Much of the other side’s case will be based on trying to show that the decedent’s life was not worth all that much. This is a harsh aspect of our legal system. Your lawyer will be showing that the deceased person was a human being who lived a full life, loved and was loved in […]
Long before a trial is ever held, both sides have the right to “discovery.” In Oregon state court, this centers on depositions and requests for discovery. Let’s take them one at a time. Depositions are like recorded, official interviews. In a deposition, the lawyer can ask questions of opposing parties and witnesses, and they have […]
You may be surprised to read this in a post written by lawyers who focus on personal injury and wrongful death claims, but a wrongful death claim is NOT for everyone. It will require a commitment of both time and energy – probably yours – to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. We write “probably yours,” because […]
Even if you are not considering hiring a professional, thought still must be put into who should be the PR. For example, if a woman dies leaving behind a husband and two children, ages 19 and 21, which of the three would make the best PR? One of the children may get more sympathy from […]
When a person dies, and leaves behind anything that is worth money, the law creates an “estate.” If John Doe dies, then it will be called “The Estate of John Doe.” For example, you may sometimes see “Estate Sales,” where the possessions of someone who has passed away are being sold. What has happened, legally, […]
You should be aware that insurance companies have been engaging in a well-financed advertising campaign for over 30 years to try to convince the general public that injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits are simply about greedy people trying to “cash in” on a tragedy. They do this because it saves them millions of dollars. […]
Before discussing wrongful death laws, let us focus for a minute on the propriety of bringing a wrongful death lawsuit in the first place. There are some who think it’s wrong to accept money because someone died. We understand that accepting money due to the death of a loved one can seem wrong. But when […]
As mentioned in previous blog posts, a criminal case is separate and independent from a civil case. Some deaths result in only a criminal case (murder or manslaughter), but no civil case. Others may result in a civil case (known as wrongful death) but no criminal case. Still others may result in both. So yes, […]
