Practice Areas: Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Oregon since: 2000
Education: Willamette University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2013, 2019 - 2024 Call today:
503-227-1233
Virtual Appointments Dr. Aaron DeShaw Esq. PC
2350 NW York St.Portland, OR 97210 Visit website
Details
Aaron DeShaw is a personal injury lawyer with Dr. Aaron DeShaw, Esq., P.C. His $77,523,748.93 verdict in M.M. and N.S. vs. Nicolopoulos is the largest personal injury verdict in Oregon history (1), and the second largest amputation verdict in US history.(2) He has individually and with other firms, obtained over $1 billion in recoveries for his clients. He is the recipient of the Presidential Award from the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association for lifetime achievement in law.
Dr. DeShaw's practice focuses on traumatic brain injuries, amputation cases, truck crashes, car accidents, dram shop claims, wrongful death and insurance bad faith. He has over two decades of experience. He is also CEO and founder of Trial Guides, the leading litigation publishing company where he has overseen the creation of the best selling litigation method texts for lawyers. He is the co-founder of Settlement Intelligence, an AI demand letter platform for plaintiff lawyers, based upon his research on bodily injury claim software used by insurers.
After completing his undergraduate work at Willamette University, Dr. DeShaw attended Western States Chiropractic College where he earned a Doctor of Chiropractic. Returning to Willamette University College of Law, he studied and obtained his Juris Doctor. From 1996 to 2000 he concurrently attended law school and practiced as a doctor in Europe. He attended Pepperdine School of Law in London. He retired as a doctor in 2000 to work as a lawyer full time.
Dr. DeShaw is admitted to practice in both Oregon and Washington, but has also been admitted pro hac vice in other states as co-counsel. Dr. DeShaw is a member of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington State Bar Association, and the Oregon State Bar. He is a former member of the American Association for Justice and the organization’s Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Division. He is the present chair of Trial Guides' Brain Injury litigation group. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and in 2022-2023 a board member with the Oregon chapter of ABOTA.
To actively give back to his community and help as many people as possible, Dr. DeShaw was a board member of the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon from 2014 to 2021.
Throughout his career, Dr. DeShaw has helped those who were injured at the hands of another to reach verdicts and settlements totaling more than one billion dollars. With his health care background, he is uniquely qualified to handle complex medical injury cases.
The author of three books and speaker in multiple recorded CLE programs, Dr. DeShaw has been a legal resource for organizations such as BusinessWeek, MSNBC, CNN and A.M. Best. Lecturing to both legal and medical professionals, he has presented for the North American Brain Injury Society ("NABIS"), the Brain Injury Association of California Med Legal Conference, Trial Guides, the Veterans Administration, the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, the American Association for Justice, the National Trial Lawyers Association, the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon, Torts Made Perfect, 360 Advocacy, and multiple state physician and trial lawyer associations.
1. (The tobacco case, Williams v. Philip Morris, obtained a verdict of $821,485 in compensatory damages and $79.5 million in punitive damages, but was reduced to $521,485 in compensatory damages and $32 million in punitive damages.)
2. The largest amputation verdict in US history was a verdict for $95,000,000, obtained by Joseph Powers, Jr. in Illinois.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Dram Shop Laws, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 100% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2000, Oregon
Professional Webpage: https://www.deshawlaw.com/about/dr-aaron-deshaw
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Founder - Trial Guides Trial Guides is the leading litigation publisher for the plaintiff bar. Through Dr. DeShaw's founding and leadership of the company since 2002, he is considered a highly influential figure in the plaintiff's bar nationally. "Trial Guides and its founder, Aaron DeShaw, have armed, honed, and inspired more plaintiff's attorneys than anything else this century." Leading trial consultant David Ball Ph.D., author of the landmark legal books David Ball on Damages, Reptile, and Damages Evolving. Trial Guides now has published approximately 100 books and 500 audio, video or continuing legal education programs on trial practice and topics surrounding trial practice. To find out more about Trial Guides visit: https://www.trialguides.com, 2004
- Co-founder and President of Settlement Intelligence, an AI demand letter platform for plaintiff lawyers. The method for creating demand letters was designed by Dr. DeShaw in the early 2000s based upon his original research into insurance bodily injury software (Colossus, Liability Navigator, ClaimIQ) and medical bill review software. Settlement Intelligence helps lawyers obtain and organize the information in their personal injury claims based upon how insurers actually evaluate bodily injury claims in auto and premises liability claims using artificial intelligence, and then formats the demand letter in a way that is tailored for input into the insurance company software. This helps maximize personal injury claim value for plaintiff lawyers and their injured clients. To find out more about Settlement Intelligence visit: https://settlementintelligence.com, 2020
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association - Presidential Award On August 12, 2022 Oregon trial lawyer, Dr. Aaron DeShaw, Esq., received the Oregon Trial Lawyer Association's prestigious Presidential Award. The Presidential Award is given out infrequently for an outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of law. The Presidential Award was conferred by OTLA President Lara Johnson of Corson Johnson in Eugene Oregon. DeShaw is considered one of the most influential lawyers in the United States on the practice of law for the plaintiff bar through his founding and operation of Trial Guides. "Trial Guides and its founder, Aaron DeShaw, have armed, honed, and inspired more plaintiff's attorneys than anything else this century." Leading trial consultant David Ball Ph.D., author of the landmark legal books David Ball on Damages, Reptile, and Damages Evolving. The OTLA Presidential Award is a recognition of DeShaw's promotion of lawyer education throughout the United States., 2022
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Membership Aaron DeShaw was nominated and selected for the American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA") in 2022. ABOTA membership requires extensive trial work over the course of a lawyer's career, nomination by one or more members of ABOTA, as well as a positive reputation for high ethics and moral character. DeShaw was nominated to ABOTA by leading Oregon lawyers William Barton and Don Corson. His application was highly endorsed by Oregon ABOTA President Kelly Anderson. During the ceremony announcing his membership in December 2022, Oregon ABOTA President Kelly Anderson told the audience that leading trial consultant David Ball had said "Trial Guides and its founder, Aaron DeShaw, have armed, honed, and inspired more plaintiff's attorneys than anything else this century." DeShaw is the only lawyer selected for the Oregon chapter of ABOTA in 2022. Only 90 lawyers and judges in Oregon from all types of law are members of ABOTA., 2022
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Oregon Chapter Executive Board (Treasurer) Aaron DeShaw was nominated and selected for the American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA") in 2022. Due to his national reputation in the legal community, he was immediately nominated and approved as an executive board member (Treasurer) of ABOTA Oregon. , 2022
- Washington State Bar
- CEO - Trial Guides
- Oregon State Bar
- Co-Chair - AAJ Publishing, publisher for the American Association for Justice., 2010
- Guardian Member - Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
- Member - American Association for Justice
- AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Hensley v. CSC, recovered over $1 Billion for policyholders for institutional fraud and conspiracy of insurers to underpay personal injury claims using bodily injury review software. The lawsuit was a class action case against over 580 insurance companies and manufacturers of three bodily injury claims evaluation software. Co-counsel with four other law firms. Defects in programs and institutional underpayment had been detailed in Dr. DeShaw's book on Colossus. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Sikes v. Farmers. $150 million class settlement. Dr. DeShaw served as a consultant, creating strategy, analyzing data, and preparing lead lawyers for depositions in national class action against Farmers Insurance for the use of bodily injury software which systematically underpaid claims. Unable to serve as counsel due to the potential of being called as a material rebuttal witness. Policyholders were paid in excess of $150 million.
