health Care Law (2011 – 2023); Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2011 – 2023); Litigation – Healthcare (2011 – 2023); Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2011 – 2023); and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants (2011 – 2023)
• Southwest Super Lawyers^®, Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice: Defense and Personal Injury – General: Defense (2007, 2012 – 2018)