Jeffrey D. Eberhard, Lawyer at Smith Freed and Eberhard PC

Jeffrey D. Eberhard, Of Counsel Attorney
Commercial Liability Defense Negligence Trucking & Transportation Products Liability Slip and Fall Timber Trespass Tenant Landlord...

Phone:503-227-2424
Address: 111 SW Columbia St #800, Portland, OR 97201

Law Firm:	Smith Freed and Eberhard PC
Lawyer:	Jeffrey D. Eberhard
Phone:	503-227-2424
Fax:
Lawyer Title:	Of Counsel
Practice Areas:	Commercial Liability Defense Negligence Trucking & Transportation Products Liability Slip and Fall Timber Trespass Tenant Landlord Premises Liability Jobsite Injury Wrongful Death Dram Shop & Tavern Keeper Personal Lines First & Third Party / SIU Professional Lines (EPL,D&O,E&O) Construction & Development
Bio:	In Deckard v. Bunch (2016) – the most significant liquor liability case decided in the last 20 years – the Oregon Supreme Court cited extensively to Jeff’s amicus curiae brief, which detailed more than 35 years of legislative history of Oregon’s Dram Shop Act. The court ultimately adopted Jeff’s position that the legislature intended the Dram Shop Act to shield commercial alcohol providers from liability, thus rejecting the position of the entire plaintiffs’ bar (and the court of appeals) that the Dram Shop Act had created a new, plaintiff-friendly “statutory liability” claim, and bringing much-needed clarity to this area of law. In two subsequent, unrelated cases – Mason v. BCK Corporation (2018) and Balzer v. Moore (2018) – Jeff was able to secure summary judgment on all claims against his clients under the complicity doctrine of the Dram Shop Act. In each case, the plaintiff suffered catastrophic injuries after leaving a tavern as a passenger in another patron’s vehicle. In both cases, the court ruled in Jeff’s client’s favor, finding that as a matter of law the plaintiff could not recover when he had substantially contributed to that driver’s intoxication – not by buying alcohol, but instead by drinking with the driver at the tavern. The plaintiff in each case appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals, and in both cases the court affirmed the trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment in Jeff’s client’s favor under the complicity doctrine of the Dram Shop Act. In Shields v. Enterprise Leasing Company (2007), Jeff established new law in that a self-insured rental car company does have to provide liability insurance to a renter. The Washington Court of Appeals ultimately held in Shields that the Financial Responsibility Act did not require a self-insured rental car company to provide minimum third-party liability coverage. The trial court also properly dismissed the Bad Faith and Consumer Protection Act claims.
Admitted:	Admitted, United States District Court for the District of Oregon Admitted, United States District Court for the District of Western Washington
College:	University of Oregon, B.S., 1984
Law School:	Willamette University, J.D., 1987
Membership:	Member, Oregon State Bar Association Member, Washington State Bar Association Member, Council on Litigation Management NITA Master Advocate
Web:
Languages:	English
Email:	sfe(at)smithfreed.com

Lawyer Jeffrey D. Eberhard, graduated from University of Oregon, B.S., 1984 Willamette University, J.D., 1987, is now employed by Smith Freed and Eberhard PC at 111 SW Columbia St #800 Portland, OR 97201.

While being a member of Member, Oregon State Bar Association Member, Washington State Bar Association Member, Council on Litigation Management NITA Master Advocate, Jeffrey D. Eberhard is one of the more than one million lawyers in United States. Before choosing Jeffrey D. Eberhard as your lawyer, you should consider whether Jeffrey D. Eberhard offers free consultation, (if not) how much the initial interview costs, if there is any hidden attorney fees, what's the fee schedule, whether he or she has good community reputation and is able to provide a list of good references. You can also contact the Board of Professional Responsibility of the state bar, to find out if Jeffrey D. Eberhard has ever been placed under any disciplinary actions. Please be aware that, though Jeffrey D. Eberhard's office is located at Portland, OR, he or she might belong to the bar association of other states.

You should also ask how long the lawyer has been in practice, how much experience he or she has in cases like yours, and more importantly, the outcomes of those cases! Focus of the lawyer's practice and years of experience are also very important factors in your evaluation process. The more focused the lawyer's practice areas, the better service he or she could provide. So do not make decisions solely on one or two factors. Only hire lawyers you feel comfortable with as they will represent you and your interests, and you will be sharing private details about your life with them.

Jeffrey D. Eberhard has been admitted in Admitted, United States District Court for the District of Oregon Admitted, United States District Court for the District of Western Washington. His or her practice areas include Commercial Liability Defense Negligence Trucking & Transportation Products Liability Slip and Fall Timber Trespass Tenant Landlord Premises Liability Jobsite Injury Wrongful Death Dram Shop & Tavern Keeper Personal Lines First & Third Party / SIU Professional Lines (EPL,D&O,E&O) Construction & Development.

Jeffrey D. Eberhard's college and law school education includes University of Oregon, B.S., 1984, Willamette University, J.D., 1987. Other biographical background includes In Deckard v. Bunch (2016) – the most significant liquor liability case decided in the last 20 years – the Oregon Supreme Court cited extensively to Jeff’s amicus curiae brief, which detailed more than 35 years of legislative history of Oregon’s Dram Shop Act. The court ultimately adopted Jeff’s position that the legislature intended the Dram Shop Act to shield commercial alcohol providers from liability, thus rejecting the position of the entire plaintiffs’ bar (and the court of appeals) that the Dram Shop Act had created a new, plaintiff-friendly “statutory liability” claim, and bringing much-needed clarity to this area of law. In two subsequent, unrelated cases – Mason v. BCK Corporation (2018) and Balzer v. Moore (2018) – Jeff was able to secure summary judgment on all claims against his clients under the complicity doctrine of the Dram Shop Act. In each case, the plaintiff suffered catastrophic injuries after leaving a tavern as a passenger in another patron’s vehicle. In both cases, the court ruled in Jeff’s client’s favor, finding that as a matter of law the plaintiff could not recover when he had substantially contributed to that driver’s intoxication – not by buying alcohol, but instead by drinking with the driver at the tavern. The plaintiff in each case appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals, and in both cases the court affirmed the trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment in Jeff’s client’s favor under the complicity doctrine of the Dram Shop Act. In Shields v. Enterprise Leasing Company (2007), Jeff established new law in that a self-insured rental car company does have to provide liability insurance to a renter. The Washington Court of Appeals ultimately held in Shields that the Financial Responsibility Act did not require a self-insured rental car company to provide minimum third-party liability coverage. The trial court also properly dismissed the Bad Faith and Consumer Protection Act claims.. You should contact other lawyers and law firms nearby before choosing your legal representatives.

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