- M.M. & N.S. v. Nicolopoulos, Jury verdict for $77,523,748.93 Summary: Drunk Driving incident resulting in amputation of client MM's leg, and severe PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder of plaintiff NS. County: Multnomah Offer: $300,000 Outcome: $77,523,748.93 in compensatory damages - the largest personal injury compensatory verdict in Oregon history. (Williams v. Philip Morris was $821K in compensatory damages and $79.5 million in punitive damages, but was reduced to $521,485 in compensatory damages and $32 million in punitive damages.)
- P.N. & E.N. v. [Confidential] Confidential settlement - Wrongful Death. This was a wrongful death claim in which our office represented the estate of two children that were burned to death when the driver of their vehicle and a motorhome had a head on collision.
- Doe v. Fishing Fleet. $3,500,000.00 settlement. This was a maritime case in which client was injured by a freon leak in the boat's refrigeration system, causing extensive damage to client's heart. [The term "freon" includes chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs (such as chlorodifluoromethane). Freon is a brand name for the refrigerants R-12, R-13B1, R-22, R-410A, R-502, and R-503 manufactured by The Chemours Company.] Some parts of the chemical structure of these refrigerants is known to cause health problems including heart failure. Client died during litigation of heart failure related to the exposure to freon. This case was handled with Friedman | Rubin as co-counsel. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Triem v. State Farm Insurance, et al. $2,550,000 Binding Arbitration AwardThis case involves a personal injury claim and insurance bad faith claims against State Farm Insurance, Lyft, Indian Harbor Insurance & Toyin Alder. Client was hit while in a Lyft vehicle. She sustained a traumatic brain injury, a superior canal dehiscence of the inner ear, clavicle fracture, humerus fracture, and other injuries. The client is permanently disabled. Lyft and its insurer Indian Harbor denied both PIP and Underinsured Motorist coverage. Client's own auto insurer, State Farm, accepted coverage under one UIM policy but denied two additional Underinsured Motorist auto policies. After litigation was initiated, all parties accepted coverage, but Indian Harbor (on behalf of Lyft's driver) initially accepted coverage but then disputed the amount of coverage. All defendants denied damages, having offered $0 prior to litigation. Plaintiff's litigation also alleged insurance bad faith on the same basis as was later upheld in Moody v. Oregon Community Credit Union (decided during this case.) The parties agreed to remove the damages in the underlying case from federal court to binding arbitration. A few months before the arbitration State Farm tendered one of its policy limits of $250,000. Indian Harbor tendered what it claims is its policy limit of $50,000. The binding arbitration outcome was $2,550,000 on a $0 pre-litigation offer. The insurance bad faith cases remain pending determination by a jury.
- Confidential v. Medical Transport Company - Confidential Settlement This was an exceptionally complex traumatic brain injury case involving a client who had a pre-existing severe traumatic brain injury that had disabled him approximately one year before the case for which we represented him. He was unable to walk, use his left arm, had limited speaking abilities, a deviated left eye, and had significant cognitive and behavioral issues prior to the event for which we represented him. While seeking care for the pre-existing traumatic brain injury a medical transportation company failed to put a lift gate up when unloading him from the transport vehicle. Client was pushed backward out of the transport vehicle in a wheelchair, fell three feet and struck his head. This created a worsening of his pre-existing severe symptoms, including the onset of two seizures within a week of him being pushed out of the medical transport van. A senior adjustor was flown in for a pre-litigation mediation and the case was settled.
- C.J. v. Defendant - Confidential Settlement (Policy limit of both liability and underinsured motorist insurance) Client was an 11-year-old boy on a non-motorized scooter in an area heavily populated by children in Vancouver Washington. His friend of approximately the same age scooted up along the sidewalk with him to an intersection, but the friend stopped at a box van parked right in front of the road crossing – obstructing their view of oncoming traffic to their left. Unfortunately, our client did not stop at the box van and was hit by an oncoming pickup truck. The client sustained serious injuries including a severe traumatic brain injury with multiple skull fractures. He also had internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen. Despite excellent medical care at Randall Children’s Hospital in an attempt to surgically save the spleen, it never returned to function. Liability was denied by the driver who hit our client. The client’s parent’s underinsured motorist insurer also deemed the child at fault because the driver said that the client had simply ridden the scooter right in front of him. If that was true, our child client would have received no compensation for the severe brain injury and loss of his spleen. We hired a biomechanical and crash reconstruction expert to evaluate the vehicle weight and the police investigation distances (including the distance that our client landed on the road in front of the vehicle) to determine which party was at fault. We went into the evaluation objectively, not knowing if the claim was viable. The result of that biomechanical and crash reconstruction investigation showed that the driver was traveling 28 mph (over the speed limit) in an area where he had admitted to police that he had seen children playing that day. Further investigation on our part showed that the driver only lived two blocks away from the scene of the crash and that the community commonly had children playing in the streets including multiple basketball hoops at the side of the road. This case considered both Washington law (where the crash occurred) and Oregon law (where the underinsured motorist policy was originally written). We analyzed the legal issue of a child’s negligence because the standard for our client’s conduct was not that of an adult, but instead what a reasonable child should expect. Through our legal research, we were able to demonstrate to the insurer that they could not attribute negligence to our minor client in the same way as they would with an adult. Given the severity of the injuries, if the jury found that a “reasonable child” would not have stopped while other kids were playing in the street, we expected the verdict would be very large. Given the fact that the driver was driving in excess of the speed limit in the area despite knowing that children were playing in the streets, the fact that he regularly saw kids playing in the streets there because he only lived two blocks away, combined with our legal research on child negligence standards, both insurers paid the full amount of the insurance policies.
- Fitzgerald v. Shelby $1,600,000 record trial verdict on $25,000 offer in auto vs. motorcycle case resulting in the amputation of client's right leg. Largest recorded civil trial verdict in Columbia County, Oregon. Client was uninsured at the time, preventing recovery of non-economic damages. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Edlin v. Doe Trial Verdict of $1,125,000 on mediation offer of $37,000. Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury from auto accident. For much more about this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- J.C. v. Ready $1,050,000 mediation settlement. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in high school student caused by an SUV striking him while on a bicycle. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Confidential v. Ordonez & Rideshare Company. $1,030,000 Negligent driver hit a rideshare vehicle carrying client, resulting in multiple spinal fractures including a 5-part Jefferson burst fracture at C1. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Bell v. Trucking company $1,000,000 policy limit. Client was putting a tarp on a semi truck loaded with steel rollers that were improperly secured. The wind blew and the steel rollers came off and smashed him in the head. He was immediately knocked unconscious and sustained a skull fracture and had bleeding in his brain. Co-counsel: Langdon & Emison of Missouri. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Jones v. OISRA $800,000 post-mediation settlement. Snow ski collision with fractured ankle. Included declaration action between ski race association, defendant skier and ski race association insurer. For more information about this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Doe v. National Chain Store $800,000 Settlement in 3rd week of trial, on mediation offer of $30,000. This premises liability case was referred to our office by the client's lawyer, because there were over 50 different health care providers and a variety of complex medical conditions caused by unsafe shelving at a national retailer. The lawyer's felt our office was better qualified to handle a trial with this level of complexity. The client sustained a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury with multiple system involvement (visual, inner ear, etc.) and Alar Ligament injury in the neck after a fully loaded shelf fell on her head at a national retail store. This case went through three weeks of trial before the defense lawyers settled on the final day of trial during their last witness. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- [Confidential] v. Loy Clark Pipeline $700,000 settlement on the first day of trial. This case arose as a result of a natural gas pipeline explosion. Older plaintiff alleged the onset of a mild traumatic brain injury and inner ear injury caused by the explosion two blocks away. Defendant offered $70,000 prior to litigation and made no offer during litigation. Unlike a later trial on the same incident, the jury in one of our firm's prior cases did not find punitive damages against the gas pipeline company and returned a jury verdict for $250,000 for a person in a building closer to the blast. The client chose to avoid the risk of trial in response to a higher offer on the first day of trial. DeShaw worked on this case for several years with the law firm of Friedman Rubin, but was replaced on short notice due to health complications leading up to trial. Trial counsel were Peter Mullenix and Ken Friedman of Friedman Rubin of Bremerton Washington.
