What's Happening at Hart Wagner
- Karen O'Kasey Obtains Defense Verdict in Eight-Day Medical Malpractice Trial
- Karen O’Kasey Recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year”
- Janet Schroer Recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year”
- Nine Hart Wagner Attorneys Recognized in the 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers in America®
- Congratulations to our 2024 Oregon Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars®
Hart Wagner Adds Jason Cohen to Medical Malpractice and Employment Litigation Team
We’re thrilled to announce that litigation attorney Jason Cohen has joined the firm’s preeminent medical malpractice and employment litigation team. Jason’s practice focuses on defending hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare professionals in medical malpractice and wrongful death actions in Oregon and Washington State Courts. Additionally, he will defend employers in employment actions. Jason received his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School, graduating cum laude. During law school, Jason was a law clerk for the Honorable Ann Aiken in the U.S. District Court of Oregon. Before joining Hart Wagner, Jason worked for a number of small civil litigation firms where he cultivated and refined his litigation skills. Outside of the office, Jason serves as an Officer for the Eliot Neighborhood Association Land Use and Transportation Committee.
Gordy Welborn Receives 2022 OADC Lifetime Achievement Award
We are pleased to announce that Gordy Welborn received the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel’s 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award. This Award is presented to a current or honorary OADC member in recognition of their commitment to the profession and OADC over the course of their distinguished career. The recipient is well-regarded among the OADC community and their peers for their integrity, professionalism, leadership, and service to the legal and local community. Gordy served on the OADC Board of Directors from 2010 – 2015, and was the President and Past President in 2014 and 2015. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict, and is respected by attorneys on both sides of the bar. Congratulations, Gordy!
Healthcare Attorney Troy Bundy Discusses New Oregon Law for Physicians Assistants
Beginning July 15, 2022, Oregon Licensed Physicians Assistants (PAs) may begin entering into collaboration agreements to shift their practice from a supervisory to a collaborative practice model. By the end of 2023, all Oregon licensed PAs must enter into a collaborative agreement, and all other practice agreements and practice descriptions will be terminated. The new law essentially expands the scope of PA practice and independence in Oregon. To read the Draft of the proposed changes in the relevant Administrative Rules, click here.
Oregon Medical Board Updates Definition of “Medical Incompetence”
OAR 847-010-007 was amended to further define “medical incompetence.” The rule amendments define “medical incompetence” and clarify that evidence of medical incompetence also includes failure to pass a competency exam/program or complete a course/program when required by the Board or a health care facility. The rulemaking breaks out the nine separate types of conduct within the definition of “unprofessional or dishonorable conduct” in ORS 677.188(4) and states that a licensee may not intentionally contact the known complainant, until the licensee has requested a contested case hearing and the Board has authorized the taking of the complainant’s deposition. Of course, this means that a deposition of a complainant will never be taken because the Board will never allow it. But, this is nothing new in contested case hearings. Lastly, the amendments incorporate by reference the ethics standards of the Board’s regulated professions. This had been a point of contention between defense counsel and the Board in prior matters, since the various Boards repeatedly incorporated these ethics rules within the body of their proposed notices of discipline without any apparent authority to do so.
Hart Wagner Participates in the Second Annual Oregon Diversity Legal Job Fair
On Wednesday, March 9th, Hart Wagner will participate in the 2nd Annual Oregon Diversity Legal Job Fair. The one day virtual event is for diverse attorneys, paralegals and legal support professionals seeking employment with Oregon employers. The mission of the job fair is to bring together Oregon’s legal community to recruit and retain diverse legal professionals who will reflect the identity and values of the people and clients they serve. Hart Wagner is proud to be involved in this worthwhile endeavor, and we look forward to learning more about the candidates that are in our community.
Hart Wagner Adds Attorney Ellen Rall to Litigation Team
We’re pleased to announce that attorney Ellen Rall has joined our medical malpractice litigation team. Prior to joining Hart Wagner LLP, Ellen worked for a local small insurance defense firm where she honed her litigation skills. Ellen is a graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law, and is licensed to practice in Oregon and Washington. She is a member of the Multnomah Bar Association, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, and Oregon Women Lawyers.
Litigation Attorney Taylor Lewis Named Partner
We’re pleased to announce that attorney Taylor Lewis has been named partner of the firm. Taylor’s practice focuses on defending hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare professionals in medical negligence lawsuits and assisting medical professionals in licensing board matters. He also represents medical clinics in business disputes and provides advice on regulatory compliance.
Attorney Sarah Holmes Joins the Firm’s Employment Practice
We’re pleased to welcome associate attorney Sarah Holmes to the firm’s preeminent employment practice.
Sarah’s practice focuses on defending Oregon employers against a variety of employment claims. She represents employers in administrative proceedings as well as in state and federal court. Sarah also advises clients prior to litigation on policy compliance, pre-litigation strategies, and employer investigations.
Sarah began her career at Saalfeld Griggs in Salem, Oregon where she honed her employment litigation and advice and counsel skills working with individuals and businesses. She earned her J.D. from Willamette University College of Law, and her B.S. from University of Maryland Global Campus in Okinawa, Japan.
Hart Wagner Ranks in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2022 Publication
Hart Wagner LLP is pleased to announce its recognition in the 2022 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list. The firm was recognized in a total of ten practice areas. This includes eight Tier 1 rankings, and a national ranking in Appellate Practice.
Firms that are included in the 2022 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.
Hart Wagner LLP received the following rankings in the 2022 U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms”:
National Tier 3
Appellate Practice
Metropolitan Tier 1
Portland – OR
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Litigation – Health Care
Medical Malpractice – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Metropolitan Tier 2
Portland – OR
Health Care Law
Metropolitan Tier 3
Portland – OR
Bet-the-Company Litigation
U.S. News – Best Lawyers – “Best Law Firms” 2022 Publication
Hart Wagner Welcomes Two Associates
We’re pleased to welcome Christian Jahn and Sara Ward to the firm’s preeminent litigation practice.
Christian Jahn’s practice focuses on defending hospitals, medical clinics, and healthcare professionals in state and federal courts, and assisting medical professionals in licensing board matters and other administrative proceedings. As an undergraduate he attended Portland State University where he graduated cum laude. He received his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School, graduating magna cum laude. After law school, Christian worked as a Judicial Clerk at the Multnomah County Circuit Court, followed by two years at a small litigation firm in Portland where he gained valuable experience in personal injury, premises liability, product liability and insurance litigation.
Sara Ward’s practice focuses on employment litigation and medical malpractice defense. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Montana, and her law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law, Magna cum laude. Sara worked as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Kathleen M. Dailey in Multnomah County Circuit Court, and then went on to join a national law firm where she honed her litigation skills.