Joe R. Traylor

Oregon

Hart Wagner LLP
1000 SW Broadway, 20th Floor
Portland, OR 97205
United States

Tel: 503-222-4499

Email: jrt@hartwagner.com
Web: https://www.hartwagner.com

Joe Traylor is a Partner in the Portland office of Hart Wagner LLP.

A highly recommended civil trial attorney, Joe’s practice primarily involves defending product liability claims, catastrophic injury claims, claims against automobile insurers and their insureds, construction defect and jobsite injury claims and suits against employers brought pursuant to Oregon’s Employer’s Liability Law.

For over 28 years, Joe has successfully tried wrongful death claims, trucking accident cases causing catastrophic injury, liquor liability claims, construction defect claims, claims against medical professionals, landlord tenant disputes, dog bite cases, premises liability cases against employers and home owners, and claims against retail establishments for race discrimination, foodborne illness, false arrest, wrongful issuance of prescription drugs and personal injury.

In addition to his busy trial practice, Joe enjoys putting his Willamette Law School specialized certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution to good use by serving the litigation community as a mediator. Joe is also frequently chosen to sit on arbitration panels in UM/UIM cases, helping others to resolve their disputes.

Joe is admitted in state and federal courts in both Oregon and Washington and has been admitted pro-hac vice as rescue counsel in Idaho, Nevada, Montana and California. Joe takes pride in immediately involving himself in his clients’ cases and has a keen ability to evaluate liability and damages exposures in the early stages of litigation before substantial attorney fees are incurred. His work ethic and around the clock accessibility make him popular among his diverse range of clients who need prompt answers to complex legal problems.

Joe was selected by his peers as one of the top lawyers in Oregon by being named a Rising Star in Super Lawyers magazine in both 2008 and 2010. In 2017, Joe was selected by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as one of the 10 best attorneys in Oregon for exceptional and outstanding client service. In 2017 Joe received the lifetime achievement award from America’s top 100 attorneys. In his spare time he enjoys travelling with his wife Shanna, salmon fishing and watching Oregon State University football and baseball.

  • Defense verdicts in catastrophic injury cases for contractors and heavy equipment manufacturer.
    Successful defense of employers, including several summary judgment awards in employer liability act claims.
  • Successful defense of manufacturers and sellers of products who were sued under Oregon’s product liability statutes.
  • Successful defense of underinsured and uninsured employers who faced multi-million dollar exposures which would cause them to close their businesses in the event of an adverse verdict.
  • Successful representation of Oregon and Washington retailers including Bi-Mart, Fred Meyer, Ross Dress for Less, Walgreens and Costco in premises liability, race discrimination and wrongful arrest actions.
  • Defense verdicts in construction defect cases including general contractors, sub-contractors and design professionals.
  • Successful defense of cause and origin disputes involving property damage caused by fire and arson.
  • Successful defense of Automobile Insurers, both private and commercial in UIM and PIP actions.
  • Successful defense of excavators who unknowingly damage underground utilities when performing directional drilling and other complex excavation activities.
  • Defense verdicts in dog bite cases involving bites to other dogs and a police officer bitten by the department’s police dog.
  • Numerous defense verdicts in automobile accident cases where medical treatment was suspected to be fraudulent in nature.
  • Numerous defense verdicts for individuals involved in automobile accidents, including SIU and MIST actions.
Hart Wagner provides exceptional products liability defense in the Pacific Northwest for manufacturers and sellers of all types of products from the biggest machinery to the smallest component parts and medical devices. The Hart Wagner product liability defense attorneys have tried numerous product liability cases for manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and end-users.

We defend claims involving manufacturing defects, failure to warn, and design defects. We use highly qualified engineers and product safety experts in the country to bolster our defense and win cases.

For years, Hart Wagner has represented designers, manufacturers, sellers, and end-users who have been sued for products liability. Our product liability group handles such cases as:

  • Vehicle rollovers
  • Airbag injuries
  • Boating accidents
  • Infant and child automobile safety seats
  • Commercial airline crashes
  • Unsafe baby furniture and toys
  • Electrical injuries
  • Industrial accidents

Hart Wagner defends claims brought in Oregon and Washington courts at both the state and federal level.

Hart Wagner was established in 1992 by a group of trial lawyers as a unique boutique litigation firm dedicated to defending select clients facing significant lawsuits and claims.

As preeminent courtroom lawyers, they would establish one of the leading litigation defense firms in the Pacific Northwest with hard work, meticulous attention to detail, creativity and old fashioned grit.

Today, Hart Wagner has offices in both Portland and Central Oregon, where it proudly serves its valued clients with that same intensity and focus. The results speak for themselves. Hundreds of favorable jury verdicts, arbitration awards and important appellate victories later, the firm offers its clients experienced trial counsel to represent them in court or successfully resolve their cases.