Recent Blog Posts
CASE UPDATE: PERILLO V. ISLAND COUNTY, ET. AL.
In a recent blog post, I discussed the ability to bring a claim against the government and a limitation on the type of claim that can be brought. These are the concepts of sovereign immunity and the public duty doctrine. As luck would have it, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion dealing with these concepts… Read More »
SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC DUTY DOCTRINE
Bringing a claim against the government can be tricky for a number of reasons, from learning who the correct agency might be, to getting proper service of a tort claim notice, to litigating a claim against the government and its vast resources. Another consideration is whether the claim being brought is the right type… Read More »
A WINTER SIDEWALK REMINDER
That biting chill of winter, if not already here, will soon be upon us. In the age of COVID-19, with gyms either still closed or less appealing to those wanting to stay active, the homebound looking to simply get out for some fresh air, and deliveries of goods to homes abounding, there may well… Read More »
SYSTEMIC ISSUES APPARENT IN PORTLAND PEDESTRIAN DEATH DATA
Systemic issues and the disproportionate impact they have on particular communities within our American population and society are at the forefront of our collective mind and important discussions are being had on a national level right now. As attorneys, our local bar associations and courts are cognizant of and working to better understand and… Read More »
DAYLIGHT SAVING: A DANGEROUS TIME
Daylight Saving Time has a measurable impact on our lives. On November 1, 2020, we “fell back”—gaining an hour of sleep. It also, though, started getting darker even earlier in the day. Pushback has led governments worldwide to consider scrapping Daylight Saving Time, due to well-documented negative effects on people’s moods, sleep, and general… Read More »
CLARK COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JURY TRIALS SUSPENDED TO AT LEAST JANUARY 10, 2021
Clark County Superior Court has recognized that with the increasing surge in COVID-19 infections in our county and across the country, it is again necessary to completely suspend jury trials, both criminal and civil, until at least January 10, 2021. The basis for last week’s new Emergency Order is expressed by the Presiding Judge of the… Read More »
A WINTER DRIVING REMINDER FOR WASHINGTON & OREGON
For anyone asking themselves whether I wrote about this last year, the answer is yes, I did. Nonetheless, a reminder about a recurring, annual safety issue can’t hurt. The Stark Family’s oft-repeated words (yes, I know Game of Thrones ended forever ago) will soon be ringing true – “winter is coming.” When it arrives… Read More »
CASE UPDATE: GERLACH V. COVE APARTMENTS, LLC
Washington’s Supreme Court recently issued a decision clarifying injury law in a residential landlord-tenant relationship. Previously, there has been confusion over whether the law—specifically Washington’s statutory Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RLTA), Ch. 59.18 RCW, and the common law implied warranty of habitability—could provide a legal basis for liability when an unsafe condition injured the… Read More »
LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND CONNECTING WITH CLIENTS
Even under the best of circumstances, there is a constant struggle for personal injury attorneys to help forge a connection between our clients, their stories, and a judge, jury, arbitrator, or other party involved in their case. GIVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD IT For me, part of what makes this… Read More »
TRIAL BY ZOOM
Earlier in the COVID-19 tempest we wrote about many of the things our firm has been able to do to keep cases moving forward – using Zoom (mostly) and other videoconferencing platforms to meet with clients, take and defend depositions, mediate and arbitrate cases, and attend court hearings. We’ll now add one more to the list, having completed our… Read More »
