Donna’s practice focuses on representing health care professionals, hospitals, and long-term care facilities in state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington. She also assists clients outside the courtroom, including representation before state licensing boards, regulatory issues, health related business formation, HIPAA compliance, and contract disputes.
Fowler v. Kaiser: Defense verdict in arbitration of lawsuit alleging wrist fracture due to negligent assistance in dismounting from hospital bed.
Plotkin v. OHSU: Summary Judgment in favor of defendant in case alleging negligent management of patient with myasthenia gravis.
Flores v. Dalisky: Summary Judgment in favor of defendant in case alleging negligent injury to ureter during total abdominal hysterectomy.
Lee v. UHC: Represented physician in claim against United HealthCare for wrongful termination of network participation.
Mooney v. PeaceHealth: Summary Judgment in favor of defendant in case alleging negligent delay in diagnosis of bowel perforation following lumbar spine surgery.
Williamson v. Friedman: Multnomah County Circuit Court, Sate of Oregon: Defense verdict in lawsuit alleging negligent injury to bladder during emergency laparoscopic appendectomy.
Tran v. Friedman: Multnomah County Circuit Court, State of Oregon: Defense verdict in lawsuit alleging negligent injury to common bile duct during emergency laparoscopic gallbladder removal.
Williamson v. Shanno: Clark County Superior Court, State of Washington: Second chair in lawsuit alleging negligence and loss of chance related to diagnosis of post-operative spinal epidural hematoma.
Sallee v. NWP: Multnomah County Circuit Court, State of Oregon: Defense verdict in lawsuit alleging negligent sciatic nerve injury during the performance of a total hip replacement.
Cozadd v. Peterson: Marion County Circuit Court, State of Oregon: Defense verdict in lawsuit alleging negligent hypoglossal nerve injury during the performance of a carotid endarterectomy.
Skaw v. Jayaram: Multnomah County Circuit Court, State of Oregon: Defense verdict in lawsuit alleging severe burns associated with spinal radiofrequency ablation procedure.
Lewis and Clark College
Northwestern School of Law
J.D., 2006, Certificate in Intellectual Property Law
Duke University
Ph.D., Musicology, 1992
Southern Adventist University
B.S., Music Education, 1985
Hart Wagner LLP
Partner, 2016-present
Associate Attorney, 2008-2015
The Honorable Edward Jones
Multnomah County Circuit Court
Judicial Clerk, 2006-2007
Oregon Department of Justice
Tax & Finance Section
Law Clerk, 2005-2006
Oregon State Courts
Washington State Courts
U.S. District Court: District of Oregon; Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
Best Lawyers in America
Heath Care Law, 2025
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2024, 2025
American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Hart Wagner LLP, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Member
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Director of the Board, 2020 – 2023
Oregon Society for Healthcare Risk Management
Oregon State Bar
Oregon Women Lawyers
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Washington Healthcare Risk Management Society
Washington State Bar Association
“Subpoenas”
Authored chapter in Oregon State Bar, BarBooks, 2020
“Medicare Compliance: Setting the Stage for Success During Discovery”
The Verdict, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Issue 1, 2016
Guest Lecturer at Pacific University Health Care Certification Program, Hillsboro, OR, 2019
“Risk Management Training,” Basic and Advanced courses, Oregon Medical Association CME Meeting, 2016 – 2018, Portland, Bend, Corvallis
“Medical Records Requests: HIPAA Compliance and Other Tips” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Professional Liability Practice Group CLE, Portland, OR, 2017
“Medicare Secondary Payer Act,” Legal Aid Services of Oregon, 2016
“Medicare Update for Litigation,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Fall Seminar, Portland, OR, 2016
“Better Charting of the Patient Encounter,” Casey Eye Institute, Portland, OR, 2015
“How to Approach Plaintiffs Regarding Lien Information and What to Do When You Can’t Get It,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Annual Convention, Sunriver, OR, 2015
Outside of the office Donna enjoys beekeeping, live music, reading and riding her motorcycle.
Third Angle New Music, Board of Directors, 2016 – 2019