- [Confidential] v. Loy Clark Pipeline $700,000 settlement. This case arose as a result of a natural gas pipeline explosion. This claim was on behalf of a business, its owner, and his wife. Owner and wife were not physically injured, but the business was destroyed in a natural gas explosion caused when defendant hit a pipeline at NW 23rd x Glisan. Since the owner and wife were not physically injured, Oregon case law suggested that they would be unable to get noneconomic damages for their loss. Defendant offered $0 prior to litigation and made no offer during litigation taking the position that plaintiff's insurer had fully compensated them for the economic damage and that they were not entitled to any money for their personal loss. Unlike a later trial on the same incident (tried after the date this case was set for trial), the jury in one of our firm's prior cases did not find punitive damages against the gas pipeline company and returned a jury verdict for $250,000 for a person who sustained a traumatic brain injury and inner ear damage in the blast. Our legal briefing on the issue of noneconomic damages during the destruction of the business turned on our allegations, and our firm won the right to seek noneconomic damages at the trial level. Defendant was clear that they intended to appeal the trial outcome on that issue. The couple got divorced as a result of the fallout from the destruction of the business in the natural gas explosion, but there were concerns that the initial ruling in our favor on noneconomic damages would not hold up on appeal. The client chose to avoid the risk of trial in response to the defendant's offer, and after several years of litigation (delayed by COVID-19 court closures) the plaintiffs wanted to complete the litigation and the divorce rather than wait for trial and a highly likely multi-year appeal if they won. DeShaw worked on this case for several years with the law firm of Friedman Rubin, but was replaced during negotiations due to health complications leading up to trial. Trial counsel was Peter Mullenix of Friedman Rubin of Bremerton Washington.
- Lutes v. Rotchy, $700,000 trial verdict with Rick Friedman as co-counsel. Clark County Washington. Mild traumatic brain injury from trucking accident. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Confidential v. Melu, Rideshare & State Farm Insurance - $716,660.00 Settlement (Multiple Policy Limits including two Underinsured Motorist Policy Limits). Client was a passenger in a rideshare vehicle when it was hit by a drunk driver. The drunk driver was traveling at high speed and ran a red light, hitting client's rideshare vehicle. Drunk driver had been drinking at home so no dram shop cases were possible. Unfortunately, there was insufficient insurance or assets to cover this client's significant and permanent injuries. For much more on this catastrophic injury case, please visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Abrams v. Office Master $600,000 product liability settlement settlement. The client sustained a serious spinal injury as a result of a defectively designed chair collapsing. Co-counsel James Parziale. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- The Estate of Mitchell v. The Unit Owners of Oswego Summit - $550,000 trial verdict, reduced to $291,000 for comparative negligence. Our firm represented the estate of an 83-year-old woman who was a hard working matriarch of a large family. She was killed when code violations of the stairs and lighting at Oswego Summit complex in Lake Oswego resulted in her falling and dying at the scene. Insurer's offer prior to trial for her death was $0. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- C.K. v. Heiberg Garbage $550,000.00 61 year old female pedestrian run over by garbage truck causing head laceration, facial fractures, facial scarring, and bilateral complex tibia fractures, including rod insertion into one leg and permanent lower leg edema. Client returned to work within months of the collision, and despite the severity of injuries, did not expect future treatment related to the injuries beyond her pre-existing treatment, or diminished earning capacity. Total past and future economic damages were $118,000. The remainder was non-economic damages. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Price v. DJO, LLC $550,000 settlement. The client sustained erosion of the shoulder joint as a result of a defective pain pump in his shoulder. With co-counsel Beasley Allen.
- Dr. S v. Loy Clark Pipeline $500,000 high-low trial agreement with trial verdict. This case arose as a result of a natural gas pipeline explosion. Plaintiff alleged that a pre-existing mild traumatic brain injury and inner ear injury were aggravated by the blast. Defendant offered $0 prior to litigation and made no offer during litigation. Unlike a later trial on the same incident, this jury did not find punitive damages against the gas pipeline company and returned a jury verdict for $250,000. Plaintiff counsel had negotiated a high - low agreement during trial resulting in the case resolving for $500,000 - the low amount of the high-low agreement. DeShaw served as second chair in this trial with Peter Mullenix of Friedman Rubin in Seattle as primary counsel.
- Confidential v. National Pizza Franchise. $500,000 settlement. Our firm was hired as trial counsel for this case, which had already been in litigation for several months before we were hired. Prior to our involvement the client had been offered $0 for her claim. We took over most aspects of the case including writing a new demand letter, several motions and motion responses, preparing for trial, and the mediation brief. Co-counsel remained involved in the deposition and mediation. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- B.N. v. Robinson $500,000 post-mediation settlement (double policy limits). Traumatic heart damage case from motor vehicle collision, as well as sternum fracture. The amount of defendant’s insurance policy limit ($250,000) was requested pre-litigation. Defendant’s insurer failed to accept the offer, and made no counteroffer. In a mediation, defendant told plaintiff counsel to seek reduction of plaintiff’s medical bills and again made no offer. Plaintiff counsel DeShaw told the client to leave the mediation with him and that they were going to trial, since the insurer’s bad faith denial of the claim exposed the defendant to an excess verdict for an amount above his insurance policy. Dr. DeShaw used the original imaging DICOM files on the client and created 3D images from the files using a radiologist program. These images demonstrated that the area of the heart damaged was directly behind the area of the sternum fractured in the crash. These images were relayed to the defense, demonstrating that there would be no credible way to suggest that the heart damage wasn’t caused by the sternum fracture and the crash. Shortly after this, approximately two weeks before trial, the insurer called our office and agreed to settle the claim for $500,000, twice the amount of the defendant’s insurance policy limit. To learn more about this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Olsen v. GEICO $488,638.05 arbitration award (In excess of policy limits - $38,638.05 in past medical costs, $50,000 in past wage loss, and $400,000 in non-economic damages.) GEICO's offer was $0. Underinsured Motorist case. Client sustained a mild traumatic brain injury with permanent consequences resulting in cognitive, behavioral, visual and vestibular problems leading to working memory problems, and ongoing balance disturbances. Client had a few episodes of pre-existing dizziness and a few mild cognitive complaints in the years before the crash. All testing pre-crash was negative. Client diagnosed with concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, Endolymph Hydrops, as well as spinal injuries post-crash. Notably, the neuropsychological evaluation was largely normal post-crash. Client's neurologist determined with further testing that the client had damage in her dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex, resulting in decreased performance with auditory and visual stimulus - not normally experienced during neuropsych testing.
