Clark Law and Associates, LLC

The attorneys page lists Jina Clark as Managing Attorney and Brendan Burke as Associate Attorney. Other attorney names appearing in the site's navigation and attorney listings are Joseph Haley, Cameron Green and Caleb Dorrance. Staff listed are Richard Towns, Legal Assistant, and Bergomy Ostin, Financial Analyst, along with Toto, described as the Law Dog. The attorneys page states the firm handles "Oregon and Washington cases and Oregon Federal Claims", and the home page says the firm holds weekly meetings so attorneys can discuss their cases.

The office address is 6501 SW Macadam Ave #E, Portland, OR 97239; the phone for an appointment is (503) 238-1010; hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Hourly rates for civil defense, as published: "$300/hour for attorneys with less than 10 years of experience. $400 per hour for attorneys with more than 10 years of experience." Legal assistant rates are listed as "$150.00 - $200.00 depending on experience." The firm says it sometimes offers flat fees for a defined amount of work, and that when it considers a plaintiff's case high risk for a contingency fee it may offer to work on an hourly basis instead of declining the case.

For landlord and tenant matters the home page lists a $400.00/hour consultation for landlords, and for tenants an initial consultation rate of $400.00/hour after which an alternate fee arrangement may be offered.

The rates page carries this disclaimer: "Please Note: The above rates are generalized terms and rates and are subject to change without notice. Our fee agreements contain additional terms to what is listed above. Unless we have a written fee agreement we do not represent you."

No fixed prices or online quote or estimate tool are published for an individual case; for a price or cost on a specific matter, the site says to call (503) 238-1010.

The contact page lists a free initial phone consultation, offered by calling (503) 238-1010, for auto accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, diminished vehicle value, police misconduct (Oregon cases only), product liability, premises liability, slip and falls and trip and falls. It says to call attorney Jennie Clark at the same number for free initial phone consultations for criminal defense and criminal expungements (Oregon cases only). It adds this note about landlord and tenant work: "For landlord/tenant issues we do not usually offer free consultations. However, there may be an exception to our initial consult fee in relation to landlord/tenant claims, if you have a serious injury case not involving mold."

The contact page publishes this notice: "We do not accept phone or email solicitations. Mere contact with our office does NOT form an attorney/client relationship."

To book an appointment or schedule a consultation, the site says to call (503) 238-1010 for a consultation with the legal team to review the basic information of a case.

The firm explains that in most Oregon counties, cases filed for less than $50,000.00 are subject to mandatory arbitration. This includes many personal injury and other civil cases.

What is an arbitrator and how are they selected?

According to Clark Law and Associates:

• An arbitrator is a neutral and independent attorney.
• After a case is filed, the court sends the parties a list of potential arbitrators.
• The parties can try to agree on an arbitrator on or off that list.
• If they cannot agree, each side strikes two names from the list and returns it to the court.
• The court then randomly assigns an arbitrator from the remaining names.

The firm's goal when selecting or evaluating arbitrators is to choose someone with experience in the relevant area of law and who is familiar with jury verdict and settlement values for the type of case.

Where are arbitrations held?

The arbitration information page states that arbitrations are usually held in a conference room, such as:

• The arbitrator's conference room
• A courthouse conference room
• A conference room at one of the attorneys' offices

It notes that Clark Law and Associates, LLC has a conference room on the ground floor of 6501 SW Macadam Ave in Portland that is available by reservation. The specific location is generally determined by room availability and overall convenience for everyone involved.

How are the rules of evidence different from trial?

Clark Law and Associates explains that the rules of evidence are more relaxed in arbitration than at a jury or bench trial. As examples:

• Custodians of records and some expert witnesses often do not need to appear in person for documents such as medical records to be admitted.
• Expert reports are often admissible without live expert testimony, whereas they would typically be hearsay at trial without the expert present.
• When an expert witness does need to testify at arbitration, the cost is usually less because the time commitment is shorter and more predictable.

These differences tend to make arbitration less expensive and more efficient than trial.

Why arbitrate instead of going straight to a jury trial?

The firm highlights several advantages of arbitration:

• Lower overall cost, especially for medical and other expert witnesses.
• Simplified evidence procedures, reducing expenses such as subpoena fees for authenticating records.
• Faster resolution compared to a full jury trial schedule.

At the same time, there are arbitrator fees (often at least about $500.00), and there can still be other litigation costs such as depositions and record‑gathering fees.

Appealing an arbitration award

Clark Law and Associates summarizes Oregon rules this way:

• Either party has 20 days to appeal after the arbitration judgment is entered, citing UTCR 13.250(2)(b) and ORS 36.425(2)(a).
• If the appealing party does not improve its position at the later trial, that party can be ordered to pay the reasonable attorney fees, costs and disbursements of the non‑appealing party under ORS 36.425(4)(b).

Because of this risk, many cases filed for under $50,000.00 are ultimately resolved at the arbitration level rather than being appealed to a full jury trial.

Contact details

The arbitration page lists the firm's contact information as:

• Clark Law and Associates, LLC
• Address: 6501 SW Macadam Ave #E, Portland, OR 97239
• Phone: (503) 238‑1010
• Fax: (503) 238‑1212
• Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

People with questions about whether their Oregon civil or personal injury case may go to arbitration are directed to call the firm at (503) 238‑1010.

• Oregon policies: For Oregon motor vehicle insurance policies commencing after January 1, 2016, at least $15,000.00 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is required to pay accident‑related medical bills for up to two years after the accident, or until the PIP limit is used, whichever happens first. (Older policies commencing before January 1, 2016 generally had PIP that expired one year after the accident.)
• Washington policies: Washington insurers are required to offer PIP benefits; drivers who do not want PIP must reject it in writing.
• After PIP is exhausted, people usually need to use their own health insurance for further medical bills.

