Gertrude C. Bartel

Ms. Bartel has been a Principal in the Firm since 1989. Her practice is concentrated in health care. For more than 25 years, she has litigated malpractice claims brought against health care providers. Ms. Bartel has extensive experience defending health care providers in licensing actions and has appeared before the Board of Physicians, the Dental Board, Board of Nursing,  Pharmacy Board, and the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. She has handled all aspects of credentialing--advising health care providers, MECs, and hospital boards of trustees and serving as a hearing officer at hearings mandated by medical staff by-laws. Her experience includes responding to HIPAA complaints, reimbursement disputes, the litigation of non-compete clauses, and pursuing disability claims for physicians. Finally, since serving as an Assistant Attorney General for Maryland, Ms. Bartel has given advice about, and litigated correctional health care issues.

A substantial component of Ms. Bartel's practice is the pursuit of subrogation claims on behalf of insurers.  She has extensive experience in fire prevention and suppression, product defects, and construction disputes.  Ms. Bartel also has litigated lead paint claims, suits arising from homeowners' covenants, riparian rights, and a variety of commercial disputes. She has litigated civil cases in federal court, in many of Maryland's counties, in Baltimore City, and in other states. Since serving as a prosecutor in Baltimore City, Ms. Bartel has defended individuals charged with crimes in Maryland's courts. In recognition of her trial experience, Ms. Bartel was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2002. She is listed in Maryland Super Lawyers 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 as one of the State's top 50 women attorneys.

Beginning with representing the State in criminal appeals, Ms. Bartel has had an appellate practice. She has briefed and argued numerous cases in Maryland's Court of Special Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

In 1976, Ms. Bartel graduated from the College of William and Mary where she was elected to Alpha Lambda Delta, Omicron Delta Epsilon, and Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated with honor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1979. Before joining the Firm, she served as an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City and as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland. She was a recipient of the Attorney General's Exceptional Service Award. Ms. Bartel is a member of the Wednesday Law Club, The Lawyers' Roundtable, and Barristers.

Ms. Bartel's representative cases include: D'Angelo v. St. Agnes Healthcare, Inc., 157 Md. App. 631, 853 A.2d 813 (2004); Burns v. Scottish Development Co., Inc., 141 Md. App. 679, 787 A.2d 786 (2001); Forrest v. P & L Real Estate Inv. Co., 134 Md. App. 371, 759 A.2d 1187 (2000); Mirkin v. Medical Mut. Liability Ins. Soc. of Maryland, 82 Md. App. 540, 542 A.2d 1126 (1989); Nast v. Lockett, 312 Md. 343, 539 A.2d 1113, 56 USLW 2595 (1988); Whitmire v. State, 61 Md. App. 548, 487 A.2d 686 (1985); State v. Minster, 302 Md. 240, 486 A.2d 1197 (1985); Smith v. Prince George's County, Md., 155 F.3d 561 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition, 1998 WL 398786, 4th Cir. (Md.), Jul 9, 1998; Baker v. Lyles, 904 F.2d 925, 4th Cir. (Md.), Jun 7, 1990; In re A.H. Robins Co., Inc., 131 B.R. 292, E.D.Va., Jul 25, 1991.