Mark Mills practices, as a Director, in the Insurance Coverage Practice Group of Betts Patterson Mines.  With over 25 years of experience, he has advised insurers on coverage issues involving commercial general liability, commercial property, inland marine, commercial auto, homeowners, and personal auto policies.  He has tried multiple cases to verdict in both coverage and defense contexts.  He now advises insurers on coverage questions and represents them in litigation under commercial general liability and related coverages, such as director and officer, employment practices, and management protection.
Go to http://www.bpmlaw.com/team/attorneys/mark-e-mills/ for Mark’s complete professional biography.

Nicole is licensed in Oregon and Washington, and has been a litigator her entire career. She has tried and arbitrated numerous cases in Oregon and Washington ranging in value from a few thousand dollars to in excess of twenty million dollars. Among her areas of expertise, Nicole has extensive experience handling cases involving sex abuse, employment, professional liability,
liquor liability, and medical malpractice. She is a regular speaker and educator on various topics. Nicole has served on two non-profit boards and is currently President of CLM Oregon. Nicole is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Recent Examples of Cases by Practice Area

Employment
Dismissal of employment claim: Sexual orientation discrimination
Motion for summary judgment granted: Age discrimination
Dismissal of employment claims: Race discrimination/sexual harassment/whistleblowing/retaliation
Dismissal of claims: Intentional interference with economic relations/"aiding and abetting"/
retaliation for taking leave protected by the Oregon Family Leave Act

Liquor Liability/Professional Liability/Product Liability
Affirmance in Oregon Supreme Court on liquor liability claims
Dismissal: $8 million personal injury/negligence case
Motion for summary judgment granted: $10 million liquor liability case
Spoliation of evidence sanction against plaintiff in products liability case leads to nuisance value settlement
Punitive damages motion for summary judgment granted

Sex Abuse/Vulnerable Person Claims
Dismissal: $1 million sex abuse/negligence case
Six-week sex abuse trial: Insured found only 15 percent liable and no punitive damages awarded
Motion for summary judgment granted: Abuse of vulnerable person claims/negligent supervision
and retention
Abuse of vulnerable person claim: Defense analysis lead to no contribution being offered toward
settlement by carrier and no suit filed against insured

Medical Malpractice/Medical Intensive Cases
Week-long trial of neck injury/surgery case results in verdict over $900,000 less than plaintiff's last demand
Dismissal: Department of Health complaint against therapist
Dismissal: Nursing board complaint
Dismissal: $2.5 million medical malpractice/wrongful death case
Defense verdict: Brain injury/personal injury claim
Dismissal: Department of Health complaint against physician
Medical malpractice/wrongful death claims: Dismissed on motion for summary judgment
Dismissal: Department of Health complaint against physician

Rima Ghandour is the principal of Ghandour Law, a full-service law firm in Portland, Oregon.  Rima, a Lebanese-American, has practiced in construction defect, insurance defense, commercial and business litigation, and related areas for 15 years.  After working with boutique construction defect firms in California and Oregon and as in-house counsel with Safeco, Rima opened Ghandour Law in 2013.  She earned a B.A. in International Relations from Colgate University in 1994 and a J.D. from the University of San Diego in 1998.  She is admitted to practice in Oregon, California, Washington, and Idaho.  Rima is a on the executive committee of the Owen Panner Inn of Court.  Rima is past president of the Queen's Bench, the Multnomah chapter of the Oregon Women Lawyers Networking Committee and past president of the Multnomah Bar Association. Rima is also active in the community, and is a co-founder of the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon and current board member.  Rima is also a board member of the Oregon Law Foundation.  In her spare time, Rima enjoys skiing, travel and the outdoors. 

Bill is Of Counsel to the Guerrero Huff Law Group, which now has offices in Arizona and Washington State.  Bill will oversee Legal Operations and Quality, as well as the expansion of the firm’s Washington office.  Bill has over 35 years of experience in private practice and as corporate counsel.  He has represented manufactures, non-profits, including churches and schools, construction companies and a variety of self-insured entities.  Bill has served as state-wide assigned defense counsel and coverage counsel for two seperate insurers while in practice in California; and state-wide defense counsel while in practice in Washington.  As Assistant Vice President & Manger for Liberty Mutual, Bill oversaw outside counsel in the Western United States ensuring quality, compliance and value in the representation of Liberty insureds and/or the Company.  Prior to Liberty’s acquisition, Bill built Safeco Insurance Company’s outside counsel program.  He started his carrier with Safeco, managing its Seattle in-house litigation office.          

Bill is admitted to practice in Washington State and California (inactive status). He is a regular speaker on Litigation Management, Ethics related to payment for legal services and Inclusion. He is a 1985 graduate of the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon and a 1982 graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, California.