- E.C. v. Safeco. $463,000 settlement for mild traumatic brain injury as a result of motor vehicle collision. This mTBI effectively ended this doctor's career prematurely. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Dr. J.C. v. GEICO $420,281.00 arbitration award (in excess of policy limits) Mild traumatic brain injury to doctor. Client was local area physician of 40+ years, who had sustained a mild traumatic brain injury in a crash with an underinsured motorist in 2012. The traumatic brain injury was deemed “mild” despite significant personal impact, because under the medical definitions for traumatic brain injury he did not meet the >30 minute loss of consciousness criteria for moderate traumatic brain injury despite a very hard head strike inside the car. The highest settlement offer from GEICO on this case was $39,700. Case resolved by decision of a three panel, two day arbitration in October 2016. The arbitration award was significantly in excess of the client's policy.
- J.O. v. Thomas Wiser, Inc. $400,000 mediation settlement. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury as a result of motor vehicle collision. Client had significant ongoing disability. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- J.S. v. Wesco Distribution et al. $400,000 settlement for inner ear injury including semicircular canal dehiscence. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Garcia v. Stonington Insurance / QBE - $400,000 - UM litigation claim for mild traumatic brain injury. Pre-litigation offer was $5,000. Client was the owner and Principal of a Spanish immersion school she had started in the Portland area. The injury had stopped her from being able to run the school normally. In this case, we disclosed to defense counsel that he was being mislead by his own defense neuropsychologist by failing to enter correct demographic data in the client's personality testing. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Confidential v. Malu, Rideshare & State Farm Insurance - $395,840 (Multiple Policy Limits including two Underinsured Motorist Policies) Male client was a passenger in a rideshare vehicle when it was hit by a drunk driver. Drunk driver was drinking at home rather than at a bar, so no dram shop cases were possible. Client's vehicle was t-boned by drunk driver. The crashed caused intrusion into the driver's side of the rideshare vehicle. Client was found unconscious and unresponsive by EMTs from American Medical Response upon their arrival. (A person who is found unconscious and unresponsive has a Glasgow Coma Score of 3, and is defined as having a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury). He was transported to Legacy Emanuel Trauma Center.He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit “based on life threatening injuries” including traumatic brain injury with subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain). A CT performed in the ER showed that the client had sustained bilateral fractures of the skull base, left temporal lobe, petrus bone and the sphenoid process; a burst fracture of the T1-2 transverse process, comminuted fracture of the left clavicle requiring ORIF, and fractures of the left #2 and #6 ribs causing pulmonary contusions. The client, who was previously a software engineer, had ongoing cognitive problems, but returned to work shortly after he was released from the hospital. Unfortunately this client was in the same car as another catastrophically injured occupant. The insurance policies were split, with this client requesting that the other occupant be provided a higher percentage of the insurance policy as her medical bills were substantially higher, and injuries were even more extensive. The settlement of this case was only because no additional insurance or assets were available. For more information on this very interesting case, please see: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- M.S. v. Trinity Contracting et al. $395,000 settlement, Clark Co. Washington. Plaintiff sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, trigeminal nerve injury and hearing loss. Plaintiff hit by a Ford F-350 carrying a fully loaded tool trailer, which struck the client from the side. Liberty Mutual Insurance’s pre-litigation offer was $35,000. Liberty Mutual Insurance made no other offers until approximately two week before trial. A series of offers were rejected as being too low. Insurer finally offered $395,000 two days prior to trial, which was accepted by the client. Jurisdiction in a conservative county resulted in acceptance of the offer.
- Stephens v. Halsey Auto - $367,167 jury verdict. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury following motor vehicle crash. A very hard fought trial due to the fact that the client had not seen doctors for 15 years before this crash and was referred by the ER physician to a series of insurance defense doctors who all told her she was not injured. She was subsequently injured due to a failure to properly diagnose her brain injury, further complicating this case. The client had terminated just before trial, and hired Joshua Shulman at Shulman Dubois. Shulman hired DeShaw as trial counsel. Trial Verdict for $367,167 on $45,000 mediation offer. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- T.H. v. Oregon Mutual - $320,000.00 arbitration decision (in excess of insurance policy limits) Clear mild traumatic brain injury to medical assistant in hit and run parking lot collision, where uninsured motorist had a suspended license. Uninsured driver fled the scene but was caught by police and found to be uninsured. Mild traumatic brain injury caused change in cognition to a person with highly superior pre-accident IQ, and which changed the quality of her life. Client struggled with clinical billing work, at home activities, and in volunteer activities after the mild traumatic brain injury. The amount of client’s policy limit ($100,000) was requested a year before arbitration proceeding, and no offer was made. Oregon Mutual’s pre-arbitration offer was $0.00 until one week before arbitration, when $15,000 was offered.
- I.K. v. Farmers. $308,000 UIM arbitration with Jan Baisch as co-counsel. Low back injury after motor vehicle collision. Significant prior disability. Tried in the first few years of Dr. DeShaw's career as a lawyer.
- M.C. v. Smith. $300,000 mediation settlement, including $150,000 in personal assets of defendant. Unlit tractor implement tore through plaintiff's car on roadway at night, severely damaging plaintiff's arm. Defendant farmer had chosen to have no insurance on his farm, and so the only insurance available in the case came from the lead vehicle (which was substantially too far ahead of tractor to provide adequate warning.) This case was resolved within the first year of Dr. DeShaw's practice as a lawyer. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Shunk v. Shunk. $300,000 policy limit settlement in a severe brain injury case. A family member's home was improperly maintained, leading plaintiff to fall down stairs striking head and leaving him in a six week coma, and resulting in permanent cognitive problems, vision deficits and behavioral dysfunction. Given that plaintiff and defendant were cousins, plaintiff chose not to seek defendant's personal assets. In this case we had to navigate a lien for 100% of the settlement by the U.S. Coast Guard. Through diligent work, our office determined a way to keep the money for the client who would need lifetime support - supplementing his care through TriCare insurance. Our work was highly commended by the Federal Judge in Colorado who made the final determination of benefits in this case. For more on this case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
- Dr. R v. Major Retailer $295,000 settlement Major retailer dropped a sheet of plywood on client's face from overhead. Plaintiff sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, worsening of tinnitus and aggravation of a hand injury. The client received minimal care due to the injury happening just at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, compromising the value of this case. Despite multiple efforts the plaintiff was unable to schedule a neuropsychological evaluation or other evaluations for an extended time due to the pandemic. Similarly, his job was impacted by COVID-19 and so proving wage loss proved very difficult further impacting the claim value. For these reasons the client chose to settle his case for far less than the expectation given his injuries.
- Chabala v. Safeco Insurance - $276,000 Arbitration Decision (In excess of the $50,000 policy limit) Underinsured Motorist arbitration decision, for the traumatic brain injury to a real estate broker, and land developer. Pre-arbitration offer was $5,000.
- J.B. v. Major Retailer $265,000 settlement two days before trial. Client sustained a head laceration, mild traumatic brain injury and arm injury when an electric bicycle display fell on her while shopping. The client had cognitive changes, behavioral changes, visual system changes and ongoing severe headaches. Her treatment was significantly limited by her health care system and more notably by being injured just before COVID-19 health care facility closures and limitations. As a result, the case was adversely impacted due to a lack of treatment substantiating the client's injuries. Despite her best attempts to get brain injury care during COVID, she received very little of the brain injury evaluation and treatments common to a traumatic brain injury case. For these reasons the economic damages were much smaller than expected for this type of injury and the client chose to settle this case for far less than the expectation given her injuries.
