Cristi L. Fusaro
Norwalk,USA
Summary
Experienced professional with demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams effectively. Skilled in strategic planning, financial analysis, and risk management for optimal decision-making. Collaborates with diverse teams to achieve desired outcomes and adapt to evolving needs. Recognized for reliability, integrity, and exceptional problem-solving capabilities, consistently delivering results that exceed expectations.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
Healthcare Risk Advisors, TDC Group (formerly FOJP Service Corporation)
04.2019 - Current
- Lead a team of seven (7) claim professionals responsible for providing litigation management and claims services to academic medical centers, community hospitals, clinicians, allied health providers, long term care facilities, and multi-practice and multi-office specialty groups
- Oversight of over 1,100+ asserted professional liability matters (both primary and excess lines) with focus on timely and accurate reserving, thorough coverage analysis, exceptional customer service, robust and vigorous investigation/evaluation and litigation and file management
- Supervise and manage with an eye toward driving appropriate resolution strategy and identifying opportunities for risk transfer
- Responsible for staffing decisions, performance reviews, performance plans, and regular auditing of team members to ensure, among other things, compliance with Best Practices and Reserving
- Maintain settlement and reserving authority and delegate same to others based upon skill-level and seniority
- Attend monthly and/or quarterly Claims Meetings with insured hospitals to discuss relevant cases and to highlight quality of care and systems issues in effort to mitigate risk
- Participate in annual review of physicians to identify recurrent concerns and assess suitability for renewal
- Partner with internal and external risk management professionals to provide legal advice on various matters
- Partner with internal Risk management to present to clinicians/insureds regarding medical malpractice, risk exposure and risk mitigation
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop or modify insurance products responsive to client needs in connection with business development plan
- Participate in internal committees as stakeholder to drive organization’s internal Key Priorities
- Design and implement personalized claims-handling services for different business models, including excess accounts and ground-up coverage
- Collaborate with hospital C-Suite, underwriting and actuaries to identify exposures and claim trends and discuss pricing analysis and policy renewals
CLAIM ATTORNEY
Healthcare Risk Advisors, TDC Group (formerly FOJP Service Corporation)
11.2013 - 07.2017
- Directed and supervised the litigation, investigation and disposition of claims and claims conferences with the hospitals
- Monitored defense counsel’s practices with respect to their representation to ensure compliance with Company’s defense guidelines
- Evaluated and reviewed coverage upon receipt of claim to determine if Reservation of Rights and/or disclaimer warranted
- Managed workflow of up to 160 claim files and ensure files are in compliance with Best Practices and indemnity reserve remains appropriate
- Presented cases and made recommendations for handling at monthly or bi-monthly claims conferences with hospital executives
- Presented cases at MARC proceedings before panel of physicians if an insured defendant refuses to consent to settlement and the Company believes settlement is warranted
- Monitored trials daily and provided high level analysis of day’s testimony to hospital with analysis of impact of testimony on liability / damages and recommendations for continued handling
OF COUNSEL
Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford, P.C.
01.2011 - 11.2013
- Solely responsible for managing the firm’s dental and medical malpractice defense programs from inception to final conclusion of case; conducted 6 malpractice trials to conclusion with 5 favorable defense verdicts
- Responsible for extensive caseload as well as supervision of junior and senior associate’s day-to-day handling of variety of cases, including trials
- Practice included complex tort, premises liability, toxic tort (lead paint, mold and asbestos), dental and medical malpractice, general litigation, catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death and constitutional law including pre-trial discovery, motion practice, conducting and defending depositions (including experts), interviewing, defending and deposing witnesses, communicating with clients and insurers, attending mediations and conducting trials
- Responsible for developing and fostering client and insurer relationships, including extensive discussions regarding discovery and trial and settlement strategy
- Communicated with and oversaw work requested from medical/ liability experts
- Drafted and argued appeals submitted to the Appellate Division
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford, P.C.
04.2005 - 01.2011
ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL
New York City Law Department, NYC Special Litigation Unit
08.2001 - 04.2005
- Tried civil cases from jury selection to verdict, without a partner or second chair and second chaired trials in cases involving paraplegic and brain damaged infant plaintiffs
- Individually responsible for 40-50 complex, multi-million dollar cases from inception to final resolution by trial, settlement or dispositive motion
- Negotiated settlement of cases for values ranging from $5,000 to over $500,000
- Drafted and argued discovery and dispositive motions
- Experienced in litigation involving motor vehicle accidents, highway maintenance and design, excessive force (police and correction officer), special duty/governmental immunity, negligent investigations/actions, sexual abuse and toxic torts
- Conducted and defended over 150 depositions; demanded and produced discovery
- Supervised and assigned tasks to paralegals, contract attorneys, and summer interns
- Interviewed prospective summer interns and first year attorneys; mentored summer interns
SENIOR STUDENT LEGAL SPECIALIST
NYC Special Litigation Unit
05.2000 - 05.2001
- Researched and drafted legal memorandum on complex legal issues
- Drafted various motions, including motions for summary judgment in state and federal court
- Conducted 50-h hearings, depositions and attended court appearances without supervision
Research Assistant
Hofstra University School of Law
09.1999 - 05.2000
- Conducted extensive legal research in all aspects of non-profit corporation law
- Edited manuscript, A Corporate Form of Freedom: The Emergence of the Modern Nonprofit Sector, published in December 2000
- Assisted in drafting the chapter on the growing use of search firms by non-profit corporations
- Conducted research on Judge Bernard S
- Meyer of the New York State Court of Appeals in preparation for an oral history
Education
Juris Doctor -
Hofstra University School of Law
Hempstead, NY05.2001
Bachelor of Arts - English, Education
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, NY08.1998
Skills
- Decision making & judgment
- Issue resolution skills
- Negotiation
- Recruitment / human resources
Admissions
- State of New York
- Eastern District of New York
- Southern District of New York
Timeline
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
Healthcare Risk Advisors, TDC Group (formerly FOJP Service Corporation)
04.2019 - Current
CLAIM ATTORNEY
Healthcare Risk Advisors, TDC Group (formerly FOJP Service Corporation)
11.2013 - 07.2017
OF COUNSEL
Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford, P.C.
01.2011 - 11.2013
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford, P.C.
04.2005 - 01.2011
ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL
New York City Law Department, NYC Special Litigation Unit
08.2001 - 04.2005
SENIOR STUDENT LEGAL SPECIALIST
NYC Special Litigation Unit
05.2000 - 05.2001
Research Assistant
Hofstra University School of Law
09.1999 - 05.2000
Bachelor of Arts - English, Education
State University of New York at Albany
Juris Doctor -
Hofstra University School of Law
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