Equity Partner

Jeffry Spears focuses his practice in the areas of medical malpractice defense, health care, and general liability and commercial litigation.

Professional Background

Mr. Spears has been in practice since 1981.

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
• Illinois Association of Hospital Attorneys

Honors & Awards

• Recognized by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the categories of Personal Injury Defense Law: Professional Malpractice, and Health Law
• Recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine (2005)

Service Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Health Care Law
• Medical Malpractice
• Professional Liability

Education

J.D., magna cum laude, University of Illinois, 1981
B.A., Western Illinois University, 1978

Admissions

• Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Presentations

Mr. Spears speaks often before a variety of professional groups and clients. A sampling of his presentations includes:

• “Negligent Credentialing—Legal and Practical Considerations,” OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Medical Staff Leadership, Rockford, Illinois, January 2006.
• “On-call Physician Obligations and Risk Management for Emergency Room Patients,” Northern Illinois Medical Center, McHenry, Illinois, September 2006.
• “Medical Records Documentation: Reducing Your Risk,” OSF Medical Group Physicians, Rockford, Illinois, August 2006.
• “Risk Reduction Strategies for the Clinic Physician: How to Prepare for Your Office Assessment,” Sterling-Rock Falls Clinic, Sterling, Illinois, May 2005.
• “JCAHO Patient Safety Standards: Disclosure of Adverse Medical Events,” OSF Fall Ethics Seminar, Rockford, Illinois, October 2001.
• “Release of Medical Records: Legal Issues,” Northern Illinois Medical Center, McHenry, Illinois, November, 2000.
• “Medical Record Documentation: A Risk Reduction Strategy,” OSF Medical Group Physicians, Rockford, Illinois, July 2000.
• “Release of Medical Records and Other Protected Health Information,” Lorman Education Services, Rockford, Illinois, December 1999.
• “Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act,” Centegra Health System, McHenry, Illinois, April 1998, and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, Illinois, August 1998.
• “Legal Issues in the Hospital Setting,” OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, Illinois, August 1997, and OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center, Belvidere, Illinois, August 1998.
• “Risk Management for the Operating Room Nurse,” OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, Illinois, July 1998.
• “Liability Issues and Risk Management in Surgical Nursing,” Association of Operating Room Nurses, Crystal Lake, Illinois, September 1996.
• “Liability and Confidentiality Issues in Managed Care,” Sterling, Illinois, September 1996.
• “Final Regulations Under the Federal Anti-Dumping Law,” Rockford, Illinois, January 1995.
• “Living Wills and Healthcare Powers of Attorney,” Rockford, Illinois, January 1995.
• “Complications of Delivery: Medical and Legal Aspects,” Rockford, Illinois, April 1994.
• “Legal Issues Regarding Patients Referred from the ER for Follow-up and Terminating the Physician-Patient Relationship,” McHenry, Illinois, March 1994.
• “Legal Issues in Cardiac Care Nursing,” Rockford, Illinois, August 1993.
• “Advance Directives: Compliance with New Federal Regulations,” Rockford, Illinois, January 1993.
• “Exposure Theories in the Hospital Setting,” Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Management, 1993 Annual Meeting, Rockford, Illinois, January 1993.
• “Surgical Consent Variances: Reducing Your Liability Exposure,” Rockford, Illinois, November 1992.
• “American With Disabilities Act: Implications on Clinical Practice,” Continuing Medical Education Joint Presentation, DeKalb, Illinois, January 1992.
• “Legal Aspects of Psychiatric Care and Impact of the Federal Anti-Dumping Law on Psychiatric Practice,” Rockford, Illinois, January 1991.
• “Healthcare Surrogate Act: Mechanics of Surrogate Decision Making Under Illinois Law,” Grand Rounds Presentation, Rockford, Illinois, January 1991.
• “Developments in the Law Concerning Medical Records,” Illinois Medical Records Association, 1991 Annual Meeting, January 1991.
• “COBRA 9121: Compliance with Federal Anti-Dumping Law and its Recent Amendments”, and “Against Medical Advice: Handling Patients Who Refuse Care and Treatment,” McHenry, Illinois, April 1991.
• “COBRA 9121: Compliance with Federal Anti-Dumping Law and its Recent Amendments,” Rockford, Illinois, January 1991.
• “Risk Management for Physicians,” Grand Rounds Presentation with Illinois State Medical Society, Rockford, Illinois, January 1989.
• “Anatomy of a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit,” McHenry County Medical Society, McHenry, Illinois, January 1989.
• “Issues in Nursing Malpractice and Outpatient Surgical Nursing,” Rockford, Illinois, February 1988.
• “Confidentiality and Immunities in Credentialing and Quality Assurance,” Grand Rounds Presentation, Rockford, Illinois, January 1987.
• “Legal Issues in Medical/Surgical Nursing,” Rockford, Illinois, January 1986.
• “Basics of Copyright and Trademark Law,” Rockford Design Group, Rockford, Illinois, January 1985.
• “Federal Appellate Practice and Procedure,” Continuing Legal Education Presentation to Winnebago County Bar Association, Rockford, Illinois, January 1984.

Publications

In addition to his presentations, Mr. Spears is contributing author and editor of Illinois Medical Records and the Law, Illinois Medical Records Association, 1991.