Crystal practices primarily in casualty litigation with a focus on health care and professional liability, representing doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers in all aspects of medical malpractice claims from the medical review panel proceedings, litigation, and appeals. She has also represented her health care clients in various other aspects including administrative proceedings, board investigations, and premises liability claims.
Crystal has defended hundreds of medical malpractice claims in various stages from the medical review panel through trial. She has obtained several pre-trial dismissals of clients through exception and motion practice, including successfully briefing and orally arguing dismissals before both the Louisiana First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Crystal has earned the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating since 2014. She has also been named a Super Lawyers Louisiana Rising Star in Medical Malpractice Defense since 2016. She was also recognized by New Orleans CityBusiness as part of the 2015 Leadership in Law class for her success in law practice, contributions to the community, and impact on the legal industry.
Prior to joining the firm, Crystal attended the University of New Orleans where she was a four-year letterman on the women’s golf team, four-time first team All-Sunbelt Conference, and later named to the All-Time Sun Belt Conference team. Before UNO, Ms. Domreis attended Archbishop Hannan High School in Meraux, Louisiana where she was the 1999 Louisiana Girl’s Golf state champion. In 2015, she was inducted into the St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame for her lifetime achievements in golf and in 2019 was inducted into the Archbishop Hannan High School Hall of Fame.
Arrington v. St. Tammany Par. Hosp. Serv. Dist. No. 1, 2018-0215(La.App.1 Cir. 10/31/18); 2018 WL 6258583. Defended St. Tammany Parish Hospital against a lawsuit in which the patient claimed he was injured when an alternating leg pressure device ordered by a physician post-lumbar surgery as DVT prophylaxis overcompressed. STPH filed an exception of prematurity arguing that plaintiffs’ allegations, which centered on the use of a medical device by its staff, fell under the definition of malpractice as such allegations were treatment related. The district court granted the prematurity exception and dismissed STPH from the lawsuit. On appeal, the First Circuit upheld the dismissal and held that, as a matter of first impression, allegations of negligent purchase, selection, and implementation of a medical device used postoperatively on a patient fell within the purview of the Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act.
White v. The Glen Retirement System, 50,508(La.App.2 Cir. 4/27/16); 195 So.3d 485. Defended a lawsuit brought by a resident of a nursing home after she fell from her bed in the highest position. Plaintiff raised claims of intentional tort and breach of fiduciary duty and contract by the Glen for allowing the resident to suffer injury, for intentionally placing her back in bed post-incident without notification of the injury to her physician, a registered nurse, or a family member, and for placing her bed in the highest position without fall precautions, despite knowing she was at high risk for falling and injury. In response to the lawsuit, we, on behalf of the nursing home, filed an exception of prematurity arguing that plaintiff’s claims fell within the parameters of the Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act, which was granted by the district court. On appeal, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal agreed and found that the evidence was sufficient to conclude there was no intentional tort regarding the placement of the resident back in bed after the fall. Additionally, plaintiff’s claim regarding failure to properly position the bed related to the negligent rendering of care and the assessment of the patient’s condition and thus was not merely a custodial act claim. The opinion was important as it established the claim as one of medical malpractice which is subject to a limitation of liability of $100,000 per qualified health care provider or $500,000 total, exclusive of future medicals and judicial interest.
Newton M. Harris v. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 et al., 2011-0941 c/w 2011-0942(La.App.1 Cir. 12/29/11); 2011 WL 6916523. Defense verdict obtained on behalf of hospital client St. Tammany Parish Hospital and its employed Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. The Plaintiff appealed to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal. A three-judge panel, with two judges concurring in the result, affirmed the verdict in the malpractice action, but affirmed in part, reversed in part and rendered a verdict in the consolidated negligence action finding that the trial judge committed reversible error by not properly instructing the jury as to plaintiff’s negligence action—specifically, the existence of a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. The Court then rendered a verdict against the Hospital on that theory and awarded plaintiff $35,000 dollars in general damages plus medical specials in the amount of $12,675 and the costs of the appeal. Subsequently, plaintiff attempted to recover costs associated with trial as well. On appeal, we successfully defended the Hospital, by arguing that trial court costs were not recoverable as they were not ordered in any previous judgment, all of which were final, and the district court had no jurisdiction to change the final judgment as to those costs.
Super Lawyers ®, New Orleans, LA – Rising Star, Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense, since 2016
The Pro Bono Project, Justice for All Ball – Restaurant Committee Chair, since 2019; Board of Directors, since 2020
Selected as a “Top Lawyer” in New Orleans by New Orleans Magazine for Medical Malpractice, 2019
New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law, 2015
St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame, Inductee, 2016
Archbishop Hannan High School Sports Hall of Fame, Inductee, 2019
Presentations:
“Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice Case Law,” LAMMICO Defense Counsel Seminar, 2018
“Overview of the Louisiana Disciplinary Process, ” 34th Bar Association CLE, 2019 with co-presenter Darryl Foster.
Publications:
“Transition from Law School to Law Practice: The Skills and Pointers We Wish We Had Known,” co-authored with Michael C. Mims for the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel’s Associate Skills Set Seminar, June 2012
