Christopher Drotzmann - Davis Rothwell Earle & Xóchihua

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Christopher Drotzmann

shareholder | portland | LICENSED IN Oregon & Washington

(503) 222-4422 LinkedIn Email (503) 222-4428 vCard

“I handle matters the way I would want them handled if I were the client – efficiently executing the best resolution whether by motion practice, settlement, or trial.”

Investing in the value of communication

Chris Drotzmann was part of the small group of attorneys and staff to establish the firm, and an integral part of its growth ever since. With over twenty-five years’ experience, Chris has tried and arbitrated over 100 cases throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington – ranging in value from a few thousand dollars to in excess of ten million dollars.

Chris believes in the importance of communication – listening to clients’ concerns and objectives, being consistently available for questions, and keeping them informed of the process every step of the way. He enjoys the collegiality and variety of the work at Davis Rothwell, as well as the new and challenging fact patterns and legal issues each case presents. Chris works hard to create a cost-effective, strategically-planned exit strategy for his clients.

In his free time Chris enjoys running (completing the Portland Marathon in 2011 and 2012), cheering for his children’s sport teams, reading, and traveling with his family.

RECOGNITION:

Education

Willamette University – J.D., cum laude, 1996
Washington State University – B.A, 1993

Bar / Court Admissions

Oregon State Bar, 1996
United States District Court for the District of Oregon, 1997
Washington State Bar, 1997
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Professional & Civic Involvement

Panel Speaker, The Intersection of Legal Malpractice Claims and Ethics Issues (August 2017)
Speaker, Professionalism Program, Willamette University College of Law (August 2012-2017)
Speaker, Learning the Ropes, Oregon State Bar CLE, “Negotiations, Tips, Trips, Traps and Tools” (November 2012)
Rising Star, selected for inclusion on the Oregon Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (2009, 2011)
Coach, youth sports: baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer (2008-Present)
Speaker and Co-Chair, Construction Law Seminar, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel and Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (March 2008)
Chair, Construction Defect Practice Group, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (2005-2007)
Speaker, Oregon Casualty Adjusters Association, Dealing With Construction Defect Claims in Oregon (January 2006)
Speaker, Presentation to Oregon Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Construction Defect Claims in Oregon: Tendering the Claim (February 2006)
Speaker, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Annual Convention Construction/Coverage Break Out Group, Coverage Pitfalls/Opportunities in the Settlement of Construction Defect Claims (June 2005)
Speaker, Risk Management Presentation to approximately 300 real estate agents (August 2004)
Speaker, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Annual Convention Construction/Product Liability Break Out Group, Changes in Oregon and Washington Law Regarding Economic Loss Rule, Right to Repair Statute, and Product Liability Statute of Limitations (June 2004)

Notable Trial & Appellate Victories

September 2018: Three-panel arbitration on an Under-Insured Motorist claim.
August 2018: Week-long jury trial on construction defect claim in Deschutes County, Oregon.
April 2018: Arbitrated a rear-end motor vehicle accident wherein the defendant driver claimed the firm’s mechanic client did improper work on the vehicle, causing the brakes to fail at the time of the accident. The arbitrator ruled the firm’s mechanic client did not cause the claimed brake failure.
March 2018: Defense verdict involving a bicycle and pickup.
December 2017: Trial in an admitted liability case in Clark County, Washington.
September 2017: Resolved a commercial construction claim involving $50 million at issue and discovery involving dozens of deponents and millions of pages of production.
June 2017: Defended a dual broker during a two-day arbitration involving a real estate dispute over claimed inadequate disclosures.
May 2017: Obtained a dismissal of a BOLI discrimination complaint against a hotel.
April 2017: Resolved a 27-party construction defect claim involving a 27,000-square-foot single family residence on behalf of the firm’s general contractor client.
March 2017: Obtained summary judgment in favor of the firm’s attorney client on a legal malpractice case involving the sale and litigation between a franchisor and franchisee.
March 2017: Dismissal of a BOLI complaint brought against a property manager for housing discrimination.
February 2017: Secured a dismissal of a licensing complaint against a real estate broker involved in the sale of property.
December 2016: Arbitrated legal malpractice case involving commercial lease. Arbitrator awarded less than pre-lawsuit offer.
July 2016: Four-day jury trial on admitted liability motor vehicle accident.
June 2016: After four-day jury trial jury entered a defense verdict on a $1.5 million fire loss.
June 2016: Four-day jury trial in Clark County, Washington, on an admitted liability motor vehicle accident. Jury award was less than claimed medical expenses.
May 2016: Four-day jury trial on a single vehicle motor vehicle accident. Successfully proved that 75 percent of fault rested with the settled-out vehicle manufacturer for a defective stop lamp switch.
April 2016: In an admitted liability motor vehicle accident trial, the jury’s total award was less than half of sought medical expenses
March 2016: Tried for four days to a jury a UIM/PIP matter.
January 2016: Plaintiff dismisses firm client and agrees to pay client’s cost bill in multi-vehicle accident
December 2015: Arbitrator awards less than firm’s client’s pre-lawsuit offer
September 2015: Tried for five days a slip-and-fall case
August 2015: Tried an admitted liability motor vehicle accident claim

Organizational Memberships

Defense Research Institute
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section

Firm News

Plaintiff dismisses firm client and agrees to pay client’s cost bill in multi-vehicle accident
Arbitrator awards less than firm’s client’s pre-lawsuit offer
Court rules firm’s clients acquired disputed property via adverse possession resulting in dismissal of plaintiffs’ $425,000 timber trespass claim and plaintiffs agreeing to pay firm’s clients $21,000 in attorney fees
Dismissal of $2 million professional negligence, fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, and Oregon Securities claims
Three week construction defect jury trial
Court grants summary judgment in second series of motions for general contractor client
Court grants summary judgment on multiple claims against firm’s subcontractor client
Court grants summary judgment dismissing multiple claims against firm’s general contractor client
Court grants summary judgment to firm’s three clients in $10 million construction defect lawsuit
Court Dismisses Defendant’s Legal Malpractice Counterclaim; Jury Awards Firm’s Client Over $58,000 In Outstanding Attorney Fees
Bench trial results in dismissal of $15 million construction defect claim
Plaintiffs dismiss claims after day one of four-day binding arbitration
Four-day personal injury trial results in a verdict $380,000 less than plaintiff’s last demand
Pleading dismissal obtained in legal malpractice lawsuit
Six-week jury trial results in verdict substantially less than last settlement offers
Defense verdict on personal injury case