John Hart is a Portland native who has represented a wide variety of clients involved in civil litigation over his distinguished legal career. For the past 30 years, John’s practice has primarily focused upon defending medical malpractice lawsuits and, to a lesser extent, other complex civil litigation involving products liability and catastrophic injuries. John is one of the few lawyers in our region who has tried over 360 civil lawsuits through to a jury verdict in Oregon and Washington state courts as well as federal court. He regularly defends doctors, midwives, nurses, hospitals and medical institutions in cases involving alleged birth trauma injuries, cancer misdiagnosis, surgical mishaps, etc. Known for his thoroughness, fairness and integrity, John Hart is uniformly held in high regard by trial judges, opposing lawyers, and especially his clients.

Practice Emphasis

Trial Lawyer
Medical malpractice
Products liability
Complex civil litigation

Practice Experience

• Partner, since 1992
• Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, 1974 to 1992

Education

• Lewis and Clark College
  Northwestern School of Law,
  J.D., 1974
• Portland State University
  B.S., 1971
• Oregon State University
  Undergraduate Study, 1965-66

Admitted to Practice

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1975
• U.S. District Court for Oregon, 1974
• Oregon State Courts, 1974
• Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Ohio, California, and more

Professional Publications

• “Loss in Value of Chance”
  American Bar Association, TIPS, Medicine and Law Committee
  Toronto, Canada, 1988.
• “Wrongful Birth Cause of Action”
  American Bar Association, TIPS, Medicine and Law Committee
  San Francisco, 1982.

Speeches/ CLE Articles

• Oregon Trial Advocacy College
  “Jury Selection”, 12th and 13th annual events
• “The Art of Cross-Examining an Expert”
  (Oregon Law Institute, 2007)
• “Mediation and Arbitration”
  (Oregon Law Institute, 2004)
• “Basics of Trial Practice”
  (Oregon Law Institute, 2000)
• “Women’s Health Conference”
  (Oregon Academy of Family Physicians, 2003 and 2004)
• “Understanding and Litigating Cancer and Coronary Heart Disease–Litigating Breast Cancer”
  (OSB Continuing Legal Education, March, 1999)
• “Understanding Admissibility of Scientific Evidence”
  (Bench and Bar Breakfast, 1996)

Panelist

• “OB-GYN Liability Issues” (Oregon Section of ACOG, 1996)
• “Liability Issues in Managed Care” (Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, 1996)
• “Panel-Jury Selection” (Oregon State Bar, 1993)
• “Psychological Injuries” (Oregon State Bar, 1992)
• “Expert Witness” (Oregon Law Institute, 1988)

Professional Associations

• American College of Trial Lawyers
• American Board of Trial Advocates
  Oregon Chapter President, 1994-1996
• Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
  President 1989
• Oregon Council on Court Procedures
  Chair, 1993-1995

Uniform Civil Jury

Instruction Committee, 1985

Other

• “Lawyer of the Year” – Best Lawyers, 2010, 2011
• Listed in “Best Lawyers in America”
  Personal Injury Litigation (22 years)
• Portland’s Top Lawyers
  (Portland Monthly Magazine) 2007 – present
• Oregon Super Lawyers 2006 – present
• Who’s Who in America
  Listed in “Who’s Who in American Law”, 1997