Recent Blog Posts
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY U.S. SUPREME COURT
Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, on February 1, 1790, the first formulation of the United States Supreme Court convened for official judicial business. The Court consisted at that time of just six justices, with founding father John Jay having been selected by then-President George Washington to be its initial Chief Justice. Today, the… Read More »
ZOOM: EVEN IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW
It has now been nearly two full years since COVID-19 changed the world. All of us (most all of us anyway) have adapted and learned how to go out in public in a mask, how to socially distance, and how to stay home if we have any Covid-like symptoms. Hopefully these changes are temporary…. Read More »
THE “INSURANCE” JURY INSTRUCTION
I wrote recently about Washington ER 411 and how it usually prevents a defendant’s liability insurance from being mentioned at trial. Will the Jury Know about the Insurance Company? The natural question to ask, faced with that reality, is: “So won’t the jurors think this defendant is uninsured and take pity on them, resulting in a… Read More »
TWO OF SCHAUERMANN THAYER ATTORNEYS SET FOR ADMISSION TO PRACTICE IN COWLITZ TRIBAL COURT
Scott Edwards and Brad Thayer are scheduled to be sworn in to become eligible for practice as attorneys in the Cowlitz Tribal Court. The ceremony is set for Wednesday, January 26, 2022, and will be conducted remotely on Zoom. Indian tribes are independent sovereign entities, which although subject to federal law and the U.S…. Read More »
SCOTT EDWARDS GRADUATES FROM ESTEEMED TRIAL LAWYERS COLLEGE
During most of the month of September of last year, I had the opportunity to witness the changing of the seasons—from summer to fall—in Estes Park, Colorado; deep in the Rocky Mountains at the “YMCA of the Rockies”. I was there, not just enjoying the scenery, although that certainly was a welcome benefit, but… Read More »
CAN A FIREFIGHTER (OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL) INJURED ON THE JOB RECOVER FROM THE PERSON WHO CAUSED THEIR NEED TO RESCUE ANOTHER?
Bill Thayer wrote a great summary in August of last year about the rescue doctrine, which makes negligent parties legally responsible for injuries suffered by rescuers coming to aid in the emergency created by the negligence. I write here to highlight one wrinkle to the rule I was reminded of recently: The “professional rescuer” doctrine. This… Read More »
WILL THE JURY HEARING MY CASE KNOW ABOUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY?
I can’t count how many times I’ve had to tell a dumbfounded personal injury client that not only is our lawsuit not going to be against the negligent party’s insurance company, but we can’t even mention the fact that they have insurance in court. Their confusion is understandable – to most people it seems… Read More »
LOCAL COURTS POSTPONE JURY TRIALS
“Justice delayed is justice denied”. Or so it has been repeatedly said. All the same, a decision to postpone jury trials in Clark County courts makes good sense in terms of what is going on with local virus infection and hospitalization rates. See, The Columbian, “Clark County Court Suspends Jury Trials due to COVID-19… Read More »
TRUCKING ACCIDENTS IN WASHINGTON & OREGON: PROVING OWNER/OPERATORS LOST INCOME AND LOSS OF USE
There are generally two types of trucking accidents. Many people think only of those where the semi causes catastrophic injury or death. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can be dangerous. Those instances certainly exist, and they are worthy of special time and attention in their own right. But what about when another driver hits a trucker? That… Read More »
MONEY WILL NOT TAKE AWAY YOUR INJURY
It is an all-too-common scenario. A client is injured in a collision. The injuries are severe, even crippling in some ways. The client seeks treatment, and it is helpful. But the injuries are permanent. The pain just will not go away, and it affects virtually every aspect of life. To top it off, the… Read More »
