Practice areas: Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Oregon since: 2009
Education: Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2016 - 2022 Call today:
971-266-8877
Free Consultation The Fraser Law Firm
101 SW Main St.Suite 1900
Portland, OR 97204 Visit website
Dedicated to assisting clients in matters of personal injury, Rhett Fraser focuses his practice on cases involving medical malpractice and wrongful death, among others. Working from his office at The Fraser Law Firm in Portland, Oregon, he extends his practice to clients across the state and throughout Washington. A reliable attorney, he understands the mental and physical toll of his clients and ensures a compassionate and empathetic approach to each case he handles.
Committed to providing high-quality services to victims of medical negligence, Mr. Fraser has represented victims in medical malpractice cases against hospitals, doctors, nurses, midwives and other medical professionals. Throughout his career, he has tried cases involving birth trauma injuries, cancer misdiagnoses, dental injuries, sexual abuse and surgical mishaps to a verdict before both judges and juries. His extensive background of legal experience enables him to navigate complex cases effectively, ensuring justice for his clients while advocating for their rights.
Approaching every case with the firm belief that attorneys hold a unique opportunity to meaningfully improve their clients' lives, Mr. Fraser delivers client-centered, results-driven representation tailored to protect each individual's interests and achieve full recovery. As a result, he prepares for every case as if it were going to trial. Notably, he won a $4.7 million jury verdict in a medical malpractice case and a $4 million settlement for a client against a doctor who failed to diagnose a heart attack.
Graduating with his Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law in 2008, Mr. Fraser gained admission to the Oregon State Bar in 2009. Additionally admitted to practice law in Washington and Idaho, he ensures his clients across these states receive the support and representation necessary for their unique situations and needs. He is further licensed to practice before the federal courts in these states.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Birth Injury, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Informed Consent, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Wrongful Death
- 90% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2009, Oregon
Professional Webpage: https://www.thefraserfirm.com/our-team/rhett-fraser/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Admitted to practice law in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
- Admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
- Admitted to the United States District Courts for the District of Oregon, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, and District of Idaho.
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) – Guardian Member and Board of Governors.
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association – Co-Chair, Professional Negligence Section; Member, Amicus Curiae Committee.
- Washington State Association of Justice (WSAJ) – Eagle Member.
- American Association for Justice (AAJ) – Member; Stroke and Birth Trauma Litigation Groups.
- Owen M. Panner American Inn of Court – Member.
- National Trial Lawyers Association – Member.
- Oregon State Bar, Health Law Section – Member.
- Multnomah County Bar Association – Member; former Chair, Solo & Small Firm Committee.
- Trial Guides – Editorial Board Member.
- Oregon Justice Resource Center (OJRC) – Amicus Committee Member.
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Ransom v. Radiology Specialists of the Northwest, 363 Or. 552 (2018) – Successfully argued before the Oregon Supreme Court and authored the appellate brief for the plaintiff. The court reversed the lower court's ruling regarding the scope of discovery involving radiologists.
- Horstman v. City of Hillsboro, 718 Fed. Appx. 546 (2018) – Co-authored the Ninth Circuit appellate brief for the plaintiff concerning qualified immunity in the context of a wrongful arrest. The judgment was affirmed.
- Bates v. Andaluz Waterbirth Center, 298 Or. App. 733 (2019) – Successfully argued before the Oregon Court of Appeals and authored the appellate brief for the plaintiff in a wrongful death and arbitration dispute. The decision was affirmed.
- State v. Jaime Tinoco-Camarena, 311 Or. App. 295 (2019) – Co-authored and filed an amicus brief for the Oregon Justice Resource Center addressing brain-development science and juvenile life-without-parole issues. The conviction was reversed on other grounds.
- State v. Mincus Ward, 367 Or. 188 (2020) – Co-authored an amicus brief before the Oregon Supreme Court concerning Miranda rights, intellectual disability, and life-without-parole sentencing. The trial court was reversed on other grounds.
- Dahlton v. Kyser, 370 Or. 34 (2022) – Authored an amicus brief for OTLA concerning the discoverability of privileged medical records in a wrongful death action. The Oregon Supreme Court held that statutory beneficiaries were not automatically “parties” subject to compelled disclosure of privileged medical records.
- Martineau v. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, 371 Or. 247 (2023) – Authored an OTLA amicus brief before the Oregon Supreme Court concerning wrongful death, lost-chance claims, jury instructions, and attorney fees.
- Moore-Reed v. Anthony Griffin, Oregon Supreme Court No. S071282 – Co-authored an amicus brief for OJRC and OTLA addressing professional negligence claims against criminal defense attorneys and access-to-justice issues; decision pending at the time of the provided biography.
- Has tried numerous cases to verdict before judges and juries and has argued significant matters before the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals.
Representative Clients
- Regularly represents injured plaintiffs in medical malpractice and personal injury matters against hospitals, physicians, nurses, midwives, dentists, and other medical professionals.
Pro bono / Community Service
- Oregon State Bar volunteer mentor to law students and new lawyers.
- Oregon Justice Resource Center Amicus Committee Member, assisting with significant civil rights, criminal defense, and juvenile justice matters.
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae Committee Member, supporting Oregon consumers and injured victims through appellate advocacy.
Educational Background
- Mercer University – Walter F. George School of Law — Juris Doctor (J.D.), Law, 2005–2008.
- Mercer University — Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), History.
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- “The Horse’s Tail: A Case Study of Medical Malpractice” – Oregon Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Lawyer Magazine, Fall 2023.
- “The Expert Witness in Your Next Trial” – Oregon Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Lawyer Magazine, Winter 2025.
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association – Introduction to Obstetrical Malpractice Cases, 2020.
- Strafford – Psychiatrist and Psychologist Liability for Patient’s Harm to Self and Others; Unjustified Involuntary Commitment, 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A, 2019.
- Metropolitan Public Defenders – Expert Witnesses, Hillsboro and Portland Offices, 2019.
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association – Proving Causation in Failure to Diagnose Cancer Malpractice Cases, 2018.
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association – When Does My Criminal Defense Client Have a Federal §1983 Claim?, 2016.
- Multnomah County Bar Association – Running a Small Firm CLE.
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Devotes his legal practice exclusively to representing individuals injured through the negligence of others.
- Focuses his practice on medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and appellate litigation in state and federal courts.
- Serves on OTLA’s Board of Governors and has served as Co-Chair of its Professional Negligence Section.
- Has argued significant cases before the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals.
- Has presented continuing legal education programs for the Oregon State Bar, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, and Multnomah County Bar Association.
Honors
- Super Lawyers – Oregon Rising Stars, selected in Medical Malpractice from 2016 to the present.
- OTLA Leadership Academy, selected participant, 2018–2019.
Industry Groups
- Health Care
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2016 - 2022