- Dr. S v. Safeco Insurance, $264,236 settlement. Physician sustained permanent cognitive damage and behavioral changes from a mild traumatic brain injury, making practice difficult and leading to decreased earnings. Client requested settlement for a lesser amount, rather than continue with the stress of litigation with his insurer.
- Estate of T.H. v. Farmers Insurance & Lachman - $250,000 wrongful death settlement (policy limits) Client was injured in a moderate severity car crash. Due to significant pre-accident health conditions and blood thinner use, the impact caused a slow bleed in his brain that led to his death. Due to not seeking medical treatment for three days post injury, the brain damage was so serious by the time he reported to the ER, that he was inoperable and went into a coma shortly after arriving at the hospital. Despite an initial intention to fight the claim due to Mr. Hawk’s failure to seek appropriate treatment, the at fault driver’s insurer, through her defense lawyer, offered her policy limit of $50,000. Mr. Hawk’s own insurance through Farmers Insurance, agreed to pay the remaining $200,000 policy limit for his death.
- G.S v. Farmers Insurance. $222,000 UIM arbitration award. Chronic pain after two motor vehicle collisions occurring closely together both of which showed little or no vehicle damage. Client had extensive pre-crash injury history including degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease in his spine. Pre-arbitration offer from the client's insurer was $0.
- H.B. v. Progressive Insurance. $181,000 arbitration award on $5,000 offer. Neck injury in UIM case arising out of drunk driving incident. Arbitrators decided that due to a failure of treating doctor to note the brain injury and temporal lobe seizures, they could not be considered as part of the arbitration award. This case was referred to us by a Washington lawyer who became a judge prior to completion of the case. For more on this very difficult case visit: https://www.deshawlaw.com/results
Videos:
- This is a webinar by lawyer Aaron DeShaw and legal consultant Charlette Sinclair on current trends in writing demand letters in motor vehicle cases including a discussion of: Demand letter styles (medical timeline, pure narrative, insurance software based, etc.) The use of insurance claim software by auto insurers Instances when a narrative should be used with certain injuries The danger of using unsubstantiated financial projections The danger of using comparable verdicts obtained by other lawyers The importance of going to trial, and its effect on settlement offers, AI Demand Letters in Auto Cases, Personal Injury, 2023
- Designed to educate paralegals and other legal staff, this webinar provides basic anatomy information to help lawyers and legal staff obtain optimal outcomes in personal injury claims. , Anatomy Basics for Lawyers and Paralegals in Personal Injury Claims, Personal Injury, 2022
- In this 120-minute course, practicing trial lawyer and retired Doctor of Chiropractic, Aaron DeShaw, expands on his previous lecture on anatomy and discusses diagnostic language, and many of the most common types of traumatic injuries. Dr. DeShaw will also discuss the most common traumatic injuries in personal injury cases, including: Spinal injuries Nerve injuries Sprain/strain injuries Fractures Wrist injuries Shoulder injuries Knee injuries Internal organ injuries Inner ear injuries, Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases, Personal Injury, 2022
- Spinal injuries are some of the most common injuries caused by personal injury events. The spine is also commonly involved in medical malpractice events given the prevalence of spinal surgeries. In this session, Dr. DeShaw provides basic information about the spine so that you can obtain better outcomes when handling spinal injury claims. By better understanding the anatomy, you (and your legal staff) will be able to properly identify the spinal injuries involved in your case, and argue your client's case. The following areas will be addressed: Basic anatomical terms Planes of motion Anatomy of the cervical spine Anatomy of the thoracic spine Anatomy of the lumbar spine Anatomy of the pelvic ring, including the ilium, ischium, sacrum and coccyx Joints of the spine Intervertebral discs Commonly injured ligaments Neurology and the spine: Brain, brainstem and cranial nerves, spinal cord, autonomic nervous system, peripheral nerves. This presentation sets the stage for the remaining sessions in Trial Guides' six part series on handling spinal injury claims. This series aims to improve your ability to convey information regarding spinal injuries, as well as litigate spinal injury claims., Spinal Injury Cases, Session One: Basic Spinal Anatomy for Lawyers and Legal Staff (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, Personal Injury Defense, Medical Malpractice Plaintiff, Medical Malpractice Defense, 2021
- In the second session on spinal injury cases, Dr. DeShaw provides information on both common and uncommon spinal injuries so that you and your firm can obtain better outcomes when handling spinal injury claims. The following areas will be addressed: Sprains and how they differ from strains Scientific evidence of chronic spinal pain after trauma The myth of symptom resolution within 4–6 weeks Nervous system injuries (CNS, brain, brainstem and spinal cord) Autonomic nervous system Peripheral nerve injuries Nerve root impingement vs. other injury Multiple crush syndrome Disc Injuries Bulge Herniation Protrusion Extrusion Fragmented extrusion/sequestration Stenosis (trauma vs. arthritis) Soft-tissue injuries and how weather changes affect pain Common orthopedic/neurological testing and what it tells you Facet injuries Spinal fractures The effect of spinal degeneration before and after trauma on a claim Ligament injury and spinal instability—how do you tell, and what is the value? This presentation will help you better understand the types of spinal injuries in the cases you handle, and how to best document and communicate those injuries to insurers for settlement, ADR, or litigation. , Spinal Injury Cases, Session Two: Common Spinal Injuries (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, Medical Malpractice Plaintiff, Personal Injury Defense, 2021
- In the third session in this series, Dr. DeShaw provides information on spinal injury claims including information on treatment methods, supporting evidence, expert witnesses, and common defenses. These matters are addressed to ensure that you and your firm can obtain better outcomes when handling spinal injury claims. The following topic areas will be addressed in this webinar: Treatment methods Treatment provider types Expert witnesses Healthcare (Including discussion on healthcare provider qualifications) Additional expert witnesses necessary in minor impact cases Common defenses: osteoarthritis as a pre-existing condition Imaging methods (X-ray, DMX, MRI, MRA, CT, and bone scan) AMA impairment ratings This webinar will help you better understand the types of treating providers and expert consultants that are necessary in spinal injury cases. We will consider specialty imaging and medical reports that help confirm the economic/special and noneconomic/general damages in your cases. And the use of medical imaging and medical illustrations in your demand letter and litigation will also be considered. This information will help you better document and communicate your client’s spinal injuries to insurers to increase outcomes in settlement, ADR, or trial. , Spinal Injury Cases, Session Three: Treating Providers, Imaging, Additional Examinations & Expert Opinions, Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2021
- In this session, retired doctor and practicing trial lawyer Aaron DeShaw shares important information for successfully handling spinal injury claims during prelitigation so that you and your firm can obtain better outcomes for your clients. Dr. DeShaw will address the following topics in this 90-minute presentation: Assisting the insurer to set reserves and getting an adjustor with sufficient authority to settle Important insurer expectations for treatment Determining if there are medical images or illustrations that can be used for the demand letter The importance of having all medical bills and records the first time you submit the case for evaluation Ensuring you have the correct expert reports, potentially including AMA impairment ratings Medical bill review software Bodily injury software for spinal injury cases The best format for writing spinal injury demand letters This presentation is designed to help you optimize how you handle spinal injury claims during prelitigation and improve your ability to best represent your injured clients., Spinal Injury Cases, Session Four: Prelitigation Tactics & Demand Letters (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2021
