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Rodney K Norton
also known as Rod Norton
About Rodney
Biography
I am an experienced medical malpractice trial attorney, and have tried more than 125 jury trials in state and federal courts. My practice focuses on medical malpractice defense, health law, and employment defense, and I have tried numerous “wrongful” death and catastrophic injury cases, as well as large numbers of severe injury cases ranging from complex surgical complications to brain injuries to alleged delayed diagnosis of cancer. My clients include medical, dental, and nursing professionals and organizations in arbitrations, mediations, and numerous regulatory matters.
Since joining Hart Wagner in 2002, I have developed an active trial practice in which I represent Oregon Health & Science University in medical and dental malpractice lawsuits, as well as a host of other hospitals, clinics, physicians and dentists in Oregon, including, as examples, physicians insured by CNA and The Doctors’ Company, clinics such as The Oregon Clinic and The Portland Clinic, and hospitals such as Adventist Health, Tuality Hospital, and Kaiser Foundation. I also represent Rite Aid pharmacies in pharmacy litigation and have developed a practice defending food-borne illness cases. I have been retained by the State of Oregon Department of Justice to represent various medical professionals in complex civil rights cases involving medical issues.
In 1980, I became Trial Counsel for Oregon Health & Science University, where I was OHSU’s trial attorney through 2002, with exclusive responsibility for trial defense of all medical, nursing, and dental malpractice claims and lawsuits against the University and its faculty and students during those two decades.
In 1977, I became Assistant Attorney General in the Trial Division of the Oregon Department of Justice, where I gained early litigation experience defending the State of Oregon in a wide variety of trials involving personal injury, civil rights, and complex litigation. The range of trial issues included claims against the State involving alleged use of excess force or false arrest by State Troopers, alleged failure to prevent child abuse of children who were wards of the State, car crashes involving cars driven by public employees, car crashes because of missing stop signs or icy roads or highway construction/design, and injuries and deaths from accidents at State parks.
When not practicing law, I spend as much time as possible in and around water. I have rafted most of the rivers in the Pacific Northwest and led private groups down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon on three different multi-week trips. I have recently developed a passion for standup paddling on local lakes and rivers and also love to sail. As much as time permits, I can be found on my Sabre 426 sailboat in the Puget Sound, leeward rail buried, sails trimmed and full, grinning from ear to ear.
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Oregon for 48 years
State: Oregon
Acquired: 1977
No misconduct found
Location
Hart Wagner LLP
1000 SW Broadway, Suite 2000, Portland, OR, 97205-3070
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Experience
Honors
2026
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Portland Lawyer of the Year - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2018
Best Lawyer - Professional Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2018
Best Lawyer - Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Best Lawyers in America
2018
Best Lawyer - Medical Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
Best Lawyer - Professional Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2017
Oregon Super Lawyer - Personal Injury Med. Malpractice: Defense, Super Lawyers
2017
Best Lawyer - Medical Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2017
Best Lawyer - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2017
Best Lawyer - Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Best Lawyers in America
2016
Oregon Super Lawyer - Personal Injury Med. Malpractice: Defense, Super Lawyers
2016
Portland Lawyer of the Year - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2016
Best Lawyer - Professional Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2016
Best Lawyer - Medical Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2016
Best Lawyer - Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Best Lawyers in America
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Oregon Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Best Lawyer - Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Best Lawyer - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Best Lawyer - Professional Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Best Lawyer - Medical Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Best Lawyer - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2014
Oregon Super Lawyer - Personal Injury Defense: Med. Malpractice, Super Lawyers
2014
Portland Lawyer of the Year - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2013
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2013
Oregon Super Lawyer - Personal Injury Defense: Med. Malpractice, Super Lawyers
2013
Best Lawyer - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2012
Oregon Super Lawyer - Personal Injury Defense: Med. Malpractice, Super Lawyers
2012
Best Lawyer - Legal Malpractice Law: Defendants, Best Lawyers in America
2011
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2011
Oregon Super Lawyer - Personal Injury Defense: Med. Malpractice, Super Lawyers
Work Experience
2003 - Present
Attorney and Partner, Hart Wagner LLP
2002 - 2003
Attorney, Hart Wagner LLP
1982 - 1993
Adjunct Professor, Trial Practice,, Willamette University College of Law
1980 - 2002
Trial Counsel, Oregon Health & Science University
1978 - 1979
Law Clerk, Honorable Dan Evans, Governor of Washington
1978 - 1979
Law Clerk to The Honorable Edward Howell, Oregon Supreme Court
1977 - 1980
Assistant Attorney General, State of Oregon Department of Justice, Trial Division
Associations
2013 - Present
Foundation for the Advancement of Cleft Education and Services (FACES)Advisory Board Member
Oregon State Bar, Litigation Section
Member
Oregon State Bar, Health Law Section
Member
Oregon State Bar
Member
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Member
American Inns of Court
Master
American Board of Trial Advocates (Oregon chapter)
Associate
Defense Research Institute, Medical Liability Committee
Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Brogdon v Miles Laboratories, OHSU, et al
Defense Verdict
Blake v PAMC
Defense Verdict
Wiles v OHSU
Defense Verdict
Beerbower v OHSU
Defense Verdict, established legal principle
Ambriz-Hernandez v Hicks
Defense Verdict
Gill v State of Oregon, et al
Education
1977
Willamette University College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor, cum laude
1974
Washington State University
BS - Bachelor of Science, Phi Beta Kappa
Speaking Engagements
2017
CLE for the American Board of Trial Advocates
Masters in Trial
N/A
Legal Seminar for The Doctors Company
Legal Updates
N/A
Legal Seminar for Oregon Health & Science University
Legal Updates
N/A
Legal Seminar for Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Legal Updates
N/A
Legal Seminar for Kaiser Permanente
Legal Updates
N/A
Legal Seminar for American Medical Association
Legal Updates
Languages
English