Attorney David W. Sumner – Achievements

Mr. Sumner has been the recipient of numerous academic awards. In 1975,  Mr. Sumner was selected for Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. He served as a member of the Pershing Rifles ceremonial drill team. Mr. Sumner graduated magna cum laude from Hardin-Simmons University. As an undergraduate, he received the prestigious Bradbury Political Science Award for academic achievement and was also selected to the Alpha Chi Honor Society.

Subsequently, he was designated an honor graduate at the University of Arkansas School of Law, finishing in the top 5% of his law school class. While in law school, Mr. Sumner was selected for law review based upon academic achievement.

In 1978, he served as Associate Editor on the Arkansas Law Review. Mr. Sumner was on active duty in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC) in 1978–1986. He initially distinguished himself as a criminal defense lawyer at courts-martial trials.

Mr. Sumner subsequently served as Chief Prosecutor, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 2d Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Mr. Sumner later was a lead Pentagon trial attorney defending medical-malpractice cases under the Federal Tort Claims Act. He was selected for Special Attorney assignment with Torts Branch, Civil Division from 1985 -1986, where he focused on defending cases of medical malpractice relating to care and treatment at Army Hospitals and clinics.  This position earned him a  Meritorious Service Medal.

In the private sector, Mr. Sumner has practiced almost exclusively in the medical malpractice litigation arena. He has been Managing Partner for Eastern Pennsylvania offices of a large medical negligence defense firm. Mr. Sumner, since 1999, has managed this multi-state medical negligence practice on behalf of plaintiffs. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Mr. Sumner has received recognition in the August 2012 edition of Main Line Today magazine as “Top Lawyers 2012” (in the field of medical malpractice).

Also, Mr. Sumner augments his experience in medical malpractice law by attending advanced medical training seminars, taught by physicians, on topics of fetal heart monitoring and birth injury.  He has also attended the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, board examination (accredited) review course in Cleveland, Ohio circa 1994.    Further,  Mr. Sumner was a Contributing Editor for Medical Malpractice Law and Strategy 1986 to 1995 as well as an Invited faculty member for NITA sponsored Deposition Strategies course held a Temple University.