- In the fifth session on handling spinal injury cases by retired doctor and practicing trial lawyer Aaron DeShaw, Dr. DeShaw is joined by lawyer and cross-examination expert Dorothy Clay Sims. In this presentation, DeShaw and Sims will share information about cross-examining defense experts so that you and your firm can obtain better settlements and verdicts in spinal injury cases., Spinal Injury Cases, Session Five: Cross-Examining Defense Experts (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2021
- In part six of Trial Guides’ educational series on handling spinal injury cases by retired doctor and practicing trial lawyer Aaron DeShaw, Dr. DeShaw is joined by Florida trial lawyer Matt Powell. In this program, DeShaw and Powell provide information that will help you perfect how your handle of spinal injury litigation., Spinal Injury Cases, Session Six: Litigation (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2021
- Recent insurance industry data from the Insurance Research Council demonstrates that doctors of chiropractic are now the leading health care providers in personal injury claims, with 40 percent of all injured parties seeking chiropractic care. In spinal injury cases, the percentage is likely even higher. Yet many lawyers still have concerns about working on cases where a doctor of chiropractic is the primary provider, and some lawyers will decline these cases altogether. But, there is a way to obtain great outcomes with doctors of chiropractic as your primary expert witness. This program will address several issues: Case outcomes with chiropractic testimony versus medical doctor testimony The differences in education between DCs, MDs, other health care providers, and JDs The basis of bias within the legal profession about DCs, including judges and the impact upon admissibility The basis of bias within the jury pool, where it came from and how to elicit this bias in voir dire Best practices in qualifying doctors of chiropractic during arbitration and trial testimony This CLE presentation features trial lawyers Aaron DeShaw, Peter Anderson, and Matt Powell. DeShaw, a former doctor of chiropractic, will discuss statistical data looking at comparisons between trial verdicts with chiropractor testimony versus trial verdicts with only medical doctor testimony. DeShaw will also discuss how to qualify doctors of chiropractic to avoid, and defeat, evidentiary motions to limit the scope of a DC’s testimony. Lastly, he will address where the historical bias against doctors of chiropractic comes from and how to minimize its impact with the trial judge—as well as with the jury during voir dire. , Working with Chiropractors in Personal Injury Cases (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2021
- Traumatic brain injuries are among the most devastating of injuries. They can end a career or marriage, and do so without changing a client’s external appearance. Yet many lawyers don’t recognize the basic symptoms of a TBI, and others fail to recognize the entire spectrum of symptoms associated with a TBI and its associated conditions. Without understanding the full effect of the injury, and the impact on the client, lawyers cannot obtain a fair outcome in settlement or trial for these clients. In this presentation, Trial Guides founder and noted brain injury lawyer, Aaron DeShaw, discusses the three main effects of a brain injury, along with 13 associated types of conditions. He also addresses literature citations that demonstrate that TBIs are missed in the ER more often than they are diagnosed, the likelihood that a TBI is permanent, and why a normal neurological examination does not rule out the presence of a TBI. If you handle personal injury cases, you won’t want to miss this comprehensive presentation on handling traumatic brain injury cases., Overview of Traumatic Brain Injuries (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, Medical Malpractice Plaintiff, 2020
- In this presentation, noted brain injury lawyer, Aaron DeShaw, provides 12 reasons why the Fake Bad Scale is not valid and how you can either strike the test through motions, or expose the defense doctor for using junk science in an attempt to mislead the jury. DeShaw teaches the basis to strike, and how to approach a cross-examination of the defense neuropsychologist or psychiatrist in deposition and trial., Discrediting the Fake Bad Scale (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, Medical Malpractice, Psychological Injury, 2020
- In this video, nationally recognized demand letter expert and brain injury lawyer, Aaron DeShaw, provides insights into how to write an effective demand letter in traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases., Writing Demand Letters for Traumatic Brain Injuries (Continuing Legal Education video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2019
- Dr. DeShaw's video on insurance claim software program including Colossus, Liability Navigator and ClaimIQ, as well as the way to write demand letters in personal injury claims to provide the information for correct evaluation to insurance adjustors., Demand Letters (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2018
- This DVD set contains highlights from the first advanced Trial Guides CLE seminar dedicated to motor vehicle cases. It features epidemiologist/crash reconstructionist Dr. Arthur Croft, researcher Dr. Paul Ivancic, and trial lawyer Dr. Aaron DeShaw. In addition to handling a wide variety of issues related to injury causation, accident reconstruction, and typical defenses related to all types of auto cases, the set also addresses challenges specific to minor impact cases. It provides an advanced and in-depth consideration of motor vehicle cases that will take you from the fundamentals of insurance claims settlement and through more advanced topics., Mastering Motor Vehicle Cases (Continuing Legal Education video), Personal Injury, 2015
- This video features trial lawyer Dr. Aaron DeShaw lecturing on commonly missed traumatic injuries in personal injury cases. It includes presentations on traumatic brain injuries, inner ear injuries, C1 ligament injuries, and more. DeShaw guides you through advanced medical imaging, and how you can use it to prove these serious injuries. Jurors, mediators, and others can often misinterpret these injuries as malingering or symptom magnification. He takes you through the symptoms you should expect to see in these injuries, what they mean, and how insurers and lawyers can mistake these for insignificant injuries. This DVD set includes a detailed look into how cutting edge imaging proves C1 instability using motion x-ray studies, how craniocervical MRIs show Alar and Transverse ligament damage, and how what seems like a simple neck injury can lead to permanent disability., Traumatic Injuries (Continuing Legal Education Video), Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2009
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- DeShaw is a former Doctor of Chiropractic, who practiced in the US and Europe prior to his legal career.
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Board Member Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon Aaron DeShaw was a board member of the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon from 2013 to 2021. At the Executive Director's request, Dr. DeShaw would visit with brain injury survivors or their families to help plan for their future. He often gave free advice about seeking the best health care providers or facilities for injured people (who he did not legally represent.) In addition Dr. DeShaw advised the Oregon State Legislature on the need for treatment benefits for first responders (EMTs, police, firefighters, etc.) on brain injuries and PTSD associated with their work. Lastly, Dr. DeShaw would provide statewide lectures to health facilities and health care providers on better understanding the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, including at the Veteran's Administration. He was a frequent lecturer at the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon's annual conference (including the Keynote lecture in 2020) for health care providers and lawyers handling different aspects of law in which neurotrauma was involved. All of these activities were done free of charge, as was his time as a board member of the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon.
