Lori focuses her practice on helping her clients resolve health care-related disputes. She has guided medical staffs through difficult situations involving credentialing and privileging issues, handled fair hearings, and represented hospitals in both federal and state lawsuits involving medical staff issues. Lori also has experience in the field of physician contracting and in navigating issues pertaining to health care fraud and abuse laws. She has represented long-term care facilities, senior care communities, and various health care providers in civil, administrative, and regulatory proceedings involving a wide range of issues, including resident discharges and evictions, federal deficiency and state citation appeals, and licensing actions. Lori's skills in managing and resolving disputes carry over to her work as a medical staff hearing officer and as a mediator.

Bar Admissions

• California
• Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law (1996)
B.A., University of Virginia (1993)

Significant Accomplishments
Represented medical staffs in peer review and fair hearing proceedings involving medical staff members challenging proposed disciplinary actions.

Served as neutral hearing officer, mediator, and arbitrator in medical-staff and health care matters.

Obtained summary judgment in favor of a hospital in a lawsuit filed by physicians adversely impacted by the hospital's award of an exclusive radiology contract to a competing group.

Successfully assisted senior living communities through regulatory and litigation hurdles regarding resident transfers and discharges.

Professional Associations

• State Bar of California
• California Society for Healthcare Attorneys, Membership Committee
• California Association of Medical Staff Services
• California Association of Health Facilities
• California Assisted Living Association, Public Policy Committee and Legal Subcommittee
• American Arbitration Association National Roster of Arbitrators, Panelist

Professional Activities and Experience
Accolades

• Top Lawyer, Sacramento Magazine (2015-2016, 2019)
• Northern California Super Lawyers, Health Care (2011-2018, 2022)
• Order of the Coif

• Judicial Council of California Votes to End Statewide Judicial Restrictions on Evictions

  By Lori Ferguson |August 2020

Additional Articles"Update on California's Latest Extension of COVID-19 Tenant Protections," Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (April 2022)
"Update on California's COVID-19 Tenant Protections and Their Impact on Senior Communities," California Assisted Living Association (March 2022)
"California Law Now Allows More Professionals to Qualify for the Infection Preventionist Role in Skilled Nursing Facilities," Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (February 2022)
"New Law Requires Certification of Medical Directors in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Imposes New Reporting Requirements," Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (October 2021) 
"California Legislation Extends Protections for Tenants Experiencing COVID-19-Related Financial Distress; Broadens Financial Assistance for Eligible Landlords and Tenants," Senior Housing and Care Law Alert  (July 2021)
"Federal Court Dismisses Case Against Assisted Living Community Under PREP Act Immunity," California Assisted Living Association Legal Update (February 2021)
"California Extends COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium; Provides Financial Assistance for Eligible Landlords and Tenants," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (February 2021)
"California Legislation Extends Protections for Tenants Experiencing COVID-19-Related Financial Distress; Provides Financial Assistance for Eligible Landlords and Tenants," co-author, California Assisted Living Association Legal Update (February 2021)
"New California Law Imposes Additional Infection Preventionist and Reporting Requirements on Skilled Nursing Facilities ," co-author, Health Care Law Alert (October 2020) 
"New California and Federal Moratoria on Evictions Based on Non-payment," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (September 2020)
"New Federal and State Moratoria on Evictions Aim to Protect Tenants Unable to Pay Rent and Other Fees Because of Financial Hardship Due to COVID-19," co-author, California Assisted Living Association Legal Update (September 2020)
"Judicial Council of California Votes to End Statewide Judicial Restrictions on Evictions," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (August 2020)
"Business Realities in the Age of COVID-19," co-author, Seniors Housing Business (June 2020)
"Eviction Guidance for California Senior Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (April 2020)
"Under New California Law, Health Care Entities Must Promptly Report Allegations of Sexual Abuse or Sexual Misconduct to Licensing Boards," co-author, Health Care Alert (December 2019)
"Recent California Court of Appeal Decisions Highlight Importance of Process and Need for Signature of Authorized Individual to Secure Binding Arbitration Agreement," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (September 2019)
"New Regulations for Binding Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements with Long-Term Care Residents," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (August 2019)

"New Timing Requirements for Certain California Eviction Actions Take Effect September 1," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (August 2019)

"California Assisted Living Regulation Catches Up with Statute Regarding Evictions for Change of Use of Facility," Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (January 2019)
"California Medical Staff Reporting Update:
New Penalties For Failure To Report Go Into Effect January 1, 2018," co-author, Health Care Law Alert (November 2017)

"California Statutes Expanded to Include Peer Review Protections and Requirements for Licensed Midwives," Health Care Law Alert (November 2017)
"Supreme Court Reiterates Arbitration Agreements Must Be Placed on Equal Footing with Other Contracts," co-author, Senior Housing and Care Law Alert (June 2017)
"District Court Orders CMS in Jimmo Settlement to Implement Maintenance Coverage Standard for SNF Services," co-author, AHLA Member Alert (February 2017)
"Stark Regulations Updated to Include New Exception for Recruitment of Non-Physician Practitioners," co-author, Health Care Law Alert (January 2016)
"Evidence Code Section 1157 Expanded to Include Pharmacy Review Committees," co-author, Health Care Law Alert (October 2015)
"New California Law Expands Peer Review Requirements," co-author, Health Care Law Alert (October 2015)
"New York Court Rules Against Hospital Defendants in ACA '60-Day Rule' Case,"co-author, Health Care Law Alert (August 2015)
"AB 2171: Will Your Arbitration Agreements Comply?" CALA Fall 2014 Magazine: News & Views, The Voice of Assisted Living (November 2014)
"What to Expect From a Medical Staff Hearing," California Association Medical Staff Services (November 2013)
"How to Decipher Public Information Available on the Medical Board of California License Lookup," California Association Medical Staff Services (January 2013)
"Impact of Recent Supreme Court Arbitration Decisions on Enforceability of Health Care Arbitration Provisions in California," Litigation Alert (March 2012)
"Enforcing Arbitration Agreements: California Supreme Court Expands Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements in Healthcare Context," California Assisted Living Association Bulletin (October 2010)
"Litigation Basics: Surviving the Dreaded Deposition," California Assisted Living Association Bulletin (February 2010)
"Litigation Basics: What To Do When You Are Sued - ACT," California Assisted Living Association Bulletin (August 2009)
"Bill Would Alter Legal Landscape for Nursing Home Arbitration Agreements," Nursing Home Litigation Reporter (September 2008)