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What's New[ posted 12/10/07 ] Ray Thomas, was the subject of a recent profile article in the Lewis & Clark Chronicle Magazine (Spring, 2008). To view, click here. Click here for more information on Ray Thomas [ posted 01/02/08 ] Jim Coon and his wife Cheryl (also a lawyer) are coaching the Classroom Law Project Mock Trial Team from the Catlin Gabel School for the 2008 Spring competition. Click here for more information on Jim Coon [ posted 12/10/07 ] Ray Thomas, founding partner of STC and author of Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists, was the subject of a recent story on Jonathan Maus' BikePortland blog on December 3rd which noted that Ray had completed a legal guide for Oregon's pedestrians called Oregon Pedestrian Rights. For more information, visit the blog or oregonpedestrianrights.com. Click here for more information on Ray Thomas [ posted 12/03/07 ] In November, Cynthia F. Newton obtained a $98,344.77 verdict on behalf of a 60-year-old comptroller at a well-known local company who suffered a neck sprain as a result of a 2-car rear-end collision on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in December 2004. Radiological studies were negative for fracture or disc herniation, but plaintiff's symptoms failed to resolve despite physical therapy and chiropractic care. With costs, the defense carrier paid $99,536.77. The verdict was more than eight times the defendant's settlement offer. [ posted 12/03/07 ] Cynthia F. Newton was recently appointed to a three-year term on the Oregon State Bar Uniform Jury Instructions-Civil Committee. The 18-member committee is charged with the consideration and review of jury instructions used in trial level (circuit) courts state-wide. Since the instructions are the rules juries use to decide cases brought before them, they are central to the determination and outcome of jury trials. [ posted 11/26/07 ]
Click here for more information on Ray Thomas [ posted 11/19/07 ] On October 26, 2007, Swanson, Thomas & Coon partner Jim Coon gave a presentation to the Oregon State Bar Product Liability Section on new developments in Oregon and federal law concerning product liability Click here for more information on Jim Coon [ posted 11/19/07 ] On November 13, 2007, Jim Coon presented to the Gus Solomon Inns of Court on the topic of punitive damages in the Oregon and United States Supreme Courts. Swanson, Thomas & Coon represent the family of Jesse Williams, a retired Portland public school custodian who died of lung cancer caused by cigarettes. The jury's award in the case of Williams v. Philip Morris, which Mr. Coon argued to the Oregon Supreme Court September 11, 2007, is the largest punitive damages award ever handed down in an Oregon product liability case. Click here for more information on Jim Coon [ posted 11/19/07 ] On November 16, 2007, Jim Coon served as a presiding judge in the Lewis & Clark Law School Mock Trial Competition. Click here for more information on Jim Coon [ posted 11/06/07 ] From 10/26/07 through 11/4/07 Ray Thomas participated in the Wilderness Medical Institute's training program to become a certified Wilderness First Responder. The eighty hour class and practical skills course was held at the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center at Jawbone Flats, a former mining town next to Oregon's Opal Creek Wilderness. The eighty hour program teaches first aid, CPR and skills necessary for treating and transporting persons hurt in remote areas. Click here for more information on Ray Thomas [ posted 10/12/07 ]
Click here for more information on the BTA [ posted 10/03/07 ] STC is pleased to announce that personal injury attorney Cynthia Newton has been appointed to the 18-member Multnomah County Bar Association (MBA) Judicial Screening Committee. Committee members are appointed by the MBA's Board of Directors to a three-year term. The committee is charged with the confidential review of judicial appointment candidates, reporting its recommendations to the MBA President and executive director. By screening and interviewing candidates interested in serving as judges and referees in Multnomah County, the Committee serves the both the legal community and county citizens at large. [ posted 10/03/07 ]
[ posted 08/14/07 ]
[ posted 06/30/07 ] STC attorney Jacqueline Jacobson will be speaking at the Oregon Law Institute's Workers' Compensation Seminar on September 14, 2007. The seminar will address recent legislative changes, important appellate case law, and news from the Workers' Compensation Board. Jacqueline will discuss the complications of litigating before the Workers' Compensation Division in contrast to the Workers' Compensation Board. Please contact the Oregon Law Institute directly at oli@lclark.edu or 503-768-6580 for registration information. [ posted 06/27/07 ] Swanson, Thomas & Coon Social Security attorney Kimberly Tucker and Of Counsel Alan Graf will present a seminar for Portland and metro area healthcare providers at STC on September 26th. Ms. Tucker and Mr. Graf will discuss the criteria for Social Security disability as well as practical issues and tips for healthcare