Honors/Awards:
- Dr. Aaron DeShaw, Esq., received the Oregon Trial Lawyer Association's prestigious Presidential Award in August 2022. The Presidential Award is given out infrequently for an outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of law. Few lawyers have received this award in the history of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. The Presidential Award was conferred by OTLA President Lara Johnson of Corson Johnson in Eugene Oregon. DeShaw is considered one of the most influential lawyers in the United States on the practice of law for the plaintiff bar through his founding and operation of Trial Guides. "Trial Guides and its founder, Aaron DeShaw, have armed, honed, and inspired more plaintiff's attorneys than anything else this century." Leading trial consultant David Ball Ph.D., author of the landmark legal books David Ball on Damages, Reptile, and Damages Evolving. The OTLA Presidential Award is a recognition of DeShaw's promotion of lawyer education throughout the United States., Presidential Award, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2022
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Membership Aaron DeShaw was nominated and selected for the American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA") in 2022. ABOTA membership requires extensive trial work over the course of a lawyer's career, nomination by one or more members of ABOTA, as well as a positive reputation for high ethics and moral character. DeShaw was nominated to ABOTA by leading Oregon lawyers William Barton and Don Corson. His application was highly endorsed by Oregon ABOTA President Kelly Anderson. During the ceremony announcing his membership in December 2022, Oregon ABOTA President Kelly Anderson told the audience that leading trial consultant David Ball had said "Trial Guides and its founder, Aaron DeShaw, have armed, honed, and inspired more plaintiff's attorneys than anything else this century." DeShaw is the only lawyer selected for the Oregon chapter of ABOTA in 2022. Only 90 lawyers and judges in Oregon from all types of law are members of ABOTA., American Board of Trial Advocates Member, American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA"), 2022
- Selected as Top 5% of lawyers in Oregon in Personal Injury law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers in Portland Oregon, Forbes Magazine, 2024
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Oregon Chapter Executive Board (Treasurer) Aaron DeShaw was nominated and selected for the American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA") for the period of December 2022 to December 2023. Due to his national reputation in the legal community, he was immediately nominated and approved as an executive board member (Treasurer) of ABOTA Oregon. , Executive Board, American Board of Trial Advocates - Oregon Chapter, 2023
- Selected as Top 5% of lawyers in Oregon in Personal Injury law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2023
- Fellowship in the International College of Chiropractic is considered the highest honor for Doctors of Chiropractic, and is only granted to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the chiropractic profession. Members are selected based upon nomination and unanimous approval of the FICC board. Doctors are only allowed one opportunity to be granted FICC status in their lifetime and if not unanimously approved, do not get the fellowship. DeShaw is a former Doctor of Chiropractic, but was selected due to his outstanding achievements in changing perceptions of Doctors of Chiropractic through his legal publishing and continuing legal education company Trial Guides., Fellow of the International College of Chiropractic, International College of Chiropractic, 2022
- Selected as Top 5% of lawyers in Oregon in Personal Injury law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2022
- Selected as Top 5% of lawyers in Oregon in Personal Injury law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Selected as Top 5% of lawyers in Oregon in Personal Injury law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2020
- Selected as Top 5% of lawyers in Oregon in Personal Injury law., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2019
- Selected for Super Lawyers 2013 in Oregon, Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers - Oregon, 2013
- Super Lawyers - Oregon - 2012, Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2012
- DeShaw was co-chair of AAJ Publishing, the legal publisher for the American Association for Justice., American Association for Justice - Publishing Division, 2010
- One of Oregon's leading lawyers selected for Barton's Boot Camp, an invitation only event for the state's leading trial lawyers. Selected by Bill Barton in the second year of the event., Barton Boot Camp Member, Barton Boot Camp
Educational Background:
- Doctorate of Chiropractic from Western States Chiropractic College., 1993
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- DeShaw authored a 40+ page chapter on personal injury demand letters and litigation strategy for a compilation book "Winning Settlements" with several other leading plaintiff lawyers nationally including Nick Rowley (California), Randi McGinn (New Mexico), Michael Leizerman (Ohio), Joe Fried (Georgia) and many others., Co-author, Winning Settlements, Trial Guides, Legal, 2024
- DeShaw authored one chapter on auto insurance claim handling in a two-volume, 976 page book by 60 legal subject matter experts, including Gerry Spence (Wyoming), Bill Barton (Oregon), Lisa Blue (Texas), Frank Branson (Texas), Michael Berg (Colorado), Dr. Arthur Croft (California), Robert Hirschhorn, Mark Kosieradzki, Mark Lanier (Texas), Judith Livingston (New York), Michael Maggiano, Patrick Malone (Washington DC), Randi McGinn (New Mexico), Peter Perlman, David Wenner (Arizona) and many more. The book is the 4th edition of Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit and was edited by John Romano of Florida for the American Association for Justice (formerly "ATLA")., Co-author, Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, American Association for Justice / Trial Guides, Legal, 2015
- Text on insurance software related to the review and reduction of medical bills in personal injury cases., Procedure & Billing Denials, Trial Guides, 2005
- High level conference for physicians, and auto researchers on all aspects of auto injuries ranging from discussions on car seat design to crash testing to injury prevention and treatment, to dealing with litigation in auto claims. DeShaw spoke on insurance claims practices in auto claims. He was joined by Brian O'Neil (from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety - creator of the national crash test program), the designer of the Saab safety seat, Dr. Michael Freeman, Dr. Arthur Croft, and others., Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices in Personal Injury Cases, CRASH, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
- Vermont Trial Lawyer Journal article on Colossus insurance software., Colossus, Vermont Association For Justice
- Lecture to ADR certificate program participants regarding the negotiation with insurers using claims software., Lecturer, Negotiating with Insurers using Colossus, Willamette University College Of Law Negotiation Seminar
- Article on negotiating non-demonstrable cases analyzed by Colossus insurance software., Negotiating a Non-Demonstrable Case, Forum, Consumer Attorneys Association Of Los Angeles
- Lecture for ATLA Jazzfest Auto Seminar on the topic of Colossus claims software., Lecturer, Colossus, Jazzfest Auto Seminar, ATLA
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, Trial Trends, Montana Trial Lawyers Association
- Webinar recording of lecture on handling neck injury cases., Speaker, Increasing Claim Value on Neck Injury Cases, Trial Guides, 2013
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, Louisiana Advocates, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
- Webinar recording of insurance company methods of defending minor impact cases and how to overcome those with science, physics and trial preparation., Speaker, Overcoming "Minor Impact" Defenses in Auto Cases, Trial Guides, 2013
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, Trial Briefs, North Carolina Association For Justice
- Webinar recording for lawyers on how to qualify chiropractors to testify in trial., Speaker, Working with Chiropractors on Auto Cases, Trial Guides, 2012
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, The Gavel, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, The Verdict, Wisconsin Academy Of Trial Lawyers
- Lecture on litigation trends and writing demand letters., Keynote Speaker, Iowa Association For Justice, 2014
- Article on the evaluation of soft tissue injury cases in the Colossus insurance software program., Author, Soft Tissue Cases in Colossus, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, ATLA
- Speaker at national advanced course on handling auto accident cases. Spoke on spinal cord injuries and disc herniation claims., Speaker, Auto Litigation 3.0 (Chicago), 360 Advocacy, 2014
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, Advocate, Consumer Attorneys Association For Southern California
- Spoke on writing demand letters in auto claims, Speaker, Writing Demand Letters, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
- Article on Colossus insurance software, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, The Idaho Trial Lawyers Association Journal, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecture on cross examining psychologists and neuropsychologists in trial., Speaker, Cross Examining the Neuropsychologist, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
- Article on negotiating a non-demonstrable (non-visible) injury claim with insurers using insurance claims software., Author, Negotiating a Non-Demonstrable Case, Colorado Trial Lawyer Association publication, Colorado Trial Lawyer Association
