Mark T. Quigley 

Mark T. Quigley is a trial attorney and partner at Greene, Broillet & Wheeler LLP. He has more than three decades of experience representing workers who are whistleblowers and others who become targets of unlawful employment practices.

“I started at Greene as a law clerk,” Quigley said, “and since 1985, I’ve done about 55 trials. I’ll put it this way: trials are fun. Trial prep is not.”

In mid-July, he was commuting to San Diego for a lengthy trial in the case of an oncologist, Dr. Kevin Murphy, suing for whistleblower retaliation over the disclosure of the alleged misuse of donor funds at UC San Diego. The complaint alleges deceptive behavior by school officials after donors gave money for specific causes, only to have the school redirect those funds to other purposes. At issue specifically is a $10 million gift targeted to the doctor’s research project on a brain stimulation treatment. Murphy v. The Regents of The University of California, 37-2020-00032789-CU-OE-CTL (S. Diego Co. Super. Ct., filed Sept. 9, 2020).

The school allegedly subjected Quigley’s client to harassment and, ultimately, termination when he reported the misdirection of funds.

With the trial in progress, the outcome was uncertain. But Quigley was upbeat. “I think it’s going good,” he said. “I get very focused on working on one case at a time. I get into the rhythm of it, and I find that quite pleasurable.”

In March 2023, Quigley secured a $2.1 million verdict and $3.2 million in attorney fees against Los Angeles County on behalf of a vascular surgeon who blew the whistle at Harbor UCLA Medical Center over activity that allegedly compromised patient safety. The plaintiff, Dr. Timothy Ryan, sued for retaliation after refusing to perform a surgical procedure that he believed involved insurance fraud and was medically unnecessary. Ryan v. County of Los Angeles et al., BC606535 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Jan 8, 2016).

“There are appeals and cross-appeals in progress,” Quigley said. “We’re waiting now for an oral argument date.”

Quigley is ready at long last to proceed in an Orange County trial court in the case of another physician who alleged retaliation in the form of suspension of his hospital privileges and an unwarranted peer review after he complained about a hospital system’s robotic surgery program. The state Supreme Court rejected most of the defendant’s anti-SLAPP motion and let the case proceed. Bonni v. St. Joseph Health System et al., S2444148 (Ca. S. Ct., op. filed July 29, 2021).

“This one is coming up on a decade since we filed it,” Quigley said. “I have to track down the witnesses again.”

Still, Quigley said the trials are satisfying. “I work hard and I’ve been fortunate. I do enjoy doing what I do.”

—John Roemer