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MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
WHISTLEBLOWER LAW
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Medical Malpractice

When a patient suffers serious personal injury or death due to the medical negligence of a healthcare provider, it is necessary to hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

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Non-Compete Law

Our attorneys have experience resolving disputes arising from non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure provisions in employment agreements.

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Financial Fraud

Our lawyers represent employees who “blow the whistle” on corrupt business practices such as employer retaliation, False Claims Act and qui tam litigation, and financial fraud.

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Proudly Serving Your Area

Frith & Ellerman are licensed to practice in any of the following jurisdictions throughout Virginia: Blacksburg, Bristol, Christiansburg, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Radford, and Roanoke.

Meet Our Team


Our attorneys have over 40 years of collective experience in state and federal courts in Virginia. We are a small firm by choice, specializing in very distinct areas of civil law, working together to serve our clients.

Dan Frith

Dan has over 35 years of experience representing Virginia clients in employment litigation, long-term care litigation, serious personal injury litigation, medical malpractice, and complex commercial litigation.

Lauren Ellerman

Lauren has been representing Virginians in civil matters for almost fifteen years in state and federal courts. She cares about each and every case and client, and is dedicated to meeting the needs of her clients.

Thomas “Bo” Frith

A graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, Thomas “Bo” Frith has experience representing Virginia clients in medical malpractice, premises liability, and professional liability litigation.

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Firm Awards

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Emergency Room Staffing in Virginia Hospitals

 Emergency Room Staffing in Virginia Hospitals 150 150 Lauren Ellerman

Somewhat fictionalized deposition transcript of an emergency room physician in Virginia: Question: Doctor, how long have you worked in the emergency department at Virginia Mountain Hospital? Answer: 1 year. Question: Are you an employee of the hospital? Answer: No. Question: Who is your employer? Answer: I’m not entirely sure. Question: Who signs your paychecks? Answer: No one, I get direct deposit. Question: Did you sign a contract with a corporate entity? Answer: Yes. It says I am an independent contractor…

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All Virginia Doctors (Nurses, Counselors, Social Workers,) need to know about Non Competes before and after July 1, 2026

 All Virginia Doctors (Nurses, Counselors, Social Workers,) need to know about Non Competes before and after July 1, 2026 150 150 Lauren Ellerman

I, Lauren Ellerman, can tell the future: For years I have been telling the medical providers who hire me to review their Virginia employment contracts and non-compete agreements “In your professional lifetime, you will likely see the law on non-competes change in Virginia.” I then explain how non-competes are political. The more the state leans Blue, the more likely non-compete laws will be changed. I have not been able to play the role of soothsayer or fortune teller with the…

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Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

 Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants 150 150 Dan Frith

You’re seeing a new kind of healthcare worker almost everywhere these days. They’re at your family doctor’s office, at urgent care, and in hospitals. But here’s what most people don’t realize: these workers are not trained nearly as well as real doctors. A doctor spends four years at medical school and then several more years in a residency program before treating patients on their own. So who are these other providers? A Nurse Practitioner (also called an NP or APRN)…

BYE BYE NON COMPETES FOR VIRGINIA DOCTORS, PAs & NPs SUMMER OF 2026

 BYE BYE NON COMPETES FOR VIRGINIA DOCTORS, PAs & NPs SUMMER OF 2026 262 192 Lauren Ellerman

Virginia law is going to change this July on non-competes for doctors.

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Medical Care: Is it Getting Better or Getting Worse?

 Medical Care: Is it Getting Better or Getting Worse? 1200 800 Dan Frith

I spend most of my time representing people who have been harmed by medical malpractice. These cases involve many types of serious errors, including botched gallbladder surgeries, spinal fusions that leave patients permanently paralyzed, and poor care in emergency rooms that results in death. My two law partners and I have seen just about every kind of medical mistake imaginable. Not long ago, I had a conversation with a retired surgeon who is also a friend. He asked me whether…

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How to change a broken long term care system, through political action

 How to change a broken long term care system, through political action 1200 800 Lauren Ellerman

If Virginians agree that their loved ones deserve to receive the care they have been promised in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and we all know from collective experience that in many many facilities that is not happening, what can we do about it? Let’s start by considering what happens to a bad driver if she continues to cause havoc, pain, injury and despair to others traveling with her on Virginia highways. The driver will: Get tickets or criminal…

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Why Nursing Home Care is political

 Why Nursing Home Care is political 1200 800 Lauren Ellerman

I wish I could fix the long term care crisis. I wish patients would get the care they have been promised; that their physical and emotional needs would be met, and that their families could rely on facilities who say adequate care will be provided. I wish I could magically wave a wand, or file a series of strategic lawsuits that would prevent for profit facility owners from making millions while understaffing and under caring for medically compromised patients. I…

Why health care trauma (Medical Malpractice) feels like a hundred tiny funerals

 Why health care trauma (Medical Malpractice) feels like a hundred tiny funerals 1912 2560 Lauren Ellerman

Lauren here.  I am the lawyer in our office who likes to talk about feelings, and engage people about the hard stuff that motivates them to call our office, which is often loss and grief. Why would I do that? Why would I enjoy talking about loss and hardship with strangers, other lawyers? Well, because I think loss is real, universal, and I still don’t think we talk about the hard stuff enough. Also, because I think that talking about…

“You are all a pleasure to work with. You are very prompt at responding to inquiries.”

“I appreciate the responsiveness and professionalism on every medical malpractice referral.”

“I recommend FED – they have a reputation for providing excellent legal services.”

“The firm is experienced, and competent to handle medical malpractice  – the attorneys are very responsive and a pleasure to work with.”

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