Does the at-fault driver's insurer reimburse my insurer?

Clark Law and Associates explains that it is normal for your own auto insurer to pay medical bills first, because liability is often disputed. Later, your insurer may seek reimbursement from the at‑fault driver's insurer, either directly or out of your settlement. In Oregon and Washington, when an insurer seeks reimbursement out of a settlement, it must generally pay its proportionate share of attorney's fees and costs under the applicable law and cases cited on the firm's FAQ page.

What if I have no auto insurance or health insurance?

The FAQ notes that some medical providers may accept a lien on a settlement when a patient has an attorney and agrees to the lien. In Oregon, if a pedestrian with no insurance is hit by a vehicle, the driver's PIP coverage can pay medical bills up to the PIP limit (for example, $15,000.00 within the first year) if the pedestrian can document that they have no insurance of any kind.

When should I contact an attorney after an auto accident?

Clark Law and Associates advises contacting an attorney immediately and not giving statements to any insurance adjuster before speaking with counsel. The FAQ warns that:

• Statements to adjusters can be misconstrued or used against an injured person.
• Some adjusters try to take recorded statements while a person is hospitalized or on strong pain medication.

The firm states that it helps clients preserve evidence, advises them on maximizing the value of their claim during recovery, and prepares a demand package after treatment is finished or the client is medically stationary.

What should I do if the other insurance company calls me?

The FAQ recommends declining to discuss the accident with the other driver's insurer until you have consulted a personal injury attorney. The firm explains that adjusters generally seek information that can weaken or deny a claim, often including a recorded statement. The FAQ says you may tell the adjuster that Clark Law and Associates, LLC will contact them regarding the accident.

Should I sign medical releases or other documents for the at-fault insurer?

Clark Law and Associates, LLC explains that PIP forms must be completed for your own insurer so that auto‑related medical bills can be paid, but that the firm generally does not recommend giving a broad medical release to the at‑fault driver's insurance company, especially while treatment is ongoing. The FAQ notes that some adjusters have contacted medical providers in ways that may be intimidating, and advises consulting the firm before signing releases or other documents for the at‑fault insurer.

When is the best time to settle?

According to the FAQ, many insurers try to offer a quick, low settlement early on. The firm says the best time to settle is usually after treatment is finished and all supporting documents have been gathered, including:

• Medical records and bills
• Wage‑loss documentation
• Property damage documentation
• Out‑of‑pocket expenses

At that point, the firm prepares a demand package, negotiates with insurers, and if a reasonable offer is not received within a reasonable time, may recommend filing a lawsuit. Some cases then resolve through arbitration or jury trial.

What if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance?

The FAQ explains that if an at‑fault driver has no liability insurance, a person's own policy may still provide coverage:

• Collision coverage can pay to repair or replace the vehicle.
• Uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage may be required to pay what the at‑fault driver would have owed, up to policy limits.

Permanent injuries and case value

Clark Law and Associates notes that if a qualified medical expert states that a person has a permanent injury from an accident, they may be able to claim additional damages such as future medical expenses, lost earning capacity and additional pain and suffering. The firm emphasizes that determining the value of a permanent‑injury claim is complex and requires proper documentation.

Statutes of limitation (deadlines)

From the FAQ:

• For most Oregon injury claims, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of injury, with limited exceptions in ORS 12.110.
• If the claim involves a governmental agency (including entities such as TriMet), a tort claim notice usually must be filed within 180 days under ORS 30.275.
• For Washington State auto accidents, the general statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident (RCW 4.16.080).

The firm explains that these are general rules only and that people should speak with an attorney promptly so that specific deadlines can be calculated based on the facts of their case.

How often do cases go to arbitration or trial?

Clark Law and Associates states that approximately half of cases settle without a lawsuit. Many others settle after a lawsuit is filed. The FAQ notes that about 10–20% of cases proceed to arbitration or jury trial. In Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties, Oregon, cases filed for under $50,000.00 must go to mandatory arbitration; if either side appeals the arbitration award and does not improve its position at trial, that party may have to pay the other side's attorney fees and expenses under ORS 36.425(4)(b).

How to contact the firm about an auto accident

The FAQ page invites people injured in Oregon or Washington State auto accidents to call (503) 238‑1010 for a free initial phone consultation, and states that attorneys can meet at the hospital or at home if the injured person cannot travel.

The contact page says to call attorney Jennie Clark at (503) 238-1010 for a free initial phone consultation for criminal defense and for criminal expungements, noting expungements are Oregon cases only.

The firm also handles civil police misconduct matters, listing wrongful arrest, excessive use of force and false imprisonment. The site describes those cases as often involving state law, federal law, criminal law, personal injury law and a variety of causes of action.

To ask about the cost of a specific criminal matter, or to book or schedule an appointment, the site says to call the Portland law firm at (503) 238-1010. The office is at 6501 SW Macadam Ave #E, Portland, OR 97239, open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

On cost, the page says most plaintiff's personal injury cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis, and that for defense of civil cases the firm charges its normal hourly rates or offers a flat fee. It notes some smaller cases worth less than $10,000.00 may qualify for attorney fees and costs under ORS 20.080 after a lawsuit is filed.

The site describes its process rather than predicting any result. It states that approximately half of all cases settle prior to litigation based upon a demand package, that if liability is denied a decision needs to be made whether filing a lawsuit is worthwhile, and that cases which do not settle are prepared for either arbitration or trial. The page discusses Oregon and Washington filing deadlines in general terms and says it is best to call so an attorney can determine the deadlines after hearing the facts of a particular case. It invites a free personal injury initial phone consultation at (503) 238-1010.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.