James R Cartwright

Jim Cartwright operated with integrity in a very difficult case in our family. His expertise in elder law and in trial work was clear. He maintained a laser focus on the legal issues and was patient but firm in his insistence that all parties cooperate to maintain that focus. His professionalism ...helped calm emotions, including those of other attorneys involved. His logical strategy helped him prevail in Court. We are grateful for his help and his manner and highly recommend him and his firm.

Jim Cartwright appears to have an excellent understanding of the laws governing testamentary trusts. Unfortunately, he runs a small law firm which he, apparently, has no interest in overseeing. The result is that he assigns clients to lawyers who appear less than competent to handle the clients...' business. In my case, the lawyer he assigned to my legal matter ignored multiple instructions given by me over the better part of a year to approach the other side about settling the case. This lawyer went so far as to set a trial date WITHOUT INFORMING ME that a trial had even been scheduled. It was only by luck that, weeks later, I discovered that a trial was upcoming, went to Jim Cartwright, and had this lawyer taken off the case. Months later, and despite the fact that Jim billed me something like $750.00 to take this lawyer off the case, I discovered that he HAD PUT THE LAWYER BACK ON THE CASE without informing me. Subsequently, Jim abruptly dropped me as a client with no explanation. I believe that he did so upon discovering that the lawyer had committed a malpractice after being put back on my case, and did not want to deal with the conflict of interest this malpractice created. Whatever the reasons for Jim's allowing my case to be handled in this way, his actions did not inspire confidence in his honesty, his responsiveness, or his desire to keep me informed. Plenty of lawyers in the Portland, Oregon area are skilled at handling of trusts. I am not familiar with most of them, but I would seek out any one of them before entrusting my business to James Cartwright again. Bill Merritt