Aug 26th, 2026
Dave Smith and Elizabeth Savage Present Annual Appellate Update at OTLA Convention
Spooner Staggs partner Dave Smith and appellate lawyer Elizabeth Savage presented an update on significant Oregon appellate decisions at the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association’s Annual Convention. During the fast-paced CLE program, Smith and Savage examined notable 2025–26 decisions affecting insurance coverage, personal injury litigation, wrongful death damages, governmental liability, medical negligence, employment law, attorney fees, and the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice. Savage brought deep appellate experience and a sharp command of the…
Aug 21st, 2026
Ryan Bickler Discusses Wildfire Coverage, Insurance Accountability, and Oregon Consumer Protection
When disaster strikes, insurance is supposed to provide more than money. It is supposed to provide security, stability, and peace of mind. But what happens when an insurance company fails to keep that promise? Spooner Staggs partner Ryan Bickler addressed that question during an Oregon Consumer Justice fireside chat at “Insurance Coverage and Wildfires: A Changing Risk Landscape.” The August 12 program brought together consumer advocates, researchers, policymakers, and lawyers to examine how wildfire risk…
Aug 3rd, 2026
Spooner Staggs Sponsors Free Online Resource for Oregon Motor-Vehicle Insurance Law
Spooner Staggs Trial Lawyers is proud to introduce onthepolicy.com, a free public resource created by firm partner David E. Smith. The website brings decades of Oregon motor-vehicle insurance statutes and legislative history together in one organized, searchable, advertising-free resource. The site is available at no charge to injured people and their families, policyholders, plaintiffs’ and defense lawyers on both sides of insurance disputes, judges, law clerks, insurance professionals, regulators, legislators, researchers, journalists, and members of the…
May 15th, 2026
Oregon Supreme Court Issues Major Win for Injured Oregonians in Sheppard v. Progressive
The Oregon Supreme Court today issued an important decision strengthening the rights of injured Oregonians seeking underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits after serious car crashes. In Sheppard v. Progressive Classic Insurance Company, the Court rejected an insurance company argument that could have dramatically limited coverage for workers injured while driving employer-owned vehicles. Spooner Staggs Trial Lawyers partner David E. Smith filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) in support of…
Apr 1st, 2026
Tom Spooner and Tyler Staggs Named to 2026 Super Lawyers List
Spooner Staggs Trial Lawyers is proud to announce that Tom Spooner and Tyler Staggs have both been selected to the 2026 Super Lawyers® list, recognizing their continued excellence in high-stakes civil litigation. What Super Lawyers Means Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized attorney rating service that identifies outstanding lawyers across more than 70 practice areas. Selection is based on a patented, multi-phase process that includes: Peer nominations from other lawyers Independent research evaluating professional achievement Peer evaluations by practice…
Mar 19th, 2026
Standing Up for Oregonians: A Proud Moment for Tyler Staggs and Our Firm
We are proud to see our partner Tyler Staggs recognized this week in the Portland Business Journal for his work on behalf of seriously injured Oregonians (“Why this Portland attorney took on the insurance industry and the gig economy.”) Staff reporter Elizabeth Hayes did an outstanding job telling the story. Her reporting was careful, balanced, and deeply professional — exactly the kind of journalism that helps the public understand the real stakes in cases like…
Mar 4th, 2026
Tyler Staggs Quoted in Portland Business Journal on Key Insurance Reform Bill
His testimony helped legislators understand what is really happening inside the insurance industry — and why it matters for every Oregon family. On February 13, 2026, the Portland Business Journal published an in-depth article titled “Bill that rankles the insurance industry passes out of Oregon committee.” In it, Staff Reporter Elizabeth Hayes covered the advancement of House Bill 4098 — legislation that would bring most insurers under Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. Tyler Staggs was…
Feb 26th, 2026
The Insurance Issues Tyler Staggs Put on the Table
Insurance Rates, Delayed Claims, and the Myth of Strong Regulation At a recent Oregon legislative hearing, Tyler Staggs delivered blunt testimony about how the insurance system actually works—and why many policyholders feel powerless when they file claims. Tyler didn’t speak as a theorist. He spoke as someone who spent 20 years representing insurance companies before switching sides to represent insureds. His message was simple: what lawmakers are often told about insurance regulation does not match reality on the ground. One of…
Jun 27th, 2025
Why We Support Senate Bill 174: Holding Insurance Companies Accountable
At Spooner Staggs, we believe that all Oregonians deserve protection from unfair and deceptive business practices—no exceptions. That’s why we strongly support Senate Bill 174, a critical piece of legislation currently before the Oregon Legislature. Under current law, the Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) protects consumers from deceptive conduct by businesses in nearly every industry—except one: the insurance industry. For decades, insurance companies in Oregon have been shielded from enforcement under the UTPA, even when they engage in…
Mar 31st, 2025
Fighting for Consumer Rights: Tyler Staggs Featured in Public News Service Article on Insurance Accountability
At Spooner Staggs Trial Lawyers, we are dedicated to protecting consumers from unfair insurance practices. That’s why we are proud to share that our own Tyler Staggs was recently quoted in a Public News Service article discussing new legislation aimed at holding insurance companies accountable under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA). The Importance of the Legislation For too long, insurance companies have been able to deny, delay, or underpay valid claims with little consequence….