Robert M. Higgins

Named Lawyer of the Year in Medical Malpractice Law, Robert M. Higgins is recognized as one of the most successful trial lawyers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Higgins has the distinction of having achieved the state's largest medical malpractice award — a $40 million verdict for a baby brain damaged at birth.

In 2023, Attorney Higgins has achieved multiple jury verdicts in the courtroom, as well as a record-setting $15 million medical malpractice settlement involving Boston Children's Hospital for a sleep study death. The verdicts are:

• $29 million for an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm in the ER at North Shore Medical Center Salem Hospital
• $28.8 million for a blood clot misdiagnosed as sciatica at Lowell General Hospital's ER, resulting in amputation
• $4.95 million for failure to test for cancer at Lahey Clinic.

Additional high profile verdicts Attorney Higgins has obtained:

• $29.8 million for a baby's brain injury during delivery
• $19.8 million verdict for a doctor’s failure to diagnose cervical cancer
• $16.7 million for a failure to diagnose lung cancer resulting in the death of a 47-year-old
• $14.5 million award for the failure of doctors to diagnose and treat an infection leading to the death of 40-year-old woman
• $13.5 million verdict for the failure of doctors to diagnose and treat abdominal compartment syndrome leading to the death of a 30-year-old woman
• $13 million for the death of a 38-year-old man following a tonsillectomy
• $12.8 million for a case involving negligent newborn care.
• $7.2 million award for a doctor’s failure to diagnose breast cancer.
• $4.8 million for a failure to diagnose myocarditis resulting in the death of a 23-year-old.

Attorney Higgins has been named to both the Top 10 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Top 100 Super Lawyers lists in Boston magazine. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for 16 consecutive years, and has consistently achieved an AV rating for demonstrating the highest level of legal ability and ethical standards from the well-respected national directory of lawyers, Martindale Hubbell.

Attorney Higgins is a frequent guest lecturer for the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education organization, The Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and Suffolk University Law School. Attorney Higgins provides legal analysis and commentary for local news stations on topics related to medical malpractice and jury trials.

A 1991 graduate of the University of Maine, Attorney Higgins received his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1994. He began as an associate at Lubin & Meyer in 1994 and became a partner in 2001. He is licensed to practice in both the federal and state courts of Massachusetts, and his professional memberships include the Boston Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

Higgins' civic engagement includes being a board member of The Jett Foundation that raises awareness of and promotes research into Muscular Dystrophy, and being a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston College High School.