What's Happening at Hart Wagner
- Karen O'Kasey and Donna Lee Obtain Defense Verdict in Case Against Anesthesiologist
- Mike Wiswall Obtains Defense Verdict in Medical Malpractice Suit
- Brock Vasconcellos Joins Healthcare Professional Liability Defense Team
- Janet Schroer and Matt Kalmanson Win in Oregon Supreme Court
- Attorney Aryn Seiler Joins Firm's General Liability and Healthcare Defense Practice
Seven Hart Wagner Attorneys Named to Oregon Super Lawyers List and Three Named to Rising Stars
Ten lawyers from Hart Wagner were honored in the 2017 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.
Of note, Karen O’Kasey and Gordon Welborn were recognized for being among the Top 50 attorneys in Oregon, and Janet Schroer and Karen O’Kasey were included in the Top 25 women lawyers in Oregon.
In its Oregon 2017 Super Lawyers list, the following Hart Wagner partners were recognized in these designated practice areas:
Troy Bundy – 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 and Mark C. Sherman, along with partner Melissa Lopeman Tahir, were selected to the 2017 Rising Stars list. Jacobs was recognized in the Personal Injury General: Defense category, Sherman in Employment Litigation: Defense and Tahir was honored in the Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: 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.
Appellate Partner Matt Kalmanson Secures Reversal of Jury Verdict Against Hart Wagner Client
Appellate partner Matt Kalmanson secured the reversal of a jury verdict against a Hart Wagner client, in an important case of first impression that requires excess insurers to cover certain types of workers’ compensation claims. The Court of Appeals held that the trial court should have granted a directed verdict in favor of our client. We expect this opinion will be of great consequence to employers throughout Oregon. The opinion can be found here: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/docs/A156948.pdf
Hart Wagner Recognized as One of Portland’s Most Diverse Law Firms
In a recent article published in The Portland Business Journal, Hart Wagner was recognized as #5 on their list of Portland’s Most Diverse Law Firms. Firms were ranked based on the number of women and minority attorneys in their Portland metro area workforces. The percent share for total attorneys and for partners were added together to determine the diversity rankings.
Hart Wagner Announces Two New Partners in 2017
Hart Wagner LLP has named Colleen Scott and Erika Wilson as the firm’s newest partners. With the addition of these outstanding attorneys, the majority of the firm’s partners are women.
Colleen Scott brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm’s medical malpractice defense team in Portland. Her practice focuses on medical malpractice defense with a subspecialty in birth injury claims, and representing medical professionals before their licensing boards.
Erika Wilson represents medical providers before their licensing boards from Hart Wagner’s Redmond office. She also defends physicians, hospitals and health systems, lawyers, dentists, real estate professionals, architects, engineers and construction professionals against negligence claims. Her practice also focuses on claims of product liability, premises liability, automobile and trucking claims, governmental liability, and general liability.
Partner Joe Traylor Secures Defense Verdict for Client Adlerhorst International
Joe Traylor secures defense verdict for Adlerhorst International, a leading supplier of German Shephards to police departments across the United States. One of the German shepherds sold to the Sherwood police department by Adlerhorst bit the police chief and then later officer Nathan Powell who sued after suffering a severe bite to his forearm which required surgery and nearly $60,000 in medical expenses. A Federal Court jury found for Traylor’s client again after a defense verdict obtained at trial a year earlier was overturned by the Court.
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Honors Hart Wagner with Eight Tier 1 Designations
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has issued its 2017 law firm rankings. Hart Wagner received eight regional Tier 1 designations as well as a national Tier 3 ranking in Appellate Practice. These rankings are based on lawyer evaluations, client feedback and peer reviews.
NATIONAL TIER 3
Appellate Practice
METROPOLITAN TIER 1
Eugene
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Portland-OR
- Appellate Practice
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
- Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Karen O’Kasey Included in “Top 25″ Women Lawyers in Oregon for 2016 by Super Lawyers
For the sixth consecutive year, Karen O’Kasey was selected to the “Top 25” women lawyers in Oregon by Super Lawyers.
Miller v. Columbia County – Matt Kalmanson Gains Appellate Reversal for Hart Wagner Client
In Miller v. Columbia County, the Court of Appeals reversed a jury verdict and money award, holding that Hart Wagner’s client should have won as a matter at law. Partner Matt Kalmanson briefed and argued the case before the Oregon Court of Appeals. The appellate opinion can be found here.
Hart Wagner Welcomes Associate Stephanie Kucera to the Redmond Office
Stephanie’s practice focuses on healthcare law, general liability defense, medical malpractice, and professional liability defense. She works with independent practitioners across Central Oregon as well as representing businesses, clinics, and hospitals of all sizes.
Before joining Hart Wagner, Stephanie was an attorney at Buxbaum Daue PLLC in Montana. She earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Montana before earning her law degree from the University of Montana School of Law.
She happily moved to Central Oregon where she can still trail run, ski, hike, and spend time on the water with her family.
Joe Traylor Secures $14.3 Million Dollar Settlement for the Victims of Snohomish County Sheriff Car Crash
Traylor, counsel for the plaintiff, successfully secured a $14,348,743 settlement for his clients Tom and Margarita Gillette. On April 17, 2015, Tom Gillette was performing a home remodel in Everett, Washington. As he reached into the bed of his truck to retrieve a saw horse, he was struck at high speed by a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy who had ran a stop sign doing nearly twice the speed limit. The Deputy collided with another vehicle in the intersection and then spun into Gillette. The impact from the police car caused massive traumatic and life threatening permanent injuries including amputations of both legs. Traylor, a 20+ year member of the firm ordinarily represents defendants in such cases which gave him an edge in securing the largest plaintiff’s settlement in the history of the firm. Whether working for the plaintiff or the defendant, Hart Wagner attorneys are known throughout the northwest for their skill in the courtroom.