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Giving a voice
to the voiceless

Together we stand… united we fight injustice!

Do you suspect malpractice?

01

Get Your records

Paperwork is so important and you have a right to ALL of it – typically within 3 business days. 

records needed

02

Contact Us

Let us know what is going on. Here’s a quick form to get your started. 

Let's get started

03

Get a Review

An independent case review from a vetted consultant associated with Joey’s Legacy is key. 

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CAUTION: Be very careful if you decide to post your story on social media sites. State only irrefutable facts about your case (facts that can be proven) rather than comments that could be considered defamatory toward the practitioner, especially after you have filed a lawsuit against the veterinarian. If you are considering legal action, we strongly recommend that you DO NOT post anything on social media. 

Our Services

Vetted Consultant Referrals

Our consultants are all fully vetted prior to being referred to you. We have consultants in the field of veterinary, legal, and mental health. Our referred independent vets will review all aspects of your case and provide a Certificate of Merit, if negligence or malpractice is found. If no malpractice is found, then two vets review your case and we do it all for less than 1/3 of the fee that is generally available to the public. Should you choose, our attorney referrals are experts in veterinary malpractice cases and take over once you have a Certificate of Merit.

Community Education

Education is the primary component of stopping malpractice. Sadly we can no longer blindly trust (if we ever could). Our community advocates strive to inform in all aspects of care. We work to hold "bad actors" in the veterinary field accountable and inform the public through our books, newsletters, social media and even our documentary, which is currently in the works.

Victim Support

We understand this is not only a troubling, confusing time but also a path that you have hopefully never traveled previously. We are there by your side from your first initial contact to your case review by independent vets even through the legal system and beyond if necessary. Need help navigating the system, we are here. Or just need someone to listen, we are here for that too. We know what you are going through and have processes in place to help.

Joey’s Legacy reviews

What people are saying…

When a pet guardian loses their beloved best friend from veterinary negligence, they feel alone, powerless, hopeless, and confused. Joey's Legacy is not only an empathetic sounding board for voicing our emotions and grief, but also a fantastic, compassionate source for the resources needed to pursue proper and appropriate action.
Sharon A.
My family and I would like to thank you all at Joey's Legacy for your help during one of the most difficult times of our lives. With your help we got the local veterinarian hospital to admit to their negligence in the death of our two year old puppy… Thank you for your endless work for an amazing cause. I just know someday with your work, our pets will be considered more than just “property” to these hospitals and lawsuits.
Steve P.
You and everyone at JoeysLegacy.org are absolutely amazing people... You have given so much of Your Time, Energy and Your Life for the Love of your fur baby... I Can't Thank You Enough... For Helping So Many People.
Anonymous
I think one of the most helpful pieces of advice I got from Scott was when picking up your files from the bad actor is to read the files right there in the office. And if it is missing content ask for it right then and there. In our case I had to go back to the reception desk a few times asking for pages that were not being made available to us.
Maria G.
Thank you so much Scott, for starting all of this and for continuing to expand it into something where those of us who’ve experienced something awful can go to for help.
Jay C.
Great people do great things. Thank you Scott Fine. You are an amazing human being with the biggest heart.
Adeline M.
Go get 'em, Scott. Sending good thoughts and prayers from Michigan. You have an army of angel advocates in the heavens above standing behind you. You're doing great things!!!
Sandy R.
Thank you for helping the voiceless Scott Fine you are so appreciated by all!
Kat A.
I want to thank Scott for the assistance he has given me thus far with suggestions and taking the time to hear my story yesterday. Thank you Scott from the bottom of my heart.
Cheryl W.
Scott, I appreciate everything and every question you have you have answered more than you know. If there is anyone who thinks you're in it for the money they are Nuts.. Anytime I have text or messaged you, be it 7am or 11pm, you have replied within minutes... You are not in it for the money, and neither are the people who you recommend us to. I appreciate you more than you realize as does most everyone that you've helped in one way or another. Thank You Very Much.
Gina P.
Thank You Scott Fine for your support, endless time to help so many companion animal family members to seek out Justice for the bad actors injustice in harming/stealing the lives of precious fur kids. I for one will always back you and your crew of vets, attorneys, it not an easy fight against neglect/abuse of our beloved companion animals. It doesn’t normally happen overnight, appreciate the fight to bring Awareness about the unjust Bad Actors. Thank You from my heart to you.
Holly S.
You are one of the most altruistic people I have ever known. Anyone who says otherwise is... well, I hate to insult idiots. You ran this organization from a hospital bed, near death from Covid and we remember.
JL R.
God Bless You, Scott… you are on a mission and there is nothing that is going to deter you…
Dar A.
Thank you for everything you are doing for those who wouldn't know where to turn without your guidance.
Carol A.
Deb and Scott, we and all our precious critters have a special reason to be thankful for your dedication to leading the way to a better life for all of us. Truly, you are our heroes. Have a very wonderful, healthy Thanksgiving. Love you both.
Barbara A.
So happy for the help from you and this group! So glad I found you all.
Donna S.
Happy Thanksgiving to Scott & Debbie, for all you do for so many. You both are a blessing to so many. Thanks for being you.
Deborah S.

