Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyer Ronda Little

Ronda Little is a Michigan medical malpractice lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing patients and families harmed by the negligence of physicians, hospitals, urgent care centers, and other healthcare providers throughout the state.

She focuses her practice on serious injury and death cases, handling claims involving misdiagnosis, surgical and anesthesia errors, emergency room failures, birth injuries, stroke, cardiac events, spinal cord injuries, cancer, and pathology errors.

Ronda has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients across Michigan. She is based at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock’s Berkley office and serves clients in Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, and throughout Michigan.

Overview

Ronda Little came to medical malpractice work through an unusual path. She began her undergraduate studies at Michigan State University in Criminalistics before broadening her degree to Pre-Law, drawn to the investigational side of legal work rather than the research-only role she encountered during a clerkship at a large Detroit corporate firm. After her first year at Wayne State Law School, she clerked for Bill Gage and Rob Sickels, whose practice centered on medical malpractice plaintiff work. Her very first case involved the death of a resident at an adult foster care home whose operator, despite a documented history of suspected mental illness and repeated noncompliance with state licensing requirements, had never had her license revoked. That case shaped how Ronda approaches every matter: as an investigation into what the records reveal, who knew what, and whether the system that was supposed to protect the patient actually did.

After graduating cum laude from Wayne State Law School in 1992, she worked alongside Bill Gage first as an associate and then as his partner at Gage & Little, building a practice grounded in death and serious injury cases. She later worked at Bereznoff & Little before joining Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, where she continues to focus exclusively on plaintiff medical malpractice work throughout Michigan. More than three decades in, she describes taking a box of medical records and determining what happened, who was responsible, and whether the care was adequate as still the most compelling part of the work.

Ronda has been selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers list every year from 2019 through 2026. She has been a member of the Michigan Association for Justice since 1993, which monitors and responds to emerging issues in Michigan’s appellate courts, and is a monthly contributor to JUSTICE PAC, which funds MAJ’s advocacy on behalf of plaintiff attorneys and the clients they represent.

Ronda has authored articles on two topics that reflect the dual nature of her practice. Her 2015 article in the Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Journal addressed medical malpractice claims as unrecognized estate assets, an issue that arises when families managing a loved one’s estate do not realize a viable malpractice claim may exist. Her 2020 article on avoiding medical malpractice was written for patients and families, translating the patterns she sees in her cases into practical guidance.

Why Michigan Families Choose Ronda Little for Medical Malpractice Cases

When medical treatment causes serious harm, patients and families are often left with no explanation. Hospitals and physicians have no legal obligation to volunteer information about errors, and in many cases the records tell a very different story from the one the provider communicated. Families frequently come to Ronda months or years after an event, still uncertain whether what happened was negligence, an acceptable complication, or simply bad luck. Getting that answer is where she begins.

Michigan medical malpractice cases are among the most technically demanding in civil litigation. Under MCL 600.5838a, a plaintiff pursuing a malpractice claim must provide notice to the defendant healthcare provider at least 182 days before filing suit, and the claim must be supported by an affidavit of merit signed by a qualified medical expert under MCL 600.2912d. These requirements mean that the investigation Ronda conducts before filing is not optional. It is what determines whether a case can proceed at all.

Olsman MacKenzie Peacock employs registered nurses on staff who assist in reviewing medical records from the outset of every case. Their clinical knowledge allows the firm to identify deviations from the standard of care that might not be apparent to a non-clinician, and to frame those deviations in terms a jury can understand. When the record review supports a malpractice theory, Ronda consults with qualified medical experts to build the evidentiary foundation the case requires. When it does not, she tells the client honestly, because families deserve clarity regardless of the outcome.

Michigan families bring medical malpractice cases to Ronda involving:

• Failure to diagnose heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and cardiac emergencies
• Emergency room and urgent care failures to recognize and treat life-threatening conditions
• Stroke misdiagnosis and delayed treatment causing permanent neurological injury
• Surgical errors, anesthesia errors, and post-operative complications caused by provider negligence
• Failure to diagnose cancer, including errors in pathology and radiology interpretation
• Spinal cord injuries and nerve injuries caused by negligent medical procedures
• Obstetric and birth injuries resulting from negligent management of labor and delivery
• Wrongful death resulting from medical negligence in Michigan hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities

How I Serve Clients

When something goes wrong with medical care, it is often impossible for patients and families to get straight answers. Doctors and hospitals may not take the time to investigate or they may brush patients off in hopes of avoiding liability. Often, victims of medical malpractice are left in the dark about what happened.  This is where I can help.   My job is to figure out what happened, who was responsible, and whether the injury could, and should have been prevented.

If you have questions regarding the medical care that you, or a family member received, please contact me and we will discuss the facts and whether the situation merits further investigation. If so, we will obtain and review your medical records.  We have several registered nurses who will assist in this process.  If it appears that medical malpractice has occurred, we will consult with qualified experts.

Sometimes our investigation results in a recommendation to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit; however, even in the cases we do not pursue, the information gathered frequently provides needed information and answers.