providers whose patients are going through the Social Security disability process. The seminar is free but registration is required. A continential breakfast will be provided. Please contact Social Security team paralegal Subhan Tindall (503-228-5222 or stindall@stc-law.com) for more information. [ posted 5/10/07 ] STC is pleased to acknowledge SB 404 currently before the Oregon Senate, as a great step forward on behalf of injured workers. Currently under Oregon workers' compensation law, even if a worker is successful in overturning the insurer or self-insured employer's denial of his or her workers' compensation claim, the worker is responsible for his or her own costs incurred to contest the denial. If approved, SB 404 would allow the worker to recover reasonable costs and expenses up to $1500 from the insurer or self-insured employer in the event the worker prevails against the denial. For assistance with a workers' compensation claim, please contact STC attorney Jacqueline Jacobson. [ posted 4/5/07 ] STC attorney Cynthia Newton obtained a $187,482 verdict on behalf of a 50-year-old small business owner in Multnomah County Circuit Court in January 2007. The case stemmed from a 2-car intersection collision in which plaintiff was knocked unconcious briefly. Plaintiff did not seek medical attention until five months after the collision, when he reported dizziness at heights and while dancing. Eighteen months following the collision his physician diagnosed post-concussion syndrome. Defendant's carrier (Allstate) admitted liability, but refused to offer plaintiff more than $61,760 to settle the case. After post-trial motions were denied, the defendant paid the verdict plus interest, for a total payment of $193,316.76. [ posted 3/12/07 ] Social Security attorney Kimberly Tucker is pleased to announce she is hosting a table at Portland Habitat for Humanity's annual fundraising breakfast. Money raised at the April 18th event will go toward breaking ground on six houses for Portland families. [ posted 3/8/07 ] STC attorney Margaret Weddell chaired the planning committee of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association's Workers' Compensation Spring CLE scheduled to take place on March 17, 2007. The CLE is designed to assist workers' compensation claimants' attorneys in developing creative strategies to defend injured workers against often overzealous insurance companies. The featured topics include an appellate and legislative update, a discussion of current preexisting condition law, a medical presentation regarding shoulder injuries, mentoring advice from experienced practitioners, and a presentation by STC attorney Jacqueline Jacobson and employment attorney Sue-Del McCulloch regarding an employer's incentive to discriminate against injured workers related to time loss, modified work, and employment termination. [ posted 3/6/07 ] From STC's Workers' Compensation Team: Margaret Weddell assisted a worker in obtaining workers' compensation benefits for carpal tunnel syndrome. The worker is a bartender. Her employer's workers' compensation insurer had denied the claim after an Insurer Medical Examination. The insurer's doctor said CTS is common among middle aged women and is also associated with taking oral contraceptives. The insurer's doctor said the bartender's work did not cause her CTS. Margaret was able to help obtain benefits for the worker by showing the treating doctors a detailed and accurate description of her client's work and explaining to the doctors what kind of questions they needed to answer. After a hearing and reviewing all the evidence, the Administrative Law Judge concluded that the repetitive wrist movements and sustained gripping required by the bartender's work was the major cause of her CTS. Therefore the judge set aside the insurance company's denial of benefits. Every workers' compensation case is different. Just because one bartender was able to receive benefits for carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't mean all bartenders will be able to receive benefits if they develope CTS. There must be well reasoned medical opinions based on complete information about the job before a judge will set aside an insurer's denial. [ posted 1/25/07 ] STC attorney Margaret Weddell has been elected to Chair of the Board of Directors of Portland’s Community Cycling Center. The Community Cycling Center is a non-profit organization that provides bikes and bike-related activities to youth and adults. The CCC’s programs include Create a Commuter, Get Linked, Bicycle Safety Clubs and Summer Bike Rides. The CCC uses bikes to help people live happier, healthier lives. STC supports the CCC and encourages their employees to volunteer to organizations that build strong community. [ posted 1/11/07 ] Over the holidays, the employees of Swanson, Thomas & Coon held a change drive to benefit the Portland Rescue Mission. Friendly competition among teams of employees produced more than $700 for the Mission; STC matched that amount, bringing our total donation to the Mission to more than $1,400.00. Thank you to Social Security legal assistant Rachel Landtroop for coming up with this wonderful