John Knottnerus

Practice Areas

Mr. Knottnerus has over 35 years of experience as a civil litigator and is a Senior/Founding Partner of the firm. His practice emphasizes product liability defense, insurance coverage and defense, premises liability, and complex commercial litigation.

Education

Mr. Knottnerus received his Bachelor of Science degree, with honors, from the University of Montana in 1986, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon in 1989, where he was awarded Order of the Coif.

Court Admissions

Mr. Knottnerus is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts of Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and has been admitted pro hac vice for matters in several other states including California, Montana, Michigan, Louisiana, and Texas. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Professional Recognition and Affiliations

Mr. Knottnerus has been consistently rated as a Super Lawyer and is an AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.  Mr. Knottnerus has also been included in The Best Lawyers in America©, for many years in the practice area of Product Liability Litigation.

Mr. Knottnerus is a member of the Oregon, Washington and Alaska Bar Associations. He is a sustaining member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), and a member of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC), Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) and Defense Research Institute (DRI). He has served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Product Liability Committee of the OADC and served on the Executive Committee for the Product Liability Section of the Oregon State Bar.  Mr. Knottnerus is also a member of the Tort & Insurance Practice Section and Product Liability Committee of the American Bar Association.

Products Cases

  • Representation of numerous automobile, truck and component manufacturers in product liability cases involving crashworthiness, handling and stability, fires, tire failure, occupant restraint systems, rollovers, supplemental restraint systems, fuel and electrical systems, advanced driver assistance systems, asbestos, warnings, and other related matters.
  • Representation of manufacturers of recreational and motorsport products, including motorcycles, ATV’s, side-by-sides, firearms, helmets and various sporting goods in various product liability cases.  Mr. Knottnerus has particular experience working with foreign witnesses and engineers for testimony in deposition and at trial.  Mr. Knottnerus has served as national coordinating counsel to Yamaha for cases and trials around the United States.
  • Representation of manufacturers of industrial, construction and agricultural equipment including lift trucks, generators, forklifts, excavators, track hoes, backhoes, jacks, loaders, tractors, conveyors, compactors, handheld and industrial tools, mowers, refrigeration systems, bearing failure, and a variety of other matters.
  • Representation of manufacturers of various consumer products such as home appliances, laptops, charging systems, fuel systems, electrical systems and hydraulic
  • Representation of manufacturers of various medical devices such as implants, surgical tools, instrumentation devices, washers, radiation treatment and therapy devices, and dental as well as optometry equipment and products.  

           

Liability Defense & Insurance Coverage Experience

  • Representation of various Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London or their insureds, in a wide variety of casualty, property and general liability matters, and for coverage claims and litigation including construction, professional liability, premises, logging, dram shop, pollution, asbestos, bad faith, and other insurance related litigation.
  • Representation of domestic and foreign specialty insurers and TPAs for matters involving commercial property & liability, premises liability, professional liability, homeowners insurance, trucking and commercial automobile, construction, and other general liability and coverage issues.
  • Representation of national brand retail establishments, wholesalers, warehouse operators, and businesses for various on and off premises liability, and other commercial and general liability matters.

Mr. Knottnerus has over 35 years of experience as a civil litigator and is a Senior/Founding Partner of the firm. His practice emphasizes product liability defense, insurance coverage and defense, premises liability, and complex commercial litigation.

Education

Mr. Knottnerus received his Bachelor of Science degree, with honors, from the University of Montana in 1986, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon in 1989, where he was awarded Order of the Coif.

Court Admissions

Mr. Knottnerus is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts of Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and has been admitted pro hac vice for matters in several other states including California, Montana, Michigan, Louisiana, and Texas. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Professional Recognition and Affiliations

Mr. Knottnerus has been consistently rated as a Super Lawyer and is an AV Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.  Mr. Knottnerus has also been included in The Best Lawyers in America©, for many years in the practice area of Product Liability Litigation.

Mr. Knottnerus is a member of the Oregon, Washington and Alaska Bar Associations. He is a sustaining member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), and a member of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC), Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) and Defense Research Institute (DRI). He has served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Product Liability Committee of the OADC and served on the Executive Committee for the Product Liability Section of the Oregon State Bar.  Mr. Knottnerus is also a member of the Tort & Insurance Practice Section and Product Liability Committee of the American Bar Association.

Products Cases

  • Representation of numerous automobile, truck and component manufacturers in product liability cases involving crashworthiness, handling and stability, fires, tire failure, occupant restraint systems, rollovers, supplemental restraint systems, fuel and electrical systems, advanced driver assistance systems, asbestos, warnings, and other related matters.
  • Representation of manufacturers of recreational and motorsport products, including motorcycles, ATV’s, side-by-sides, firearms, helmets and various sporting goods in various product liability cases.  Mr. Knottnerus has particular experience working with foreign witnesses and engineers for testimony in deposition and at trial.  Mr. Knottnerus has served as national coordinating counsel to Yamaha for cases and trials around the United States.
  • Representation of manufacturers of industrial, construction and agricultural equipment including lift trucks, generators, forklifts, excavators, track hoes, backhoes, jacks, loaders, tractors, conveyors, compactors, handheld and industrial tools, mowers, refrigeration systems, bearing failure, and a variety of other matters.
  • Representation of manufacturers of various consumer products such as home appliances, laptops, charging systems, fuel systems, electrical systems and hydraulic
  • Representation of manufacturers of various medical devices such as implants, surgical tools, instrumentation devices, washers, radiation treatment and therapy devices, and dental as well as optometry equipment and products.  

Liability Defense and Insurance Coverage Experience

  • Representation of various Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London or their insureds, in a wide variety of casualty, property and general liability matters, and for coverage claims and litigation including construction, professional liability, premises, logging, dram shop, pollution, asbestos, bad faith, and other insurance related litigation.
  • Representation of domestic and foreign specialty insurers and TPAs for matters involving commercial property & liability, premises liability, professional liability, homeowners insurance, trucking and commercial automobile, construction, and other general liability and coverage issues.
  • Representation of national brand retail establishments, wholesalers, warehouse operators, and businesses for various on and off premises liability, and other commercial and general liability matters.
Contact Us
Office Address
  • 620 SW Fifth Ave, Suite 300
    Portland, Oregon 97204
  • Monday - Friday
    9:00AM - 5:00PM

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