21-F Brightleaf Square
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-9691
tkl@pwkl.com

Tracy Lischer concentrates in complex litigation, representing victims of catastrophic injury or wrongful death, in trials and negotiated settlements. Her cases include birth injuries, kernicterus (jaundice) cases, injury from delay in medical diagnosis, brain injury, surgical malpractice, medication errors, delay in cancer diagnosis, and other injuries arising from improper health care. She volunteers her legal services to those seeking advice through the Durham Crisis Center.

Ms. Lischer served a judicial clerkship on the N. C. Court of Appeals. She joined the firm in 1985 and became a partner in 1988. She has chaired the Family Law Section of the Academy of Trial Lawyers and is a past-President of the Association of Women Attorneys.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Ms. Lischer received her Ph.D. from St. Louis University in 1977 and her law degree with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984.

Legal Experience:
Partner: Pulley, Watson, King & Lischer, P.A., 1988-Present
Associate: Pulley, Watson & King, P.A., 1985-1987
Judicial Clerkship, North Carolina Court of Appeals, 1984-1985
Law Journal: Executive Editor, N.C. Journal of International Law & Commercial Regulation, 1983-1984

Practice Areas:
Civil litigation
Personal injury
Medical negligence
Kernicterus cases.

Education:
J.D. with Honors, UNC, Chapel Hill, 1984
Ph.D. (English), St. Louis University, 1977
M.A. (English), St. Louis University, 1967
B.A. with Honors, Missouri University, 1965
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, 1965

Legal Publications:
"U.S. v. Falvey: A Constitutionality Test for Foreign Electronic Intelligence Surveillance," N.C. Journal of International Law, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1982
"Extending the Rule of Reason to Pendent Jurisdiction," N.C. Journal of International Law, Vol. 9, No. 3, 1984
"Restructuring the Child Support System: Family Law Attorneys Speak Out," Trial Briefs, Vol. 24, No. 2, 1992
"Doctors, Lawyers, & Personal Injury: Separating Myth from Fact," North Carolina Medical Journal, Vol. 54, No. 7, July 1993.
"Sex, Violence, Money, Betrayal: Reflections on the Dangers of Practicing Family Law," Trial Briefs, Vol. 25, No. 4, 1993-1994
“Compensation and Profitability: A Firm Approach,” Trial Briefs, March 2002.
“Kernicterus: A Preventable Disorder on the Rise Due to Early Hospital Discharge,” ATLA Professional Negligence section Newsletter, 2002

Publications about Cases
"How Do You Put a Price on Pain?" - as published in the Raleigh News & Observer, April 27, 2003
"Malpractice Fight Brews" - as published in the Raleigh News & Observer, March 30, 2003

Professional Activities:
Member, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (NCATL), 1987-Present
Member, Legislative Committee of NCATL, 1991-1993
Chair, Family Law Section of NCATL, 1993-1994
Ex-Officio Member, Board of Governors of NCATL, 1993-1994
Member, Editorial Board, 2001-present

Bar and Committee Memberships:
North Carolina State Bar Association
Durham County Bar Association
Member, North Carolina State Bar, 1985-Present
Advisory Member, Committee on Lawyer Advertising, 1992-1994
Member, Medicolegal Committee, 1993-1994
Member, Quality of Life Bar Committee, 2001-2004
President, North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys (NCAWA), 1995-1996
Member, North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, 1985-Present
Board Member, NCAWA, 1989-1993
Chair, Government Action Committee, 1989-1992
Member, Board of Directors, Durham County Bar Association, 1995-1996
Member, Durham County Bar Grievance Committee, 1990-1991
Member, American Association for Justice
American Association for Justice: Professional Negligence Section

Award Recipient:
NCATL Kellie Crabtree Award for Representation that Helps to Protect Peoples’ Rights, 2003. [For representation of client(s) with Kernicterus]
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, membership limited to Trial Lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skill, experience and excellence in Advocacy by achieving a trial verdict, award or settlement in the amount of One Million Dollars or more.
Life Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who

