Donald R. Schmidt

Experience

• Health Care – general hospital representation, particularly with regard to physician peer review proceedings and litigation and related medical staff matters.
• Major Business Litigation – prosecution and defense of breach of contract, insurance coverage, RICO, commercial fraud, unfair trade practices, and similar business disputes, including class actions.
• Antitrust and Trade Regulation – extensive antitrust counseling and training; prosecution and defense of private treble damage litigation, including defense of clients in class actions; defense of civil and criminal governmental enforcement investigations.
• Hospital Peer Review Hearings – represented respective medical executive committees in peer review hearings at several hospitals, obtaining decisions to uphold adverse recommendations against physicians.
• Hospital Peer Review Board of Trustees Representation – represented respective hospital boards of trustees in peer review appeal proceedings and in making final decisions in peer review matters.
• Ramiro Abaunza, M.D. v. Kendall Healthcare Grp., Ltd. Circuit Court, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County.
• Arthur M. “Mac” Cowden, II, D.O. v. S. Dade Healthcare Grp., Ltd. f/d/b/a Deering Hospital. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
• Charles E. Graper, M.D., D.D.S. v. N. Fla. Reg'l Med. Ctr., Inc. Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit, Alachua County.
• Anthony J. Hall, M.D. v. Miami Beach Healthcare Grp., Ltd. & Columbia Hosp. Corp. of Miami Beach. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
• Integon Gen. Ins. Corp. v. Daniel Morrison & Okeechobee Hosp., Inc. d/b/a Columbia Raulerson Hospital. County Court, 19th Judicial Circuit, Okeechobee County.
• Emmanuel Johnson, M.D. v. Mem'l Healthcare Grp., Inc. d/b/a Memorial Hospital Jacksonville. Circuit Court, 4th Judicial Circuit, Duval County.
• Lawrence J. Kanter, M.D. v. HCA of Fla., Inc., d/b/a Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville. Circuit Court, 4th Judicial Circuit, Duval County.
• Marcene F. Kreifels, M.D. v. Healthtrust, Inc.-Hospital Co. d/b/a the North Okaloosa Medical Center. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
• J. Lancelot Lester, III, M.D. v. Columbia/JFK Med. Ctr. Ltd., Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County.
• Anthony Lewis, M.D. & Nagender Reddy, M.D. v. Marion Cmty. Hosp., Inc. Circuit Court, 5th Judicial Circuit, Marion County.
• Dilip Mehta, M.D. v. HCA Health Servs. of Fla., Inc. d/b/a Oak Hill Hospital. U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
• Dilip Mehta, M.D. d/b/a Spring Hill Radiology v. HCA Health Servs. of Fla., Inc. d/b/a HCA Oak Hill Hospital. U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
• Metro. Cas. Ins. Co., individually and for the use and benefit of Catherine Harris v. Columbia Park Med. Ctr., Inc. a/k/a Lucerne Medical Center. County Court, 9th Judicial Circuit, Orange County.
• Metro. Life Auto. & Home Ins. Co. v HCA Health Servs. of Fla., Inc. d/b/a Blake Medical Center. Circuit Court, 12th Judicial Circuit, Manatee County.
• Metro. Life Auto. & Home Ins. Co. v. Ocala Reg'l Med. Ctr. Circuit Court, 5th Judicial Circuit, Marion County.
• Metro. Life Auto. & Home Ins. Co. v. St. Petersburg Gen. Hosp. Circuit Court, 6th Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County.
• Metro. Life Cas. Ins. Co., individually and for the use and benefit of Clara McLendon v. Orange Park Med. Ctr., Inc. County Court, 4th Judicial Circuit, Clay County.
• Metro. Life Cas. Ins. Co., individually and for the use and benefit of Eric Collette v Osceola Reg'l Hosp., Inc. County Court, 9th Judicial Circuit, Osceola County.
• Mount Sinai Med. Ctr. of Fla., Inc. v. HCA-Healthcare Co. f/k/a Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. Circuit Court, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County.
• N. Fla. Reg'l Med. Ctr. v. Gary L. Lowery, M.D. Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit, Alachua County.
• Paul J. Schilling v. HCA Health Servs. of Fla., Inc. & N. Fla. Reg'l Med. Ctr., Inc. Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit, Alachua County.
• Thyssen Elevator Co. d/b/a Thyssen Miami Elevator v. Sun City Hosp., Inc. d/b/a South Bay Hospital. American Arbitration Association.
• Randy T. Warner, M.D. v. Columbia /JFK Med. Ctr., LLP d/b/a JFK Medical Center. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
• Layne Yonehiro, M.D., Fernando E. Kafie, M.D. & Se. Vascular Ins. v. W. Fla. Reg'l Med. Ctr. Circuit Court, 1st Judicial Circuit, Escambia County.
• W. Brent Young, M.D. v. HCA Health Servs. of Fla. d/b/a Columbia Regional Medical Center Oak Hill Hospital. Circuit Court, 5th Judicial Circuit, Hernando County.

Recognition

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America, Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation (2015–2023)
• Chambers USA (2006–2011, 2013–2016)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2007–2012)

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association 
  • Antitrust Law Section 
  • Past Vice Chair, Health Care Industry Committee 
  • Health Law Section
• Federal Bar Association
• The Florida Bar
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Leadership Pinellas County Program
• Ferguson-White American Inn of Court

Speaking Engagements

Don has spoken at local, state, and national seminars on various aspects of antitrust law, including:

• Litigation strategies in medical staff privileges litigation
• Defining relevant markets
• Antitrust compliance programs
• Price discrimination
• Managed care
• Alternative delivery systems for medical care
• Joint ventures
• Tying arrangements

Credentials

Background

• Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

Areas of Focus