Lunch & Learn | Trial Post-Mortem: Lessons Learned from Two High-Stakes Defense Verdicts

Description

This CLE offers a candid, practical post-mortem of two recent defense verdicts, presented by litigator Jeff Hansen of Chock Barhoum, with a focus on real-world trial strategy, jury dynamics, and client counseling before and after verdict. 

The first case was tried in Washington County and arose from a playground slip-and-fall at the Forest Grove School District involving a ten-year-old plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged a fractured left leg (distal fibular fracture), back strain, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, sleep disturbances, and permanent injury to his growth plates. The prayer for relief was $800,000. Liability and the nature and extent of the claimed injuries were hotly contested, and the defense ultimately prevailed. 

The second case was a wrongful-death action tried in Lane County, involving an intoxicated log-truck driver whose unsecured load allegedly came loose while navigating a corner, resulting in the death of a prominent, soon-to-be medical student at OHSU. The prayer for relief exceeded $95 million and included claims for punitive damages. Jeff Hansen represented the company that contracted with the log-truck driver to transport the logs. All other parties settled prior to trial. Opposing counsel was TD, and the case also resulted in a defense verdict. 

Using these two trials as case studies, Jeff Hansen will discuss: 

• Venue-specific considerations and jury composition in Washington County versus Lane County 
• Key pretrial rulings and trial-stage decisions that shaped the outcome
• Motions in limine that proved impactful, both positively and negatively 
• How jurors evaluated liability, damages, credibility, and corporate conduct 
• Post-verdict juror feedback and what the jury found most persuasive 
• Strategic decisions that worked, and those Jeff Hansen would approach differently in hindsight 
• Practical takeaways for lawyers preparing for trial and for reporting risk, exposure, and “trial temperature” to clients 

This session is designed to be informative, candid, and practical, offering insight for attorneys preparing for trial, advising clients on litigation risk, or evaluating the real-world advantages and challenges of taking cases to verdict in Oregon courts.

Jeffrey Hansen

Jeff is an experienced litigator. He advocates for his clients and the companies they represent – both inside and outside of the courtroom – and he believes the successful outcome of a case begins the moment a case is assigned. Jeff’s extensive knowledge of both complex and common medical issues coupled with his strategizing skills make him a highly successful trial attorney. Jeff focuses on accurately identifying issues and developing a strategy to address each one, while paying special attention to keeping clients informed of the litigation process as well as the specific issues identified in each particular case.

Despite the fact that lawsuits can be stressful at times, Jeff and his staff work to minimize the stress for the client and maximize results. Jeff’s reputation as a fearless litigator strengthens his ability to resolve cases when the circumstances make that the best option.