Ralph Spooner

Background

About Ralph Spooner

After 50 years defending insurance companies, I switched sides to represent plaintiffs. From my perspective, representing insurance companies was no longer possible. I've dedicated my career to ensuring that seriously injured people are treated fairly and expected to finish my career on the defense side. However, in recent years the insurance industry changed. It’s no longer about paying valid claims fairly; now computer algorithms and artificial intelligence are now used in making decisions without factoring in simple human decency. So, now our firm represents plaintiffs. These days, I only handle “catastrophic” cases. That is, an innocent person woke up one morning unaware that their life would be shattered before bedtime. By the time they come to me, many are intimidated by the process and are feeling weak and vulnerable. So I move the scales of justice in their favor against the big insurance industry. They rely on me to get them the money they need to help overcome the tragedy and lead successful lives. I take that responsibility very seriously and will fight fiercely to get them every dollar they deserve. In post-trial interviews, jurors often say that they find in my clients’ favor because they trusted me to tell them the truth. They see that I am a person with integrity and that credibility extends to my clients’ cases. Trial lawyers are storytellers. The facts are the facts, but the magic is in how you help the jury understand and feel about them. Facts matter but stories are the context. I have handled nearly jury trials and countless arbitrations and mediations, so I am quite comfortable in front of a judge, jury, or arbitrator. But there’s nothing more heart-pumping than standing up that first morning at the start of a case to provide your opening statement to an attentive jury, introducing them to your client, and detailing the story of the tragedy that will be unfolding in the coming days of the trial. I never take this responsibility for granted; I must do my very best every single time. If we’re going to trial, it’s because an insurance company wants to pay my client much less than they are entitled to. So, they’ll be in for the fight of their lives. That is my commitment to each and every client, as well as to the referring lawyers who have entrusted me to protect their clients. There aren’t many true warriors left in the profession. I am fortunate to have mentored a great many of them, including my partners at Spooner Staggs. They’ve tried more tough cases than just about anyone in Oregon. Let me know if we can help you too.