William H. Jestings
William H. Jestings

William H. Jestings

Partner
wjestings@benjestlaw.com

Bill's practice has been primarily dedicated to assisting healthcare providers. It has included the defense of medical malpractice cases in Rhode Island and Massachusetts Superior and Appellate Courts, the Federal District Courts for Rhode Island and Massachusetts and the First Circuit Court of Appeals,.  Bill also has extensive experience representing physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, chiropractors and audiologists in disciplinary matters before the Department of Health, representing healthcare providers in disputes over compliance issues, interpreting provider contracts and representing physicians in disputes over provider agreements. Bill has also been involved in litigating a variety of business disputes including antitrust cases, commercial claims as the result of defective products and breach of contract claims. Bill has a proven record of success representing his clients from the inception of claims through trial and appeal. During the course of his practice Bill also has conducted seminars and in service instruction to physicians and nurses on a variety of subjects involving risk management issues that impact their practices.

Areas of Practice

  • Medical Malpractice Defense
  • Legal Malpractice Defense
  • General Civil Litigation
  • Medical Provider Disciplinary Matters
  • Defective Product Defense
  • Mediation and Arbitration

Bar Admissions

  • Rhode Island, 1983
  • Massachusetts, 1989
  • U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island
  • U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1988
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1992

Education

  • Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts
    • J.D. cum laude - 1983
    • Honors: Dean's List
    • Law Review: Suffolk Law Review, Note Author, 1981 - 1983
  • Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts
    • B.A. summa cum laude - 1979
    • Honors: Dean's List
    • Major: Political Science

Published Works

  • Recognizing the Need for a Uniform System of Federal Comity in Diversity Decisions, 16 Suffolk University Law Review, 787-804, Fall, 1982
  • Current Developments in Product Liability in Rhode Island, National Business Institute, 1997
  • Trial Practice in Rhode Island, National Business Institute, 2001
  • Medical Malpractice in Rhode Island, National Business Institute, 2000
  • Civil Law Practice in Rhode Island Superior Court, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Honors and Awards

  • Academic Achievement Award, Suffolk University
  • Phi Gamma Mu Honor Society for Academic Achievement in Social Sciences
  • Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society for Academic Achievement in the study of History
  • Delta Alpha Pi for overall academic performance
  • Martindale and Hubbell AV rated
  • Rhode Island and New England Super Lawyers

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate
  • Rhode Island Bar Association

Past Employment Positions

  • Carroll, Kelly & Murphy, Partner, 1983 - 2009

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Phi Alpha Tau