Nick Wheeler
Law
Trial Lawyer Defending Businesses and Individuals In Oregon's State and Federal Courts
LEGAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE
Defending Oregon lawyers in a wide array of legal malpractice claims arising out of civil litigation, trusts/estate planning, business disputes and criminal defense.
TRUSTS & ESTATES LITIGATION
Defending and prosecuting claims arising out of trust administration, as well as will and trust contests.
PRODUCT LIABILITY DEFENSE
RAILROAD DEFENSE
Defending manufacturers, distributors and retailers in strict product liability, negligence and breach of warranty claims, with an emphasis on mechanical and electrical failures.
Defending Class I and shortline railroads in claims brought under the FELA, LIA, SAA and FRSA.
Practice Areas
Our Philosophy
Nick Wheeler Law provides excellent quality legal work on a timely basis for a fair price.
It's that simple.
Practice Overview
Nick is a trial lawyer with a practice focused primarily on defending legal malpractice and product liability lawsuits. Despite practicing in the age of the “vanishing civil jury trial,” Nick has tried 20 jury trials in state and federal court.
Nick’s legal malpractice defense work spans a wide range of substantive practice areas, with an emphasis on defending lawyers being sued for their handling of civil litigation, estate planning/probate, business disputes and representation of criminal defendants. He also defends railroad and transportation companies along with other general property damage, personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
As a product liability attorney, Nick primarily defends product manufacturers and resellers of a wide range of industrial and consumer products, with an emphasis on mechanical and electrical failures.
Prior to opening Nick Wheeler law, Nick practiced with a well-respected midsized firm in Portland for over two decades.
Education and Bar Admissions
Nick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Oregon State University. He earned his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law, where he also served as Associate Editor of the Oregon Law Review.
Nick is a member of the Oregon State Bar, the Washington State Bar, and the United States District Court for the Districts of Oregon and the Western District of Washington.
Prior to entering private practice, Nick interned for Ancer L. Haggerty, then-Chief District Judge of the District of Oregon. He also clerked for the Appellate Division of the Oregon Department of Justice.
Recognition
Nick has received peer-review recognition through Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (since 2021), and he has also been a Fellow in Litigation Counsel of America since 2022.
Personal
Nick and his wife have two sons, ages 10 and 14. Nick enjoys just about anything outdoors, including boating, camping, and fly-fishing. When he isn’t doing one of those things, you might just find him woodworking or fabricating in his shop.
Representative Cases
Product Liability Defense
Recreational Vehicles: Obtained defense verdict on behalf of recreational vehicle manufacturer following a jury trial arising out of alleged violations of the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act and the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act, in addition to claims for strict product liability, negligence and fraud.
Farm/Industrial/Construction Equipment: Obtained directed verdict in favor of product reseller in a jury trial arising out of allegedly defective John Deere tractor that caught fire.
Building Supplies: Obtained favorable high-low settlement on behalf of product retailer in $22,750,000 product liability action arising out of allegedly defective 2”x6” board that broke under plaintiff’s body weight during the construction of the roof of a pole barn, causing extensive injuries.
Transportation: Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of product manufacture in $2,150,000 product liability action alleging the axle/suspension system on a commercial belly-dump trailer was defective and caused plaintiff’s tractor-trailer to rollover in a corner on a highway.
Medical Device/Pharmaceutical: Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of medical device manufacture in $8,500,000 product liability wrongful death action alleging decedent’s house burned down as a result of the medical device spontaneously catching fire.
Legal Malpractice Defense
Obtained defense verdict in jury trial on legal malpractice claim arising out of the alleged negligent handling of a probate estate and related advice about recovery of attorney fees.
Obtained summary judgment on plaintiff’s claimed entitlement to $300,000 in emotional distress damages in legal malpractice case arising out of lawyer’s alleged negligent handling of plaintiff’s divorce. Following summary judgment, obtained favorable settlement on what remained of plaintiff’s claim.
Railroad Defense
Obtained defense verdict in jury trial in $4,000,000 employee lawsuit for vibration-based permanent injury and disability, based on claimed violations of the Federal Employer Liability Act and the Locomotive Inspection Act.
Obtained defense verdict in jury trial in $2,250,000 employee lawsuit for permanent injury and disability based on claimed violations of the Federal Employer Liability Act and the Locomotive Inspection Act.
General Liability Defense
Obtained defense verdict in jury trial on $365,000 general liability action alleging plaintiff was negligently struck by a 30 foot metal beam being transported across the forks of a forklift by an employee.
Contact Nick
Wheeler Law
OUR ADDRESS
525 3rd St, Ste 326
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Email: nick@nickwheelerlaw.com
Tel: 503.522.9950 Click Here to Find Us
For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:
BACK TO TOP