Peter S. Johnston

Email: psjohnston@cml-law.com

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Areas of Concentration:

Health Care & Hospital Law; Litigation

General Background Information:

Peter Johnston serves as general counsel to Salina Regional Health Center (“SRHC”) and its affiliated hospitals, Lindsborg Community Hospital, North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia, and Memorial Health System in Abilene, as well as its associated clinics and supporting organizations.  SRHC is an independent, not-for-profit hospital that serves as a regional referral center.  In addition, Peter advises other Kansas hospitals, physicians, and business organizations and maintains a litigation practice focused on the defense of medical malpractice claims in Kansas state and federal courts.

Peter has significant experience working with hospital administration and boards, as well as independent physician groups and other health care clients, in general corporate matters, board governance, compliance, outside investigations, risk management, EMTALA, peer review, medical staff credentialing and relations, physician contracts, information technology and privacy, tax-exempt organizational issues, and business transactions, including medical practice acquisitions and health care affiliations.

Highlights of Peter’s litigation work include the following:

• Lead trial counsel in obtaining a defense verdict from a jury on behalf of a physician in a medical malpractice case in which the plaintiff alleged that the physician misdiagnosed and mistreated a renal abscess and asked the jury to award more than $2.4 million in damages;
• Lead trial counsel in obtaining a defense verdict from the jury in a wrongful death medical malpractice case against a hospital in which the final demand was in excess of seven figures; and
• Obtaining summary judgment from the trial court in a medical malpractice claim, which was affirmed by the Kansas Court of Appeals with review denied by the Kansas Supreme Court.

Peter has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2016 in the areas of Medical Malpractice – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; and Insurance Law and has been BV®-rated by Martindale Hubbell since 2005.

Education:

University of Kansas (B.A., with honors, English, 1994; J.D., 1997)

Bar Admissions & Memberships:

Admitted to practice, 1997, Kansas; 1998, Missouri; Also admitted to practice before U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of Kansas.

Member, Saline-Ottawa County Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association (President, Litigation Section, 2013-15; Recipient, “Outstanding Young Lawyer” Award, 2003); The Missouri Bar; American Bar Association; Kansas Association of Hospital Attorneys; American Health Law Association; Kansas Association of Defense Counsel (Board of Directors, 2013-2016); Defense Research Institute (DRI); Fellow, Kansas Bar Foundation.

Professional & Community Involvement:

• Kansas Board of Law Examiners (2016-present);
• Kansas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees (2023-present);
• Judicial District Nominating Commission, 28^thJudicial District of Kansas (2012-2024);
• Bench-Bar Committee, 28^thJudicial District of Kansas (2011-2016);
• University of Kansas Alumni Association National Board of Directors (2018-2024);
• University of Kansas School of Law Alumni Board of Governors (2008-2016);
• Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2016-19; Vice Chairman, 2019);
• Salina Community Theatre Board of Directors (2016-2019);
• First Presbyterian Church, Salina, Session (2024-present; 2015-17; 2009-10; 2002-05).