What's Happening at Hart Wagner
- Hart Wagner Add Two Associates to Litigation Team
- Appellate Attorney Ruth Casby Named Partner
- Oregon PA's Must Have A Collaboration Agreement in Place No Later Than 12/31/2023
- Trial Attorney Chip Horner Obtains Defense Verdict After Three-Week Trial
- Janet Schroer Recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year”
Nine Hart Wagner Attorneys Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America©2020
Congratulations to the following Hart Wagner lawyers named to the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America:
Troy Bundy: Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
John Hart: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Matthew Kalmanson: Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation
Rodney Norton: Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Karen O’Kasey: Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Aaron Potter: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Janet Schroer: Appellate Practice; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Gordon Welborn: Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (For Redmond, OR)
Michael Wiswall: Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Since it was first published in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America has become known as the most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.
Three Hart Wagner Attorneys Recognized as “Lawyers of the Year”
We’re proud to announce that three of our attorneys were recognized as 2020 “Lawyers of the Year,” by The Best Lawyers in America©. Based on their overall high level of peer recognition in their respective practices and geographic locations: Rodney K. Norton– Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Janet M. Schroer– Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Michael J. Wiswall– Legal Malpractice Law, all in Portland, Oregon. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and in the same practice areas for his or her abilities, professionalism and integrity.
Oregon Court of Appeals Affirms Hart Wagner Trial Win
On July 31, 2019, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed the defense jury verdict and multiple pretrial rulings in Sanford v. Hampton Resources, Inc. and Risseeuw Logging, Inc., 298 Or. App. 558 (2019). Plaintiff claimed traumatic brain injury and other damages stemming from a logging accident. The court’s 24 page opinion separately affirmed summary judgment rulings dismissing plaintiffs’ Employer Liability Law claim and an Intentional Interference with Economic Relations claims, and affirmed the trial court’s denial of plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint to add a new claim on the eve of trial. The court also affirmed without discussion the trial court’s multiple evidentiary rulings challenged on appeal. Janet Schroerhandled the appeal on behalf of both defendants. The appeal was filed following a lengthy trial in Marion County in 2015. Gordon Welbornand Michael Jacobsdefended Risseeuw Logging in the trial court.
Oregon Super Lawyers 2019 Recognizes Hart Wagner Lawyers
Nine individual Hart Wagner attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine in their 2019 Oregon Super Lawyersedition. The publication identifies the most outstanding attorneys in the state, as chosen by their peers and through the research of Super Lawyers, which is a Thomson Reuters business.
Notably, Karen O’Kasey, Janet Schroer, and Gordon Welborn were recognized for being among the Top 50 attorneys in Oregon, and Karen O’Kasey and Janet Schroer were included in the Top 25 women lawyers in Oregon.
The following Hart Wagner attorneys were recognized in these designated practice areas:
Troy Bundy– Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
John Hart– Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
Rodney K. Norton– Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
Karen O’Kasey– Employment Litigation: Defense
Janet Schroer– Appellate
Gordon Welborn– Professional Liability: Defense
Michael Wiswall– Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
Hart Wagner associates Michael Jacobsand Mark C. Sherman, were selected to the 2019 Rising Stars list. Jacobs was recognized in the Personal Injury General: Defense category, and Sherman was honored in the Employment Litigation: Defense category. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the Super Lawyers roster, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.
Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers undertakes a multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. For more information, visit www.superlawyers.com.
Troy Bundy and Donna Lee Obtain Defense Verdict In Medical Malpractice Case
After a five-day jury trial in Multnomah County, attorney Troy Bundyobtained a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case alleging negligence during an emergency appendectomy. Attorney Donna Lee assisted Troy and his team as second chair in the trial. The plaintiff alleged his general surgeon was negligent in perforating his bladder during the procedure. The lawsuit claimed $2.2 million in damages associated with permanent injuries.
OADC Annual Convention Includes Four Hart Wagner Presenters
The Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Annual Convention was held in Sunriver on June 20-23. We are proud that three of our lawyers and one of our paralegals were speakers at the convention. Appellate attorney Janet Schroer’s presentation examined the current status of noneconomic damages under the OTCA; medical malpractice attorney Colleen Scott and paralegal Dawn Garrison discussed medical record discovery issues; and business litigation attorney Stephanie Kucera analyzed expansion of claims on behalf of bystanders.
Attorney Jack Scholz Featured In Federal Bar Association Newsletter
In the Spring issue of “For The District of Oregon”, a tri-yearly newsletter of the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, attorney Jack Scholz reports on the 2019 FBA Labor and Employment Law Conference. The conference was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in late February. Attorneys and judges from across the country gathered to participate in a variety of CLEs on topics including employment discrimination, best practices for employment contracts, ERISA, trial strategies in employment cases, LGBT discrimination under Title VII, allegations based on the #MeToo and Time’s Up, e-discovery and evidentiary issues, and advice from in-house counsel. Read Article
Attorney Karen O’Kasey Obtains Defense Verdict in Employment Discrimination Trial
After a four-day trial, Karen O’Kasey won an employment discrimination case in the District Court of Oregon, Pendleton Division. The plaintiff’s state claims included alleged discrimination because of disability, and because she filed a workers’ compensation claim. She also brought state-law claims, alleging failure to accommodate, and failure to reinstate or re-employ after she was she was placed on seasonal layoff status. Congratulations to Karen O’Kasey and her trial team at Hart Wagner.
Attorney Matt Kalmanson Wins in the Ninth Circuit Court
Partner Matt Kalmanson recently won an appeal in the Ninth Circuit for a Hart Wagner client, the City of Eugene. Matt convinced the Ninth Circuit to reverse a ruling of the lower court that would have allowed certain constitutional claims to proceed. As a result of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, the claims against our client were dismissed.
Attorney Reid Schweitzer Joins Hart Wagner
We’re pleased to welcome attorney Reid Schweitzer to the firm. Reid’s practice focuses on defending clients against claims of personal injury, premises liability, and construction defects.
Before moving to Oregon, Reid worked in Virginia and Alaska. He has worked as a criminal prosecutor, with experience handling hundreds of felony and misdemeanor cases. In addition, he worked within the therapeutic court providing therapeutic diversion for individuals with substance abuse therapy needs. During his final year as a prosecutor, he worked as a trial attorney and supervisor for the Special Assault Unit, which focused on prosecuting sexual assault and crimes against children.
“Reid is an great addition to our firm,” said Managing Partner Gordy Welborn. “We look forward to providing him with the opportunity to become an integral part of our practice. Our clients will be well served by his experience.”
Reid received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he graduated magna cum laude. He went on to receive his law degree from William and Mary Law School, where he was a member of the Moot Court, the Order of Barristers, and published a legal study on Veterans Affairs benefits.
Outside of work, Reid enjoys hiking and spending time with his wife, Kirsten.