Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
In this exclusive Lawyer Monthly feature, we speak with Lisa Ortega, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and founder of Ortega & Associates, LLC, about the vital role legal nurse consultants play in today’s litigation landscape. With over 15 years of experience in clinical care, nursing leadership, and expert witness consulting, Ortega has become a trusted figure at the intersection of healthcare and the law.
Through her firm, she helps attorneys decipher complex medical records, assess standards of care, and identify key clinical insights that can determine the success of a case. In our conversation, Ortega shares her journey from bedside nursing to legal consulting, offering a candid look at how her medical expertise can shape the outcome of even the most challenging lawsuits.
Could you begin by telling us about your journey into nursing and what led you to establish Ortega & Associates?
Growing up, I was always sure I wanted to go into healthcare. I chose nursing because I felt it allowed me to truly connect with and support my patients. Nursing was not just a job — it was something that aligned with who I am as a person.
Throughout my career, I was promoted into leadership positions that gave me a deeper understanding of the complexities of the healthcare system. As a nursing leader, I developed an interest in root cause analysis and the investigation of clinical errors. This curiosity led me to explore the field of legal nurse consulting, where I later obtained my Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) certification and founded Ortega & Associates, LLC.
As a DNP, you have achieved the highest level of nursing education. How has this influenced your approach to legal nurse consulting?
As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), I have developed a broader understanding of the obligations and clinical expectations of nurses, as well as the standards of care. At the bedside, nurses understand documentation, escalation of concerns, and patient care on a case-by-case basis.
However, as my education and leadership experience expanded, I began to understand the “why” behind clinical decision-making — the policies, accountability, and chain-of-command dynamics that influence how care is delivered. This perspective allows me to analyze cases not just from an individual nurse’s standpoint, but from a system-wide lens encompassing the healthcare organization as a whole.
Could you provide a brief overview of the services that Ortega & Associates offers?
At Ortega & Associates, we support both plaintiff and defense attorneys in medical-related cases. Our services include:
Screening cases to determine merit and assess damages or injuries
Summarizing and interpreting complex medical records
Preparing case chronologies and timelines
Identifying deviations from the standard of care
Detecting potential medical record tampering
Assisting with discovery, mediation, arbitration, and trial preparation
Recommending potential defendants
We also attend Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) to ensure compliance with the Code of Civil Procedure, and provide written medical reports for use in litigation.
Many people might not be aware of the role of a legal nurse consultant. Could you shed some light on how you work with attorneys and the unique perspective you bring to legal cases?
As consultants, we often help attorneys build the clinical foundation of a case. I translate medical information into clear, legally relevant terms that help them understand standards of care, causation, and liability.
I bring a unique perspective drawn from experience in acute care, nursing homes, and ambulatory settings. Having served as both a bedside nurse and a clinical director, I understand not just what nurses do, but why certain decisions are made under pressure. This allows me to explain expected clinical responses and decision-making processes that might otherwise be misunderstood in court.
What are some of the most challenging aspects of your role, and how do you navigate them?
One of the biggest challenges is being brought into cases too late. Many attorneys believe they can handle initial case reviews themselves, but involving a legal nurse consultant early can save time, money, and prevent misdirection.
When we join late, we sometimes discover that the real issue is entirely different from what was initially believed. Early involvement ensures stronger strategy and more accurate case framing.
Can you share an example of a case where your expertise influenced the legal outcome?
I once worked on a case involving concerns about a hospital’s response to a patient with a gastrointestinal (GI) bleed) — specifically regarding escalation of care and notification of the chain of command. After my review, deposition, and expert statement, the case against the nurses was settled.
I created a detailed 24-hour timeline of events showing what nurses did at each critical point and how their actions aligned with clinical expectations. This context helped clarify that the nurses acted appropriately under the circumstances.
Why is continuing education so critical in your field?
Healthcare evolves constantly — and often not fast enough. As both a healthcare leader and legal nurse consultant, it’s crucial to stay current with new regulatory standards. Many regulations emerge as a response to safety events that redefine accepted standards of care. Staying updated ensures compliance and protects both patients and healthcare providers.
What qualities are essential for success in this field?
A strong attention to detail, organization, and confidence are essential. These cases often involve thousands of pages of medical records, and the smallest detail can change everything. You must also be confident in communicating with attorneys — translating clinical expertise into clear, defensible insights.
How do you see the field evolving, and what role will Ortega & Associates play in that future?
The field of legal nurse consulting is expanding beyond litigation. Today, LNCs are also involved in mediation, arbitration, and workplace injury assessments. Companies with high injury rates are hiring LNCs to investigate incidents and differentiate between workplace-related and pre-existing conditions.
As awareness grows, so will the demand for LNCs. At Ortega & Associates, we plan to remain at the forefront — helping bridge the gap between healthcare and the justice system.
Lisa M. Ortega, DNP, CLNC
President, Ortega & Associates, LLC
25876 The Old Rd #181, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381, USA
Tel: +1 661-237-0732
Email: lisaortega@ortegaandassociates.com
Lisa Ortega is the founder and president of Ortega & Associates, a California-based firm specializing in healthcare-related legal consulting. With over 15 years of clinical and leadership experience, she provides expert consulting on cases involving medical or nursing malpractice, personal injury, product liability, toxic torts, and workplace injury.
