Recognition
July 01, 2025

Attorney Troy Bundy Receives Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation from the Washington State Bar Association

We’re pleased to announce that attorney Troy Bundy has been recognized by the Washington State Bar Association for contributing more than 50 hours of pro bono and public services during 2024.  This service helps those with no place else to turn and advocating to improve the legal system.  During 2024, Troy Bundy and over 1,000 legal professionals delivered over 84,000 hours of pro bono and public service to the state of Washington. 


Uncategorized
June 03, 2025

The Bend Office of Hart Wagner Expands with the Addition of Attorney Jess Kindley

We’re pleased to welcome attorney Jess Kindley to our Bend office.  Jess will provide advice and counsel, and litigation defense for the firm’s healthcare and business clients.  Jess is a member of Oregon Women Lawyers, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Deschutes County Bar Association, the Multnomah Bar Association and the American Bar Association. She earned her J.D. from University of Oregon School of Law and her B.S. from Oregon State University. Jess is admitted to practice here in Oregon, and we are grateful to have her on our side. Welcome to the HW team, Jess!


News
May 01, 2025

Hart Wagner Adds Attorney Jerica Peters to Healthcare Practice

We’re pleased to add Jerica Peters to our medical malpractice defense and healthcare team.  Jerica’s practice focuses on defending hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare professionals in medical malpractice cases and assisting professionals in licensing board matters.  Additionally, she has many years of experience in healthcare regulatory compliance issues.  Jerica brings clients a diverse educational background and perspective having a Masters in Biochemistry and Genetics, an MBA in Finance and her JD.  Jerica is admitted to practice in Oregon, Arizona and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 


News
April 09, 2025

Attorney Stephanie Holt Joins General Liability Defense Team

We’re pleased to announce that attorney Stephanie Holt has joined the firm’s general liability and wrongful death defense team. Prior to joining Hart Wagner, she worked as a Deputy District Attorney for Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, where she developed her skills as a trial attorney. She also has experience in plaintiff side civil litigation.  Stephanie is admitted to practice in Oregon courts and is a member of the Multnomah Bar Association, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, and Oregon Women Lawyers.  Stephanie received her JD from Willamette University, College of Law, where she was the recipient of the OWLS Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant.


News
January 08, 2025

Jason Cohen and Rachel Wolfard Named Partner

We’re pleased to announce that Jason Cohen and Rachel Wolfard have been named partner of the firm. 

Jason’s litigation practice focuses on defending medical professionals, hospitals, and clinics in medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuits across Oregon and Washington.  In 2024, Jason was recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a peer reviewed designation that goes to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state.

Rachel’s litigation practice focuses on defending health care professionals in medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuits in Oregon and Washington.  Additionally, she defends various general liability actions arising out of premises liability and motor vehicle accidents.


News
November 01, 2024

Hart Wagner Adds Gioia Fisk to Employment Litigation and Medical Malpractice Team

We’re pleased to announce that attorney Gioia Fisk has joined the firm’s preeminent employment litigation and medical malpractice defense team.  Gioia’s practice focuses on defending employers and public entities in complex employment and civil rights matters in state and federal courts.  She also defends healthcare professionals in medical malpractice matters.  In May 2024, Gioia graduated cum laude from Willamette University, College of Law.  During law school, Gioia was a law clerk for Hart Wagner, a judicial extern for Judge Simon at the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, and a law clerk for Oregon Department of Justice, Trial Division.  Additionally, she was the recipient of the Armonica Grant in 2023, and the Hannah Hanzen Law Scholarship in 2022-2024.  Gioia is a member of Oregon Women Lawyers, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, and the Multnomah Bar Association.  Outside of the office Gioia enjoys long runs along the Willamette River, walks with her dog Moose, and cheering on the San Francisco Giants.


Results
September 14, 2024

Janet Schroer Successfully Defends Statute of Repose for Legal Malpractice

Janet Schroer prevailed in a legal malpractice case in the Oregon Supreme Court in 2023, in Marshall v. Schwabe, 371 Or 536 (2023), which affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the case as barred by the statute of repose.  The court held that Oregon’s 10-year statute of repose in ORS 12.115 applies to legal malpractice cases which allege only economic damages—here, legal fees, financial losses, and over $20 million in back taxes and penalties and interest. The Supreme Court remanded the case to the Court of Appeals to address plaintiffs’ arguments that even if the repose statute applies, the case was still timely based on the continuous relationship exception to the statute of repose.

Janet prevailed again on remand in Marshall v. Schwabe, 334 Or App 751 (2024), where the Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the case as barred by the statute of repose, holding that there was no continuous relationship exception to ORS 12.115, because the text of the statute made no mention of any exception or any allowance for tolling, and that Oregon law does not recognize a continuing mandatory duty for lawyers to correct past mistakes based only on the fact of an ongoing relationship. Because the firm’s alleged negligence conduct occurred more than 10 years prior to filing of the malpractice complaint, the matter was time barred since no independent negligent acts were alleged to have occurred within the repose period that caused the alleged damages.