Ms. Kalzer practices professional liability, employment and education law with an emphasis on defending complex litigation for communities of faith, non-profits, schools, health care providers and other private employers.  She is a respected and popular instructor for CLM in claims evaluation and ethics.Ms. Kalzer has handled and successfully resolved over 300 claims of employee misconduct by combining tough incisive legal tactics with an empathetic litigation approach and compassionate communication skills. Her practice requires targeted experience in areas of privacy rights, Constitutional issues, mental health, and human development.Additionally, she has tried professional liability, medical malpractice and employment discrimination cases to verdict in District Court and Superior Court and engaged in oral argument in Divisions I and II of the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court. She has practiced in both State and Federal Court. She is experienced in managing complex multi-plaintiff litigation and bringing the matter to a successful and cost efficient conclusion.EducationSeattle University School of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude, 1995 Top 10% of her classGonzaga University, Master of Arts, Organizational Leadership, expected 2013Universite de Poitiers (France), Certificat des EtudesUniversity of Oregon, Bachelor of Arts, English and Political Science, 1984AdmissionsUnited States Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the State of OregonSupreme Court of the State of WashingtonUnited States District Court for the Western District of WashingtonUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Diana is an Outside Counsel Manager for Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Legal Strategic Services department where she oversees outside law firms and manages numerous state and specialty panels to drive legal quality and performance effectively and efficiently across the enterprise while actively supporting the company’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Before joining LMI, Diana practiced as a civil trial lawyer for 20 years, representing corporate, public, and individual clients in a broad range of matters, including cases involving complex business disputes, fraud, employment, insurance, and wrongful death. She has tried personal injury and complex commercial cases in state and federal court. She also served as an arbitrator and mediator.  Before private practice, she clerked for the Washington Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court. Diana received her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
 

Jacquie has spent the last 18 years working in loss prevention, safety compliance, risk and claims management. Her focus has been on development and implementation of supporting programs. Other areas of focus have been on contract program development and management. Having worked in several industries she has adapted her broad enterprise risk management approach to fit the demands of each company.

Bennett Hansen is a partner with Preg, O'Donnell & Gillett.  In his general litigation practice, Bennett concentrates on defending clients involved in claims relating to construction injury, contract disputes and defects, as well as automobile and trucking accidents.  He also provides analysis and assistance with the drafting and review of construction contracts.   He has defended clients in trial and arbitration, and is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Bennett earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1990 and law degree in 1994 from Seattle University School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in Washington and Oregon State Courts and the United States District Court, Western District of Washington.

Bennett was named a Rising Star in Washington Law & Politics in 2005, a magazine that annually publishes a list of the best and brightest Washington lawyers.
 

I believe in providing sound advice that transforms my clients’ business into an efficient, effective, and highly profitable nationally and internationally recognized insurance claim organization.

Securus Consultants’ experts have decades of domestic and international claim and risk management experience, leading highly effective and prosperous claim teams who manage national and international, multi-billion-dollar corporations. See the why, what, who and how at www.securusconsultants.com.

With over 30 years’ experience, I am an accomplished executive with expertise in risk and claim management within the Property and Casualty arena. Through actively listening to my clients, critical thinking, and strategic leadership, I provide refreshingly creative growth and organizational solutions for TPA’s, Independent Loss Adjusting firms, and the claim departments of Insurers, Brokerages and Agencies. I have measurable results in developing sustainable business strategies, critical issue resolution, and creating new policies and procedures to drive quality, accuracy, and efficiency.

I am the co-creator and former Executive Vice President of Partners Claim Services, which, in only five years, grew from a small local independent loss adjusting firm to an international third-party claims administrator. I have served the Claim and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) as an Advisory Board member and National Chair. I am the former President of the Puget Sound Claim Executive’s Council.

I present frequently at national and regional risk and insurance organization events.

David Gollersrud is the National Program Manager for Professional Liability at Sprague Israel Giles. As a seasoned Insurance Industry Professional he focuses on providing superior Professional Liability coverage to Medical Professionals nationwide. Prior to joining Sprague Israel Giles Inc., David managed 3 successful agencies and a ~10MM book of business made up of both commercial and personal lines policy holders on behalf of State Farm Insurance Company. David’s current role as the National Medical Professional Liability Program Manager allows him to work with Physicians and Clinics throughout the country to protect themselves from the inherent risks associated within their unique industry. Beyond traditional professional liability coverage, David has extensive experience with Administrative Action Defense, First and Third Party Cyber Liability, Sexual Abuse, Employment Practices Liability, General Liability, Property, Workers Compensation and Directors and Officers liability.

Mr. Hollingworth holds an advanced degree in Human Factors Engineering and has over 20 years of management and supervision at major insurance companies. He has managed environmental, mass tort, construction defects and sexual abuse claims as well as participated in numerous mediations, coverage in place agreements, selection of and creation of defense panel counsels. Mr. Hollingsworth is a frequent speaker at CLM Conferences and serves on several CLM Committees including Professional Liability and Environmental and Toxic Tort. Mr. Hollignsworth’s Areas of Expertise include: ADR, Professional Liability, Insurance Coverage, Claims Management, Litigation Management, Bad Faith and Class Actions.
 

