Partner Cathy Trent-Vilim Argues Three Separate Cases in Front of the Nebraska Supreme Court

During the Nebraska Supreme Court’s recent March and April sessions, Partner Cathy Trent-Vilim presented oral arguments in three separate cases.The first was an appeal defending healthcare professionals. In that appeal, Ms. Trent-Vilim argued the trial court properly granted a directed verdict in favor of the healthcare professional after the plaintiff could not establish his medical expert was sufficiently familiar with the local community where the medical services were rendered, and thus was not competent to testify as to the standard of care.The second appeal pertained to Nebraska’s inheritance taxes. Ms. Trent-Vilim argued the probate court erroneously interpreted a trust agreement to shift the burden of inheritance taxes and administrative costs to the residuary beneficiaries, instead of following the statutory default rule and apportioning the taxes in accordance with each beneficiary’s proportionate share of the trust.The third appeal also involved the defense of healthcare professionals. In that appeal, Ms. Trent-Vilim argued the trial court properly excluded untimely-disclosed expert opinions and granted summary judgment to the medical professionals. Rulings are expected in the next few months.