Robert F. Donnelly

Mr. Donnelly is one of the founding members of the law firm of Goodman Allen & Filetti, PLLC. For nearly twenty five years, he has focused his career on defending physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals sued for medical malpractice in Virginia Courts. In the course of representing hundreds of health care providers, he has tried more than 40 cases to verdict.  Mr. Donnelly's trial experience has been consistently demonstrated, achieving at least one of the "Top Ten Defense Verdicts" in Medical Malpractice since 2005 as reported by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. In a single calendar year he took six high exposure cases to trial, achieving five of only sixteen statewide reported “Million Dollar Med Mal Defense Verdicts”. His success, both in and out of the courtroom has earned him recognition in Best Lawyers in America® for Medical Malpractice Defense, Virginia's “Legal Elite” in civil litigation, (Virginia Business Magazine) and as a “Virginia Super Lawyer” in Medical Malpractice Defense, (Law and Politics: Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine). He is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a national trial lawyer honorary society and frequently is an invited lecturer on health care liability issues.

Mr. Donnelly also serves as local counsel for a national automobile manufacturer and is responsible for litigating its warranty enforcement matters in Virginia, including successfully trying many of these actions before Virginia juries. In addition, he has litigated and resolved complex commercial disputes involving creditor’s rights, breach of contract claims and declaratory judgment actions in both state and federal courts. 

Education:

• The Catholic University of America, J.D. 1988
• University of Virginia, B.A. (cum laude) 1983

Admissions:

• Commonwealth of Virginia (1988)
• United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit (1988)
• United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts (1988)

Areas of Practice:

• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Health Care
• Professional Liability
• Products Liability
• Transportation

Professional Affiliations, Awards and Service:

• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Best Lawyers in America-Medical Malpractice Defense2010-2012
• Virginia's Legal Elite in Civil Litigation, Virginia Business Magazine, December 2008, 2009
• Virginia Super Lawyer in Personal Injury -Medical Malpractice Defense; Law and Politics and Virginia Super Lawyers Magazines, 2008-2014
• Holder of 5 of "Million Dollar Med Mal Defense Verdicts in Virginia 2008" as reported in Virginia Medical Law Reports, April 2009
• Holder of 2 "Top 10 Defense Verdicts " in 2005 as reported in Virginia Medical Law Reporter, April 2006
• Member, Board of Governors, Health Law Section of Virginia State Bar, 2000-2003
• Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
• Defense Research Institute
• Richmond Bar Association
• Henrico Bar Association
• John Marshall Inns of Court
• Pre-Bench Orientation Program for New Judges