Doug Bitner
Shareholder
Doug has built a growing practice representing medical professionals in a wide range of capacities, focusing primarily on cases alleging medical malpractice and violations of the constitution. Doug has handled numerous complex medical cases in state and federal court, taking many cases to verdict.
The son of a correctional officer, Doug was able to take his experience from years of being around those who serve in the correctional setting and apply it to his practice, primarily handling cases in federal court from the moment he received his license. Through the years, his practice has grown to include cases alleging medical malpractice, deliberate indifference, excessive force, unconstitutional conditions of confinement and retaliation, violations of the ADA/Rehab Act, due process violations, intentional torts, and many others.
Today, Doug handles cases in the state courts of Illinois and Indiana, as well as representing clients in the Southern and Northern District federal courts of Indiana, and the Southern and Central District federal courts of Illinois.
While he has significant experience handling cases in state court, the primary focus of his practice is upon representing clients in federal court, specifically representing medical professionals who are sued by incarcerated or detained individuals for violations of their civil rights under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
Additional areas of law include police officer use of force, breach of contract, general tort liability, premises liability, auto accident, slip and fall, civil battery, infliction of emotional distress among others. He has tried numerous cases, such as when a physician was accused of deliberate indifference for treatment of a hand fracture, improper delay of a dentist in treating acute dental conditions, and a nurse accused of excessive force in the treatment of an uncooperative patient.
Focus Areas
Education
Southern Illinois University
School of Law
J.D. with honors
During law school, Doug won several awards for his ability to deliver appellate oral arguments, winning individual and team awards for performance and brief writing at events in California.
Experience
Prior to joining Katz Korin Cunningham, Doug was an attorney with the law firms Cassiday Schade, as well as Heyl, Royster, Voelker and Allen, both in Springfield, Illinois.
Honors
- Recognized by his peers, Indiana Super Lawyers® Rising Star – 2020 – present
- U.S. News Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch":
- Health Care Law 2022
- Medical Malpractice Law — Defendants 2022
Admitted to Bar
- 2011 Illinois
- 2018 Indiana
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Legal Organizations
- Indiana State Bar Association
- McKinney-Shepard Indianapolis Inn of Court
Speaking and Publications
Doug is a frequent presenter at the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) conference. Doug has presented on several occasions on legal issues faced by practitioners, nurses and administrators in the correctional and jail setting.
- Dental Care in Jails and Prisons: Common Legal Issues and Ways to Avoid Them, November 2020
- The Big Six: Where the Law Most Often Meets Medical Care, November 2020
- Judicial Intervention The various stages of a lawsuit — specifically medical care in a correctional setting — and the involvement of the court in the direction of said medical care during various stages of litigation, November 2019
- Managing Risk: Strategies to Limit and Decrease Liability for Practitioners, November 2018
“Just-in-Time”: Complaint/Lawsuit-Triggered On-Demand Educational Intervention, specifically addresses correctional medicine providers who have been named in a lawsuit or are the subject of a complaint — best practices and lessons learned at critical junctures, via Zoom®, November 2020
Civic Engagement / Volunteerism
During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a counselor and tutor for college students with learning disabilities.
Doug has a passion for pro bono service, specifically for children and young fathers. During his time in Illinois, Doug began his practice of serving as a volunteer as counsel for both children as guardians at litem, as well as for several fathers and foster parents in adoption/neglect proceedings. He specifically has a passion for spending time and getting to know the children that have been neglected, as well as assisting young fathers as they try to navigate the legal system and protect their children. He is a strong believer in service projects, serving with his family over the years with many Christian organizations, and also spending time at an orphanage in Haiti.
Doug is a proud husband to Brandi, and father to Derrek, Kaitlyn and Lora.