What's Happening at Hart Wagner
- Jason Cohen and Rachel Wolfard Named Partner
- Karen O’Kasey and Taylor Lewis Obtain Defense Verdict in Police Use of Force Case
- Hart Wagner Adds Gioia Fisk to Employment Litigation and Medical Malpractice Team
- Janet Schroer Successfully Defends Statute of Repose for Legal Malpractice
- Trial Attorney Aaron Potter Obtains Defense Verdict in Dental Malpractice Case
Attorney Jack Scholz Joins Hart Wagner
We’re pleased to welcome new associate, Jack Scholz, to the firm. Jack’s practice focuses on medical malpractice defense and employment litigation. He previously worked for a Portland firm practicing in the area of intellectual property litigation.
Before joining private practice, Jack clerked for the Honorable Ann Aiken, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Jack remains active in the District of Oregon, where he currently serves as a member of the Local Rules Advisory Committee. He also serves on the National Board of Directors for the Federal Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, as well as the local Board of Directors for the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Additionally, he is an elected member of the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates.
“Jack is an excellent addition to our firm,” said Managing Partner Gordy Welborn. “His varied experience and legal community involvement speak to the high quality of his work. We look forward to watching him become an important part of our team at Hart Wagner.”
Jack received his bachelor’s degree from Chapman University, and went on to receive his law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, and visiting historic lighthouses.
Hart Wagner LLP Recognized As One Of The Area’s Most Diverse Law Firms By The Portland Business Journal
Each year, the Portland Business Journal publishes a list of area law firms that are promoting diversity and inclusion within their firms. We’re proud to once again be recognized as on the area’s most diverse firms moving up the ranks to 4th overall, locally, in the top five.
Trial Attorney Karen O’Kasey Obtains Defense Verdict In Medical Malpractice Case
After a four-day trial Karen O’Kasey has won a medical negligence case in Clark County Superior Court. The plaintiff was seeking approximately $500,000.00 in non-economic and $1,500,000.00 in economic damages. Congratulations to Karen O’Kasey and her trial team at Hart Wagner.
Oregon Medical Board Closes Case Without Discipline
An Oregon electrophysiologist was exonerated by the Oregon Medical Board, who concluded discipline was not supported in a matter involving the unexpected death of a patient who had undergone a cardiac ablation procedure three weeks earlier. Attorney Troy Bundy successfully defended the matter to its conclusion.
Employment Law Attorney Kimberlee Morrow Presents To Board Of Directors For The Oregon School Boards Association
On Friday, February 8th, employment law attorney Kimberlee Morrow presented to board members of the Oregon School Boards Association. Her presentation titled, “Challenging Workplace Issues: Handling Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Claims,” discussed effective strategies for creating a safe work environment that rejects harassment. Special emphasis was given to recent trends in harassment and employment law claims. She also addressed ethical guidelines for public officials, as outlined in the Oregon Government Ethics Law, a Guide for Public Officials.
Attorney Troy Bundy Prevails In Motion Involving Defamation Claim
In January, Troy Bundy prevailed after arguing his motion to strike a defamation claim falling under Oregon’s anti-SLAPP statute. After a full hearing, the Curry County Circuit Court Judge determined plaintiff failed to present substantial evidence supporting her claim that she had been defamed by the defendants during a Curry County Commissioners Board Meeting and dismisses the lawsuit. Plaintiff was also required to pay defendants’ costs and attorney fees incurred in defending the lawsuit. Troy was assisted on the brief by associate Taylor Lewis.
Employment Law Attorney Kimberlee Morrow Presents To Cambridge Real Estate Services
On Thursday, January 31st, employment law attorney Kimberlee Morrow presented to members of Cambridge Real Estate Services at the Oregon Convention Center. Her presentation titled, “Challenging Workplace Issues: Handling Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Claims,” discussed effective strategies for creating a safe work environment that rejects harassment.
Attorneys Carey Caldwell and Jason Poss Named Partner
We’re pleased to announce that Carey Caldwell and Jason Poss have been named partners of Hart Wagner LLP. Carey’s practice focuses on defending complex litigation, medical malpractice, product liability, and professional liability claims. Jason’s practice is focused on the defense of medical, legal, and financial professionals, as well as generally liability defense. Congratulations Carey and Jason!
Ten Hart Wagner Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019
Karen O’Kasey and Janet Schroer were singled out in the newly released 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Karen O’Kasey received the 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” award for Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants and Janet Schroer received the 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” award for Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, both in the Portland area. Lawyer of the Year recognitions are awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic location. Only one lawyer is recognized as the Lawyer of the Year for each specialty and location. 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.

In addition to the “Lawyer of the Year” recognitions, Hart Wagner would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America:
- Troy Bundy: 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
- Jennifer Truzzolino: Medical 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.
Congratulations to 11 Hart Wagner Attorneys Recognized in the 2018 Oregon Super Lawyers Magazine
Eleven lawyers from the Hart Wagner law firm were honored in the 2018 issue of Oregon Super Lawyers magazine. 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, 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.
In its Oregon 2018 Super Lawyers list, the following Hart Wagner partners were recognized in these designated practice areas:
Troy Bundy – Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
Kelly Giampa – 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 Jacobs, Stephanie Kucera and Mark C. Sherman, were selected to the 2018 Rising Stars list. Jacobs was recognized in the Personal Injury General: Defense category, Kucera in Civil Litigation: Defense 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.