idea! [ posted 12/5/06 ] From STC's Personal Injury Team: Margaret Weddell recently completed a jury trial resulting in the jury finding our client 100% negligent-free. Our client was riding her bike in a bike lane in Portland. An SUV driver passed the cyclist and then began to turn right in front of the biker. The bicyclist had to come out of the bike lane to avoid hitting the SUV, but then the SUV stopped suddenly and our client struck the rear of the SUV. The bicyclist, our client, suffered head and back injuries. The SUV driver argued that the bicyclist was negligent for coming out of the bike lane. Margaret persuaded the jury that the bicyclist's actions were reasonable and that the bicyclist was negligent free. The jury awarded damages for the bicyclist's bike and injuries. The judge also awarded attorney fees and an enhanced prevailing party fee in this case. [ posted 11/30/06 ] Kimberly K. Tucker was recently appointed to the Pro Bono Committee of the Oregon State Bar. Her three-year term runs through December 31, 2009. Kim specializes in Social Security Law. [ posted 11/29/06 ] Jacqueline Jacobson was recently appointed to the Unlawful Practice of Law committee of the Oregon State Bar. Her three-year term begins January 1, 2007. Jacqueline specializes in Workers' Compensation Law [ posted 11/28/06 ] Jim Coon got a decision in the Oregon Supreme Court November 24 reinstating the case of a worker whose claim for asbestos disease had been barred under the statute of limitations. The court held a jury, not a trial judge, ought to decide whether a worker reasonably waited to file his case until his doctor told him he had asbestos disease. [ posted 11/16/06 ] Kimberly Tucker and her Social Security team recently won an on-the-record disability decision for a client with recurrent and likely terminal cancer. Ms. Tucker and her team worked with the client's physician to get documentation of the extent and seriousness of the cancer that persuaded the administrative law judge to award the client benefits without the need for a hearing. [ posted 11/16/06 ] Ray Thomas and Jim Coon recently traveled to Washington, DC, for the oral arguments October 31at the United States Supreme Court in Williams v. Philip Morris. We tried this case in 1999 on behalf of the family of Jesse Williams, who died in 1997 of lung cancer. The Oregon jury awarded $80 million in damages against Philp Morris for fraud in misrepresenting the dangers of cigarettes, to keep nicotine-addicted smokers smoking. Philip Morris has now changed its name to "Altria", but it still sells Marlboro, and Marlboros still kill a hundred thousand Americans every year. After the trial in this case, Philip Morris finally admitted that cigarettes are addictive and that they cause cancer. It takes a big verdict to get their attention. [ posted 10/20/06 ] The BTA is meeting to determine how best to respond to lack of action by law enforcement against drivers who seriously injure or kill bicycle riders. Ray Thomas from our office is on the BTA's Legislative Committee which is considering legislation for the 2007 Oregon Legislature. Personal Injury actions for money damages are only successful when drivers have adequate insurance. We need accountability to make the roads safe for bike riders! Articles by Ray Thomas, Portland Bike Lawyer:
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Ray Thomas spoke at the "We are Traffic" press conference at Portland City Hall on Fri. November 16th, calling for enforcement and protection of the rights of Oregon's vulnerable users:
Swanson, Thomas & Coon commutes by bike! In the Bicycle Transportation Alliance 2007 Bike Commute Challenge, STC had the highest percentage of bicycle trips to work of any law firm in its class. The BTA sponsors the Challenge every year in September to see which Oregon companies can make the most use of their bikes to get to work. Among companies with between five and 24 employees (STC has 19), the firm had 33% of all commuting trips during the month of September, 2007. Thanks to our Challenge Coordinator, Charley Gee and to all the workers who ride to work all year round.
On September 30, 2007 eight members of Swanson, Thomas & Coon participated in the Portland LiveStrong Challenge, a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Attorneys Jim Coon, Margaret Weddell and Kimberly Tucker joined five other staff members in cycling or walking various distances to fight cancer and support cancer survivors. All told, more than three thousand participants from all across the country braved cool, wet weather to remember or honor loved ones who have or had cancer. With support from the firm and their co-workers, the STC team was able to raise more than $1400 to support the work of the LAF.
OTLA Board Candidacy:
Swanson, Thomas & Coon is pleased to announce Social Security attorney Kimberly Tucker is running for a position on the Board of Governors of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. OTLA promotes the civil justice rights of all Oregonians. Ms. Tucker is likely the first Board candidate with a practice limited to representing people who have been denied Social Security disability benefits.
