SZS

Robert H. Zimmerman

Robert H. Zimmerman
Partner
Sacramento, CA
Telephone: 916-567-0400
FAX: 916-568-0400
E-mail: rhz@szs.com
PDF View PDF Version

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; he has had more than 150 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. More importantly, Bob is a member of his college sports hall of fame and continues to hold collegiate records in pole vaulting and punt returns.

Professional History

  • 1989 to Present - 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

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

  • 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

Presentations

  • 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 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.
  • 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.

Personal Interests

  • Snow and water sports
  • Travel
  • Running
  • Coaching pole vault, high school