Debbas v. Nelson

This case presents us with the task of determining whether a facially valid Certificate of Qualified Expert, a prerequisite to instituting a medical malpractice action, can be invalidated by subsequent developments, specifically the allegedly inconsistent deposition testimony of the certifying medical expert. We hold that the Health Care Malpractice Claims Act does not permit such collateral attacks based on events arising after the Certificate has been filed. As such, Respondents’ Certificate of Qualified Expert was not substantially defective, and the Circuit Court erroneously granted…