U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers® have released the 2011-2012 “Best Law Firms” rankings, marking the second edition of this highly-anticipated annual analysis, and we’re happy to announce that Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is on the list.

Best Law Firms Rankings
Portland-OR Tier 1
Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs

Portland-OR Tier 2
Admiralty & Maritime Law

The national first-tier rankings will be featured in U.S.News & World Report’s Money issue, on newsstands November 15, 2011; the national and metropolitan first-tier rankings are featured in the “Best Law Firms” standalone publication, which is being distributed to 30,000 general counsel and in digital format to 58,000 private practice lawyers worldwide; the rankings in their entirety are posted online at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com.

Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named John M. Coletti as the “Portland, OR Best Lawyers Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2012.

After more than a quarter of a century in publication, Best Lawyers is designating “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in large legal communities. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”

Michael Ellis died an unnecessary death after being forcefully removed from Club 915 (closed by OLCC).  We filed suit against the bar for removing him without his belongings (including his jacket) on one of the coldest nights of the year (temperature reached 18 degrees).

Former Eugene, Oregon “Bicycling Mayor” Seriously Injured in Car Accident

The following is a guest post by George Williams, lead blogger for Denver accident lawyer Daniel R. Rosen.

Ruth Bascom was known as Eugene, Oregon’s “Bicycling Mayor” during her term as the city’s first female mayor from 1993 to 1997. A powerful voice in favor of bicycle trails, Mayor Bascom commuted to City Hall on her bike quite often during her term. She also chaired both the Eugene Bicycle Committee and the Oregon Bicycle Advisory Committee. Two years ago, the 84 year-old Mayor was forced to give up cycling due to her age.

The following is a guest post by Chicago wrongful death lawyers at Dolan Law Offices:

Tragedy can strike anytime, as was underscored when a 26-year-old man was shot in NE Portland in June. The man was with friends when he was shot, and was still breathing when 911 was called. Taken to a nearby hospital, he died shortly thereafter. Although the shooting was deemed accidental, another man was charged with criminal negligent homicide, and police removed several guns from the house.

Watch this video to see the potential blind spot problems on a TriMet (2100 series, these are older buses and not believed to be the bus involved in the 4/24/10 incident) bus due to current placement of mirrors and pillar.  It may take up to 4 minutes to load the video.

Demonstration of Blind Spot Problems with TriMet Bus

Responding to criticism about its response to left-turn pedestrian injuries and deaths, TriMet announced plans Friday to rework three downtown Portland bus lines.  It is about time.

Is it just driver error or are drivers set up for failure due to problems with the visibility from the bus?  TriMet was asked to raise the driver side mirrors and to eliminate or reduce left turns long before the April 24, 2010 travesty in Portland.  Pressure from the media and public seems to get TriMet’s attention so make sure your voice is heard.

We settled our case with Tri-Met from a 1/25/08 incident.  In the incident, our client, Pat, was run over by a Tri-Met bus, in a crosswalk, with the light, while the Tri-Met bus was making a left turn.  The Tri-Met driver, still employed by Tri-Met last we were told, saw Pat on the sidewalk with her dog waiting for the light to cross in the crosswalk.  The Tri-Met driver assumed Pat had already gone by when in fact the Tri-Met bus hit Pat’s dog and then trapped and ran her over.  Her left leg had to be amputated below the knee.  Due to the severity of the injury, wearing a prosthetic has been very difficult.

You’d think manufacturers of power tools would do everything imaginable to make their products as safe as possible, but is it possible the bottom line counts more? That seems to be the message in the outcome of a Boston trial that pitted Ryobi, maker of power saws and more, against a man whose hand was injured by a table saw. The man was awarded $1.5 million. On the heels of this lawsuit are another 60 some cases questioning the safety of the design of table saws.

The following is a guest blog courtesy of Dolan Law Offices in Chicago

The effects of traumatic brain injuries often continue long after an accident occurs.  The Brain Injury Association of America cites a study that indicates that 40% of patients who were hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries at the time of their accident continue to have unmet needs one year after their accident.  Those unmet needs vary from patient to patient and often fall into one of the following three categories: