Todd A. Scharnhorst

Todd A. Scharnhorst

Shareholder

Assistant :

Todd A. Scharnhorst is chair of SAKG’s Health Care Litigation group and one of the region’s most respected medical malpractice and catastrophic injury defense attorneys. For more than 30 years, hospitals, health systems, and physicians have trusted Todd to defend complex, high exposure cases with skill, strategy, and unwavering dedication.

About

Todd A. Scharnhorst is a founding partner and chair of the firm’s Health Care Litigation group, bringing more than three decades of experience defending hospitals, multidisciplinary health systems, and physicians in high stakes matters involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death. Over the course of his career, Todd has built lasting relationships with leading medical institutions and top specialists nationwide, leveraging this deep network to deliver informed, effective defense strategies.

Recognized by peers as a preeminent lawyer in medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, and brain injury defense, Todd has earned repeated honors in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal, and Best Lawyers in Kansas City by Ingram’s Magazine. For many years, he has been named among the Top 50 lawyers in Kansas City and the Top 100 lawyers in Missouri and Kansas by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Known for his meticulous preparation, industry knowledge, and results driven approach, Todd has helped shape SAKG’s reputation as a respected litigation boutique capable of handling the most complex and high exposure cases. His leadership continues to set the tone for excellence, sophistication, and client focused advocacy across the firm.

Areas of Practice

Healthcare

Defense verdict in a case involving birth injury and fetal laceration during a c-section delivery. Plaintiff alleged permanent and progressive injury and disfigurement following severe laceration to her eyelid, canalicular system, and conjunctiva through negligent use of a scalpel while making entry into the uterus. Alleged damages exceeded $925,000.
Defense verdict in a case involving a female patient with primary thyroid lymphoma. Plaintiff alleged primary thyroid lymphoma is treated with chemotherapy, rather than surgical resection. Defendant admitted this diagnosis is, in fact, generally treated with chemotherapy, though argued other surgical indications existed. Plaintiff challenged the absence of a pre-operative biopsy and the decision to proceed with surgery without a diagnosis. Total thyroidectomy was attempted. Plaintiff alleged complications during surgery which resulted in airway trauma, prolonged endotracheal intubation, a tracheotomy, esophageal injury, and the need for supplemental feedings via a PEG tube.
Unanimous defense verdict in a case alleging permanent lower extremity nerve paralysis. Following a total hip replacement, the plaintiff experienced massive blood loss in the hip and thigh and was alleged to have developed compartment syndrome. Plaintiff alleged the standard of care required immediate return to the operating room for hematoma evacuation and nerve decompression. The surgeon, in exercising his professional judgment, determined the risks of immediate exploration greatly outweighed the potential benefits. The patient was returned to the OR four days later when it was believed he was better able to withstand a second operative procedure.
Achieved defense verdict in lawsuit involving allegations of peripheral nerve injury. Plaintiff alleged permanent and severe injury as a result of instruments used during cervical spine surgery.
On behalf of a regional medical center, achieved voluntary dismissal of an eight-figure claim pursued by a young patient diagnosed with locked-in syndrome. The patient suffered an acute ischemic stroke following two visits to the medical center’s emergency department. After thorough preparation of key fact witnesses and retention of the nation’s leading experts on posterior-circulation stroke, plaintiff agreed to voluntarily dismiss all claims against the defendant facility.
Achieved unanimous defense verdict in pharmacy malpractice case. Plaintiff alleged the failure to fill a prescription following gastrointestinal surgery resulted in surgical site failure, a near-fatal bleed, and the need for emergent operative invention. The patient later required a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. Plaintiff’s theory was propounded and supported by her treating surgeon. Defendant pharmacy acknowledged the prescription was not filled, though established this was not a departure from the standard of care and did not result in the surgical site failure.
Successfully argued cases relating to the professional and medical malpractice statutes of limitation before the Kansas appellate courts. See Bonin v. Vannaman, 261 Kan. 199, 929 P.2d 754 (1996); P.W.P. v. L.S., 969 P.2d 896, 266 Kan. 417 (1998).
Achieved defense verdict while representing a national exercise equipment manufacturer. Plaintiff alleged defects in design of a treadmill resulted in a large fire which partially destroyed an apartment complex.
Obtained voluntary dismissal of suit alleging negligence in the performance of a gastrointestinal surgical procedure. Procedure resulted in unintended perforation of the patient’s bowel, requiring extensive surgical repair and hospitalization. Achieved a full and final dismissal for the physician alleged to have caused the perforation.
Achieved summary judgment for construction contractor which allegedly caused devastating neurologic injuries, including quadriplegia. Case continued against co-defendants, resulting in a multi-million dollar jury verdict in favor of the injured plaintiff.
Achieved voluntary dismissal of claims against a long-term care facility alleged to have over-anticoagulated a patient who died from a gastrointestinal bleed. Through retention of a leading hematology expert, identified and pursued causation defenses which established over-anticoagulation would not have explained the patient’s condition, resulting in voluntary dismissal of all claims against the defendant facility.
In a nationally-publicized case, represented the surviving parents of a 10-year-old boy who died following a tragic amusement park accident. On behalf of child’s heirs, achieved the largest wrongful death settlement in Kansas history involving a minor. This followed extensive ride inspections, data analysis, accident reconstruction, choice of law arguments, and identification of numerous target defendants among those who designed, constructed, and managed the amusement ride.
Extensive experience in the defense and management of Kansas Medical Malpractice Screening Panels. Aside from serving as the court-appointed chairman on numerous screening panels, Todd has successfully defended every screening panel respondent he has represented, resulting in a favorable panel decision for each respondent physician.
Extensive experience with the management and defense of professional malpractice claims throughout the continental United States.