Robert Zimmerman, Partner
Bob grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where he was a state pole vault champion. He is a member of American Board Of Trial Advocates and American College of Trial Lawyers and has had more than 180 jury trials to verdict in California and Nevada. The Sacramento Valley Chapter of ABOTA gave him the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award in 2002, which was the first time the award was given to a defense lawyer. Bob’s practice focuses on medical malpractice defense involving various healthcare providers, as well as hospitals and other facilities. He also defends elder abuse and general civil defense matters (he was the lead defense lawyer in the Redding heart cases and is Board Certified in medical malpractice). He has been involved in numerous complex wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. He also represents plaintiffs in select personal injury cases and plaintiffs or defendants in complex business cases.
Professional History
2024 to Present- Zimmerman Law, P.C., Sacramento, CA Partner
1989 to 2024 - Schuering Zimmerman & Doyle, LLP, Sacramento, CA Partner
1983 to 1989 - Weintraub Genshlea Hardy Erich & Brown, Sacramento, CA Partner
1979 to 1983 - Hardy Erich & Brown, Sacramento, CA Associate
Presentations
MICRA and Civil Code section 3333.2, California Healthcare Institute, Kona, HI, February 2023 Hospitalists - Discussions Re: Litigation and Liability - Sponsored by The Doctors Company, 2016-2017 Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Meeting, Secrets of Medical Malpractice - Trial, 2015 Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Meeting, Secrets of Medical Malpractice - Pretrial, 2014 Why Patients Sue: Plaintiff Attorney Perspective vs. Defense Attorney Perspective, UC Davis Health System Surgery Grand Rounds. Sacramento, CA, October 2012. Ounce of Prevention: Hospitalists Risk Reduction and Quality, Sutter Medical Group Hospitalists Retreat. Sacramento, CA, October and November, 2012. Masters in Trial, American Board of Trial Advocates. Sacramento, CA, November 2011. Issues with EMR, PIAA Corporate Counsel Workshop. Boulder, CO, October 2011. Masters in Trial, American Board of Trial Advocates. Sacramento, CA, November 2010. Masters in Cross-Examination. American Board Of Trial Advocates. Sacramento, CA, November 2009. Litigation Processes in California. Litigation Education Retreat Program. Napa, CA, October 2009. Litigation Stress & Education Retreat. Berkeley, CA, May 2009. Communication: The Road from Patient to Plaintiff. Department of Nursing, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, April 2009. The Defense Perspective on Assessing and Evaluating the Case; and Understanding the Intricacies of The Right to Die and Informed Consent - The Health Care Decisions Law. National Business Institute. San Francisco and Sacramento, CA, September 2008. Captain of the Ship Doctrine Sails Again. Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, Healthcare Litigation Section. Sacramento, CA, August 2008. Masters in Trial - - Closing Arguments. American Board of Trial Advocates Sacramento, CA , November 2007. Risk Management/Mock Deposition Presentation. Med Clinic. Sacramento, CA, October 2005. Malpractice Risks from the Attorney’s Perspective. Grand Rounds for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center. Sacramento, CA, May 2004. Medical Malpractice in California. National Business Institute. Sacramento, CA, May 2003. Lake Tahoe Knee and Shoulder Update: Medical - Legal Ethics. South Lake Tahoe, CA, December 2001erican Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento, CA , November 2001. Masters in Trial – Opening Statements, American Board of Trial Advocates. Sacramento, CA, November 2001. Trial Advocacy - Opening Statements. McGeorge School of Law. Sacramento, CA, November 2001. Medical Malpractice in California. National Business Institute. Sacramento, CA, September 2000. Masters California Ultimate Trial Notebook. American Board of Trial Advocates. Sacramento, CA, December 1999. Lake Tahoe Knee and Shoulder Update: Avoiding Malpractice. South Lake Tahoe, CA, December 1999. Third Annual Benchmark Medical-Legal Seminar. Sacramento, CA, March 1999. Lake Tahoe Knee and Shoulder Update: Avoiding Malpractice. South Lake Tahoe, CA, December 1998. Medical Malpractice in California. National Business Institute. Sacramento, CA, April 1998. Expert Witnesses. California Education of the Bar. Sacramento, CA, May 1997. Institutional Review Board. Mercy Healthcare Systems. Sacramento, CA, 1996 to 2003.
Education
J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1978
B.A. (History), Juniata College, Huntington, Pennsylvania, 1974
Admissions
California, 1978 United States District Court, Eastern District of California,
1979 United States District Court, Northern District of California, 1979
Honors and Memberships
Sacramento County Superior Court Presiding Judge Civil Advisory Committee, 2015 to present
Trial Lawyer of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento Valley Chapter: 2002
American College of Trial Lawyers California Academy of Attorneys for Healthcare Professionals
California Medical Legal Committee Trial Lawyer of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento Valley Chapter: 2002
American Board of Trial Advocates President and Executive Board Member, Sacramento Valley Chapter: 2010
Executive Board Member, Sacramento Valley Chapter and CAL ABOTA: 2008-2011
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
Board Certified in Medical Malpractice, 2012
Martindale-Hubbell rating: AV Northern California Super Lawyers: 2003 to Present
Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyers List, 2015 to Present
Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2015
Traynor Honor Society
Anthony Kennedy Inns of Court State Bar of California
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada
Sacramento County Bar Association
Personal Interests
Snow and water sports
Travel
Running
Coaching pole vault, high school