Continuing Legal Education / Presentations:
Speaker, N. C. Bar Foundation Seminar on Professionalism, November 9, 1990
Speaker, Annual N. C. Evidence Seminar, April 5-6, 1991
Speaker, NCATL Family Law Seminar, January 10, 1992
Speaker, NCAWA Annual Conference, October 9-10, 1992
Speaker, NCATL Expert Witnesses Seminar, December 3, 1993
Speaker, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), “Negotiation”, April 16, 1993
Speaker, NCATL Personal Injury Law Seminar, April 7, 1995
Speaker, NCAWA Annual Conference, October 10-11, 1996
Judge, UNC Client Counseling Competition, February 1, 1997
Speaker, NCAWA Annual Conference, September 19-20, 1997
Chair and Speaker, NCATL Wrongful Death Seminar, February 26, 1999
Speaker, Medical Negligence, Career Night, UNC Law School, 2002
Speaker, NCATL Medical Negligence Seminar, February 15, 2002
Co-Chair and Speaker, NCATL Seminar, “Evaluating a Medical Negligence Case,” November 5, 2004

Licensed:
North Carolina State Courts and United States District Courts for Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts;
Supreme Court of the United States of America

Representative Cases:

• Shelton v. Vigo Co. Bd. of Commissioners, et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana File No. TH 88-172-C. Teenage passenger received a head injury due to wreck caused by stop sign being down. Recovery: $200,000.00.
• Hayes v. Greenery Rehabilitation, Durham County Superior Court File No. 91 CVS 993. 21-year-old man fell from window of head injury rehabilitation facility receiving a second head injury. Recovery: $3.65 million from Greenery and Worker's Compensation carrier.
• Matthews v. Rex Hospital, Wake County Superior Court File No. 92 CVS 345. Child born with cerebral palsy due to nursing negligence. Recovery: $1.8 million.
• Gaskins v. [confidential] 95 CVS [county confidential]. Medical negligence resulting in lower bilateral amputations. Recovery: $2.25 million.
• Slaughter v. Life Connection of Ohio, U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina File No. 95CV00331. 28-year-old man in renal failure received cancer from a transplanted kidney procured by the defendant. Recovery: $250,000.00
• Boyd v. [confidential], 96 CVD [county confidential]. 8-week delay in Diagnosis of Breast Cancer. Recovery: $500,000.00
• Plaintiff v. Defendant [confidential]. 1998. Misdiagnosis of epithelial sarcoma as a bone spur, resulting in lost chance of survival for a 29 year old woman. Settled before filing suit: $762,000.00.
• Plaintiff v. Defendant [confidential]. 2002. Newborn jaundice case. Recovery: approximately $15 million in future payments.
• Plaintiff v. Defendant[confidential]. 2002. Misdiagnosis shortening life expectancy. Recovery: $850,000.00.
• Plaintiff v. Defendant [confidential]. Wrongful death. Recovery: approximately $2.5 million in future payments, 2002
• Plaintiff v. Defendant[confidential]. 2003. Surgical error causing chronic pain. Recovery: $2.5 million present value.
• Plaintiff v. Defendant[confidential]. 2004. Newborn jaundice case. Recovery: $4.0 million present value, $13 million in future payments.
• Plaintiff v. Defendant [confidential]. Recoveries: Confidential*

• Nelson v. Duke University, 1993. Soccer player received electrical injuries. Recovery: $750,000.00.
• Lawson v. VEPCO, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina File No. 1988 13-CIV-2. Electrical injury. Recovery: $1.1 million.
• Barker v. GMF Trucking, Ltd., et al, Court of Common Pleas, Dauplin County, Pennsylvania File No. 1621 S 1986. Brain injuries to two survivors of a church youth group when tractor trailer crossed center line. Recovery: $3 million.
• Beck v. Acme Plumbing & Heating Co., et al, Durham County Superior Court Nos. 1985 CVS 933 and 1985 CVS 3312. Pregnant mother with cardiomyopathy died seven months after exposure to carbon monoxide in the work place. Recovery: $600,000.00.