What's Happening at Hart Wagner
- Attorney Troy Bundy Receives Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation from the Washington State Bar Association
- The Bend Office of Hart Wagner Expands with the Addition of Attorney Jess Kindley
- Hart Wagner Adds Attorney Jerica Peters to Healthcare Practice
- Attorney Stephanie Holt Joins General Liability Defense Team
- Jason Cohen and Rachel Wolfard Named Partner
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Karen O’Kasey and Taylor Lewis Obtain Defense Verdict in Police Use of Force Case
Following a three-day trial in Oregon Federal District Court, trial attorneys Karen O’Kasey and Taylor Lewis obtained a defense verdict in a case where the plaintiff claimed a Portland police officer used excessive force against her during the 2020 protests.
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.
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.
Trial Attorney Aaron Potter Obtains Defense Verdict in Dental Malpractice Case
Following a four-day trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court, trial attorney Aaron Potter obtained a defense verdict in a case where the plaintiff claimed permanent nerve damage injury following a dental procedure.
Karen O’Kasey Obtains Defense Verdict in Eight-Day Medical Malpractice Trial
Trial attorney Karen O’Kasey obtains defense verdict in an eight-day trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Plaintiff was seeking over ten million dollars in damages against a physician and co-defendant hospital, claiming the physician did not provide adequate consent in pelvic mesh case.