Let's talk!

We are here to help 7 days a week.
9 am - 9 pm ET
PHONE: + 1 (803) 520-7566
EMAIL: info@joeyslegacy.org
121 Northpoint Dr., Suite 1610
Lexington, South Carolina 29072
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Note: This form is for general contact only. If you are trying to submit a new case, please use the “Has Your Pet Been A Victim” form below.

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Has your pet been a victim?

Joey’s Legacy joins you in grieving for pet companions who have fallen victim to veterinary negligence, be it permanent injury or death. Our nationwide network of veterinary experts and animal law attorneys seeks to hold negligent practitioners responsible for their mistakes. Please complete the victim form below and we will be in touch shortly. This link takes you to our partner Veterinary Malpractice Consultants.

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Joey’s Legacy is the leading Veterinary Malpractice nonprofit in the US. We are a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit. For additional information, please contact info@joeyslegacy.org.

Here is all paperwork you should request from the veterinarian.

  • SOAPS (medical notes)
  • Client communications
  • Surgery reports
  • Anesthesia logs
  • Dental Logs
  • Dental X-rays
  • All blood work results (results before the incident are also helpful to determine pre-incident baseline)
  • Medications prescribed
  • Hospital treatment sheets
  • X-rays of chest and or abdomen
  • Any advanced imaging such as CT/MRI
  • Board-certified specialist (Radiologist) reports
  • Referral information – Did the pet go to a specialty hospital? If so, obtain all those records too.
  • Any additional documents or information such as signed permission forms, informed consent forms, discharge instructions, and client handouts.

By law, you are entitled to receive your companion animal’s medical records within a reasonable period of time — typically three business days. Beware of excuses as to why you can’t have them or that there will be a delay. For example, “the doctor is out of town,” “the records need to be reviewed before we give them to you,” “we don’t keep those kinds of records” and many others. Typically, professionally operated offices will not hesitate to provide you with a copy of the records. They have nothing to hide.

When you meet resistance, consider that to be a red flag (in most cases) that there is more going on than what meets the eye. Unfortunately, when a practice realizes they may be under investigation for negligence or malpractice, they will hesitate to provide records and may actually falsify records in an attempt to cover up their malpractice. Sadly, we see this too often.

If you do not already have your records, and if possible, we suggest you visit the location where the records are kept. We understand that may be difficult in light of what just happened. Perhaps a relative or friend could obtain the records for you. In any case, be very even-tempered and unemotional, to the extent you are able, when requesting and obtaining those records. You are legally entitled to them, and don’t allow yourself to be told otherwise.

Once you have the records in hand, find a quiet area (i.e., in your car) to review the records. To the best of your ability, make sure the records are complete and accurate before you leave the premises, and that they reflect information supporting your claim of negligence or malpractice. For example, if the vet told you verbally that a surgical knot came loose and caused internal bleeding but that information is not reflected in the medical records, you should advise the staff that the records are incomplete. Taking care of these issues before you leave the vet’s office will make your records review with our veterinarian move along faster and provide an accurate opinion letter to use for the legal action part of the process.

If you obtain records by email or other method (not in person), please follow the same process. Review records and contact the veterinarian’s office if you find missing information. Ask them to send your revised records so that you can continue with the rest of the process.

What is a case review?

Legal action is going to require a Certificate of Merit before starting any case. We refer you to independent veterinarians who review your case and all documents, including the medical records you gathered. If the referred veterinary team finds negligence or malpractice after reviewing your case, they will write an opinion letter (also known as a “Certificate of Merit”). Pricing starts at $450 for a full review and opinion letter, which is drastically less than what is generally charged in the open market. Our referred veterinarians are highly experienced and specialized in various areas of expertise from cancer to equines and everything in between. We want to cover all bases and make sure nothing is missed. If negligence or malpractice is found, then your Certificate of Merit should be presented to the attorney who referred you to Joey’s Legacy or to another attorney of your choice. Our advocates are happy to speak with you and can make introductions and referrals, if you need to learn about other legal options. Generally, 85% of all cases settle out of court when an opinion letter exists. There may be an opportunity for punitive damages for fraud if you can prove the veterinarian falsified records or committed other acts of fraud. Please discuss this, and any other circumstances of your case, with your attorney.