Adina Matasaru is an experienced attorney who divides her time between litigating on behalf of her clients and counseling them on creative solutions to complex business matters as well as preventing potential liability. Adina also defends medical professionals before their licensing boards or regulatory bodies.

As a litigator, Adina works with clients to identify and execute plans to resolve disputes in ways that make financial and business sense. In some cases, that might involve a solution such as restructuring a contract, negotiating a new lease, or creatively structuring the settlement. In others, it will involve litigating the dispute through arbitration or trial, working closely with the client to maintain focus on achieving the desired result as cost effectively as possible. As a counselor, Adina assists business and professional clients in a wide variety of matters, including breach of contract, non-competition or non-solicitation agreements, fair trade practices, unfair competition, professional and premise liability, ownership disputes, and insurance coverage.

Adina is fluent in Romanian and German. Her language and cultural experienced provide her the unique ability to represent non-native speakers as well as foreign businesses and nationals.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Adina is honored to have been selected by her peers for inclusion in Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2014 and 2015. Adina also serves as an Arbitrator for Multnomah County Circuit Court.

MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

Adina is admitted to the Oregon and Washington State Bar and is a member of the Multnomah Bar Association, Oregon Women Lawyers Association and Oregon Minority Lawyers Association.

EDUCATION

Adina received her J.D from the Willamette University College of Law where she served as Staff Editor for the Willamette Law Review. During her third year, Adina attended Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Germany where she studied European Union Law and Transnational Transactions. Adina also holds a B.A. degree in Philosophy, Theology and Political Science from University of Portland.

After receiving her law degree in 1995, Molly started her career at a well-established insurance defense firm in Seattle, focusing on personal injury and professional negligence claims. She later joined a different law firm and expanded her practice to include business litigation, employment cases, administrative law matters, plaintiff’s personal injury, and collection cases. In 2002, Molly returned her focus to insurance defense, handling personal injury, professional negligence, defamation, business disputes and product liability claims. Molly has tried jury and bench trials in Washington’s Superior Courts and District Courts, and has also represented her clients in Washington’s Court of Appeals.

Molly enjoys working with her clients and helping them navigate the litigation process. The breadth of her litigation experience helps Molly provide a strong and comprehensive defense on behalf of her clients.

Education

Molly received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1990.

She graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 1995.

Admitted to Practice

Washington State Courts (WSBA # 25385 )
United States District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington

Professional & Community Activities

Molly is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, and the Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association (MAMA Seattle).

Outside of her law practice, Molly is currently serving on the Board of Trustees for the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation.

Publications & Presentations

Faculty, “Developing Deposition Skills,” National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Seattle, WA August 13-15, 2013.

Co-Presenter, “Problems and Strategies for Mandatory Arbitration” WDTL’s Annual Tort Law Update, Seattle, WA December 10, 2010.

Co-Presenter, “Resolving the Case Without Going to Trial,” National Business Institute’s seminar Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law 101, Seattle, WA December 3, 2009.

Honors

Molly was named a Rising Star in Washington Law & Politics magazine in 2000, 2001, and 2004.

I am the principal and founder of Veritas Forensic Accounting and Economics. The firm specializes in expert witness testimony in litigation, arbitration, appraisal and mediation, and as a Court Appointed Special Masters, involving a wide variety of economic loss, forensic accounting, fraud examination and valuation scenarios. 

Veritas engagements are managed by professionals with federal and state court testifying experience and more than 25 years' tenure in their respective disciplines. Assignments have arisen out of such events as the Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills, the 9/11 attack, the Bellingham Pipeline Explosion, the 2008 banking crisis, and a wide variety of matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business interruption, business dissolution, economic viability, class actions, bellwether plaintiffs, construction defect, construction delay and cost overrun, builder's risk policies, employee dishonesty, receivership, bankruptcy, fraud, insurance loss, inventory loss, property damage, intellectual property, trademarks, patents, copyright infringement, trade secrets, partner disputes, personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, securities and wrongful termination. 

Veritas' Associates background and experience includes engagements across a broad spectrum of industries worldwide with a relatively equal distribution of plaintiff and defense work. Associates are all well-versed in courtroom requirements for producing relevant and reliable findings that assist the trier of fact. Veritas Associates focus particularly on effectively communicating distilled findings through providing easy-to-understand testimony and exhibits.

Degrees/Licenses/Composition of Team (Veritas)

PhD in Economics, CPA, CFE, CFF, CGMA, CCI, MBA, Court Appointed Special Master Relative to Damage Measurement and Forensic Accounting Issues, Accounting and Economics Professors, Former Big 4 Partners and Managers, Fortune 100 Accounting System Architect