Texas Medical Liability Trust CEO Resigns

Today the Board of Governors of Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) accepted the resignation of Tom Cotten as president and CEO of TMLT. The Board announced the appointment of Bob R. Fields to the position of acting president and CEO. Mr. Fields has over 33 years in the insurance business and has been with TMLT for over 20 years, most recently serving the organization as executive vice president of claim operations.

Mr. Fields received a bachelor’s degree in business education from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA, with honors, in 1980. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve for more than 23 years before retiring as Captain.

He began his career in claims with The Hartford Insurance Group as a claim representative, and was later promoted to claims manager. After working for The Hartford for nearly 13 years, he came to TMLT as a territorial supervisor in 1986. Mr. Fields was named director of the claim department in 1988 and later promoted to executive vice president in 1994. He has overseen TMLT claim operations, leading a department of more than 48 employees, and has an enviable track record in the area of medical malpractice claim management. He is a past member of the PIAA claim section committee and has served as chairman of the state’s JUA claim review committee.

Mr. Fields has also represented the interests of TMLT policyholders concerning legislative affairs. He is a past member of the TMA/TTLA medical malpractice legislative negotiating team, a current member of the Texas Alliance for Patient Access legislative committee, and was a frequent public speaker during the drive for medical liability reform in 2003.