- Lecture for physicians at the Brain Injury Association of Oregon's annual convention on diagnosing traumatic brain injuries., Speaker, Detecting Traumatic Brain Injury Cases, Annual Convention, Brain Injury Alliance Of Oregon, 2014
- Article discussing the negotiation of non-visible injuries evaluated by insurance claims software., Author, Negotiating a Non-Demonstrable Case, The Prairie Barrister, Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys
- Speaker for the BIAOR at the Eugene Veterans Administration to doctors and therapists who work with veterans on the topic of brain injury., Keynote Speaker, Diagnosing and Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries, Brain Injury Alliance Of Oregon, 2014
- Article for lawyers on understanding how claim software analyzes auto injury claims, Author, Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, Journal of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Academy Of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Day long continuing education event for doctors on diagnosing, advanced imaging, and working with other professionals on traumatic brain injury cases. Lecture was approximately six hours long., Keynote Speaker, Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injuries, Oregon Chiropractic Association, 2014
- Lecture for the legal track at the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon's annual convention. (Announced Muriel Lezak, Ph.D., coauthor of Neuropsychological Assessment, for prior lecture.), Speaker, Cross Examining the Neuropsychologist in Brain Injury Cases, Brain Injury Alliance Of Oregon, 2014
- Lecture on Colossus., Lecturer, Colossus, Blockbuster Auto Seminar, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecture on cross examining psychologists and neuropsychologists in trial., Speaker, Cross Examining the Neuropsychologist, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2013
- Lecture on negotiating settlements with insurers using claims assessment software like Colossus., Lecturer, Colossus in Settlement Negotiation, Torts Made Perfect
- Lecture for the physician track of the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon's annual convention on advanced brain imaging methods including 3T MRI, SWI, DTI, CT, PET, SPECT, HDFT, MEG, etc., Speaker, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging in Brain Injury Cases, Brain Injury Alliance Of Oregon, 2013
- Lengthy lecture for lawyers with a panel of medical specialists on detecting cervical spine injuries and trying cases for those injuries., Lecturer, Trying Cervical Injury Cases, Neck Injury and Treatment Seminar, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecture with Rick Friedman and Dr. Arthur Croft for an audience of doctors and lawyers on the topic of detecting traumatic brain injuries and litigating those cases. Four Seasons Hotel - Seattle., Lecturer, Traumatic Injuries, Trial Guides
- Lecture for physicians and lawyers on detecting traumatic injuries and litigating cases., Lecturer, Traumatic Injuries, Personal Injury Advanced Topics, Trial Guides
- Lectured on Colossus claims program. On program with Mark Lanier, Cliff Atkinson, Milton Grimes, etc., Lecturer, Colossus, Annual Conference, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association
- Lectured on detecting and trying traumatic injury cases. On program with Mark Lanier, Cliff Atkinson, Milton Grimes, etc. , Lecturer, Traumatic Injuries, Annual Conference, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecture for lawyers and physicians on the handling of traumatic brain injury cases., Lecturer, Handling and Trying Brain Injury Cases, Brain Injury Association Of Oregon
- Lecture for settlement CLE on how to use negotiation methods that correlate with the insurance industry's Colossus software., Lecturer, Colossus Settlement Practices, Settlement Summit CLE, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
- Day long lecture for doctors and lawyers on insurance claims practices that impact auto injury claims., Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices, SRISD Module 4 - Orlando, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
- Full day lecture for doctors and lawyers on insurance claims practices that impact auto injury claims., Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices, SRISD Module 4 - New York, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
- Full day lecture for doctors and lawyers on insurance claims practices that impact auto injury claims., Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices, SRISD Module 4 - Las Vegas, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
- DeShaw's book Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyers Needs to Know, uncovered the auto insurance industry's adherence to computer generated evaluations for bodily injury claims., Colossus: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know, Trial Guides, 2004
- Full day lecture for doctors and lawyers on insurance claims practices that impact auto injury claims., Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices, SRISD Module 4 - Chicago, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
- Full day lecture for lawyers on national insurance claims practices with insurance consultant Gary Fye., Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices, Insurance Claims Practices, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecture on handling litigation cases involving injuries to the alar and transverse ligaments in the upper neck. Lecture to a mixed group of physicians and lawyers., Lecturer, Handling Alar & Transverse Ligament Injury Litigation Cases, Innovator Seminar
- Discussion of insurance claims practices in personal injury cases, Lecturer, Insurance Claims Practices in Personal Injury Cases, American Association For Justice Convention
- DeShaw's book Colossus: What Every Physician Needs to Know, uncovered the auto insurance industry's adherence to computer generated evaluations for bodily injury claims. This book was written for physicians treating people injured in auto accidents, Colossus: What Every Physician Needs to Know, Trial Guides, 2004
- Lecture on traumatic alar and transverse ligament injuries in the upper neck, during the 2010 Annual Convention of the American Association for Justice in Vancouver BC., Lecturer, Alar & Transverse Ligament Injuries After Trauma, American Association For Justice
- This CD provides physicians with the clinical forms necessary when dealing with modern insurance companies on personal injury cases., Colossus: Physician Forms CD, Trial Guides, 2004
- Lecture on insurance claims handling practices for a group of doctors and lawyers., Lecturer, How Insurance Companies Really Handle Claims, SRISD Module 3, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
- This CD provides lawyers with the necessary forms to obtain higher offers in auto accident cases evaluated by bodily injury claim software like Colossus., Colossus: Lawyer Forms CD, Trial Guides, 2004
- Lecture on the bad faith aspects of an insurers handling of claims using the Colossus claims programs., Lecturer, Colossus, Montana Bad Faith Seminar, Montana Trial Lawyers Association
- This video contains Dr. DeShaw’s lecture on spotting commonly missed traumatic injuries in personal injury cases. It includes presentations on traumatic brain injuries, inner ear injuries, C1 ligament injuries, and more., Traumatic Injuries, Trial Guides, 2009
- Lecture on insurance company claims handling at scientific conference for doctors who treat traumatic injuries., Lecturer, Colossus, SRISD Scientific Conference, Spine Research Institute Of San Diego
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Highest Personal Injury Jury Verdict in Oregon History - $77,523,748.93M.M. & N.S. v. Nicolopoulos - $77,523,748.93 compensatory damages jury verdict Summary: Drunk Driving incident resulting in amputation of client MM's leg, and severe PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder of plaintiff NS. County: Multnomah Offer: $300,000 Outcome: $79,000,000 in compensatory damages - the largest personal injury compensatory verdict in Oregon history. (Williams v. Philip Morris was $821K in compensatory damages and $79.5 million in punitive damages, but was reduced to $521,485 in compensatory damages and $32 million in punitive damages.)
- Founder and CEO of legal publisher Trial Guides. Through his founding and operation of legal publisher Trial Guides, DeShaw is considered one of the most influential plaintiff lawyers in the country, overseeing the creation of many of the best selling legal texts including Rules of the Road, David Ball on Damages, Polarizing the Case, and many more. He was also a consultant on Don Keenan and David Ball's highly influential book "Reptile" originally distributed by Trial Guides. In 2010 after six years in business, DeShaw led Trial Guides to take over publishing for the American Association for Justice from Thomson Reuters / West Legal Publishing. Trial Guides is now the legal publisher of choice for the nation's leading plaintiff lawyers, including more authors from the Inner Circle of Advocates than all other legal publishers combined. DeShaw's leadership provides him access to cutting edge litigation tactics well in advance of their release to the legal community.
- CEO and co-founder of AI legal company, Settlement Intelligence. The company is an AI platform that helps plaintiff lawyers generate demand letters to insurers. The platform is based upon DeShaw's 20+ years of research into insurance claim software - allowing lawyers to capture the claim factors provided value by the insurer's software. Settlement Intelligence is the first AI demand letter platform, and has a provisional patent on the company's proprietary method of creating demand letters for plaintiff lawyers., 2020
- Co-Chair of AAJ Publishing, the publishing division of the American Association for Justice., 2010
Industry Groups:
- OTLA
Selections
8 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2013, 2019 - 2024
