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Schauermann Thayer > Attorneys at Schauermann & Thayer

Personal Injury Lawyers with a Legacy of Experience

The qualifications and abilities of our attorneys are clear. The firm’s senior partners are “AV-rated*” (the absolute top ranking for legal ability and ethics) under the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell peer review system. Our younger attorneys have proven themselves excellent additions to the firm and are already well-respected among their peers and colleagues. Please follow the individual links below to view more detailed profiles, or simply contact us today for quality legal counsel and representation.


Scott StaplesScott Staples came on board in 2006 as a clerk during law school and joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2007. He was made partner in the firm in 2010. Scott graduated, cum laude, from Washington State University Vancouver with a BA in English, and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law, with cum laude honors there as well. He has successfully represented clients in a variety of different types of injury cases, including auto collisions, premises liability, animal attacks, watercraft accidents, and construction site injuries. He has appeared, and won, before the Washington State Supreme Court.


Scott EdwardsScott Edwards joined the firm in 2011 and joined as a partner in 2013. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Utah and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Gonzaga University School of Law. His practice focuses on personal injury, auto accident, and insurance cases. In his free time, Scott enjoys spending time outdoors, especially when on his bicycle or a hiking trail.


Bradley ThayerBrad Thayer joined the firm in 2015 and joined as a partner in 2018. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Sociology from Western Washington University and a Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from Willamette University College of Law. His practice focuses on personal injury, auto accidents, biking accidents, wrongful death, and insurance cases. Brad speaks Spanish at an intermediate level.


Benjamin MelnickBen Melnick joined the firm in 2018, and he became a partner in 2020.  He graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law.  In 2016, he was named as the Clark County Bar Association’s Rising Star.  His practice focuses on personal injury, auto accidents, biking accidents, wrongful death, and insurance disputes.  Outside work, Ben likes spending time with his family, running, playing soccer, hiking, and skiing.


William ThayerBill Thayer has been practicing law since 1980 in the Southwest Washington area. He obtained his license to practice law in Oregon in 2006. Bill is a veteran of many personal injury and wrongful death cases and has served as an arbitrator and Clark County District Court judge pro tempore. Bill has negotiated favorable settlements for his clients in hundreds of cases. He has tried over 45 jury trials, arbitrated over 75 cases for his clients, and has served as an arbitrator in dozens of arbitrator hearings. He has obtained a number of substantial verdicts, awards, and settlements for his clients. Bill is learning to speak Spanish as a second language.

Bill is “of counsel” with the firm since July 1, 2021. In that capacity, he collaborates regularly with the firm’s attorneys and periodically meets with them each to review specific cases. He also serves as an arbitrator when appointed by the courts and outside practitioners.


Craig SchauermannCraig Schauermann (Of Counsel) has practiced personal injury law in Washington since 1976 and in Clark County since 1979. Craig has extensive state and federal trial experience and has obtained some of the largest verdicts and arbitration awards in Washington history. He is a former member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors, and has been selected repeatedly by his peers as one of the best lawyers in the State of Washington. He has also served as President of the Clark County Bar Association. Craig is “of counsel” with the firm since July 1, 2015. In that capacity, he meets regularly with each of the firm’s attorneys to review cases and serves frequently as an arbitrator.


Jeffrey P. Jacobs (Retired January 2, 2017) began practicing personal injury law in 1976 and joined our Vancouver, Washington, law firm in 1999. Jeff has handled a wide range of personal injury cases, including those arising from motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, and aviation accidents. Jeff has also negotiated favorable settlements for his clients in hundreds of cases, has tried many jury trials, and arbitrated to a successful result numerous cases for his clients. He is frequently appointed by other attorneys and courts to serve as an independent settlement guardian ad litem in minors’ claims, and as a neutral arbitrator in cases assigned by contract or court order for resolution by arbitration.


Our dedicated, professional attorneys and staff work tirelessly on behalf of our clients and their families. Our attorneys meet regularly as a group to review all office cases, ensuring that all firm clients benefit from their combined decades of experience.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are Certification Marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.