The process for evaluating a medical malpractice case can take considerable time.  There are also time limits for bringing a medical malpractice case (this is known as the “statute of limitations”).  Therefore, if you have concerns about your medical care or the care received by a family member, it’s important to act promptly.

Representative Cases

The following results reflect cases Ronda Little has handled on behalf of Michigan clients. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

• $4,750,000 settlement for federally funded clinic failure to diagnose and report child abuse and neglect
• $3,250,000 settlement for failure to diagnose and treat disc injury and spinal cord injury
• $1,750,000 settlement for urgent care and EMS negligent bypass of the 911 system resulting in death
• $1,600,000 settlement for failure to diagnose and treat eclampsia leading to brain hemorrhage and death
• $1,350,000 settlement for emergency room failure to diagnose aortic injury resulting in death
• $1,000,000 settlement for negligent gynecologic surgery causing bowel injury
• $900,000 settlement for spinal cord injury during spinal anesthesia resulting in permanent nerve injury
• $850,000 settlement for emergency room and triage failure to recognize an impending heart attack resulting in death
• $680,000 settlement for misread cardiac thallium scan resulting in death
• $650,000 settlement for primary care physician failure to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease resulting in death

Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Medical Malpractice

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Michigan?

In Michigan, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is generally two years from the date the malpractice occurred, under MCL 600.5838a. However, this period may be tolled in certain circumstances, including when the plaintiff did not discover the injury until later and could not reasonably have discovered it sooner. There is also an outer limit of six years from the date of the act or omission regardless of discovery in most cases. Because the applicable deadline depends on the specific facts, families should consult an experienced Michigan medical malpractice attorney as soon as they have concerns about their care.

What is an affidavit of merit and why does it matter in Michigan malpractice cases?

Michigan law requires a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case to attach an affidavit of merit to the complaint at the time of filing under MCL 600.2912d. The affidavit must be signed by a medical expert who practices in the same specialty as the defendant and attests that the defendant’s conduct fell below the applicable standard of care. This requirement makes the pre-suit investigation essential. Ronda and the clinical team at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock conduct a thorough record review and expert consultation before filing to ensure this standard is met.

What types of damages can a Michigan medical malpractice victim recover?

Michigan medical malpractice victims may recover economic damages, including past and future medical expenses and lost wages, and noneconomic damages, including pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Michigan law caps noneconomic damages in most medical malpractice cases under MCL 600.1483, with higher caps available in cases of permanent loss of a vital bodily function, permanent severe cognitive impairment, or permanent physical functional impairment. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also recover damages under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act (MCL 600.2922).

How do Michigan’s pre-suit notice requirements affect a malpractice case?

Before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Michigan, a plaintiff must provide written notice to each defendant at least 182 days before the complaint is filed, under MCL 600.2912b. This notice period allows the healthcare provider to investigate the claim and potentially settle before litigation begins. The notice requirement also effectively extends the period a plaintiff has to file, since the statute of limitations is tolled during the notice period. Failure to provide proper notice can result in dismissal of the case, making early legal involvement critical.

What should families do when they suspect medical malpractice in Michigan?

Families who believe a loved one was harmed by medical negligence in Michigan should act promptly for two reasons. First, critical medical records, imaging studies, and facility logs can be altered, lost, or become harder to obtain over time. Second, the two-year statute of limitations begins running from the date of the malpractice, not the date the family realizes something went wrong. Families should request complete medical records from every treating provider, preserve any written communications from the healthcare team, and contact a Michigan medical malpractice attorney before speaking further with the provider or its insurance company.

Does Ronda Little handle medical malpractice cases anywhere in Michigan?

Yes. Ronda Little represents medical malpractice clients throughout the state of Michigan, including in Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, and surrounding areas. Olsman MacKenzie Peacock maintains offices in Berkley, Lapeer, and Battle Creek and handles cases in state and federal courts across Michigan.

How much does it cost to hire a Michigan medical malpractice attorney?

Olsman MacKenzie Peacock handles medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no attorney fee unless a recovery is obtained on the client’s behalf. The firm advances all costs associated with the investigation and litigation, including expert fees and filing costs. There is no charge for the initial consultation.

What if the investigation shows no malpractice occurred?

Not every case involving a bad outcome involves malpractice. Medicine involves risk, and physicians can provide appropriate care and still have patients who experience serious complications. When Ronda’s investigation of a case, including the record review and expert consultation, does not support a malpractice theory, she communicates that honestly. Many families find that the investigation itself provides clarity and answers they were unable to get from the healthcare provider, even when the case does not proceed to litigation.

Contact Ronda Little for a Free Consultation

Patients and families dealing with the consequences of medical negligence in Michigan are encouraged to contact Ronda Little at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock for a free, no-obligation consultation. Ronda can be reached at 1.800.366.8653.

To learn more about medical malpractice cases in Michigan, visit the firm’s medical malpractice resource center, review medical malpractice settlement amounts in Michigan, or read client reviews of medical malpractice cases handled by the firm.