3 Trial Lawyer • Fall 2023 commercial litigation. I worked with some fine lawyers and got some great training, but my heart wasn’t in representing insurance companies and corporations. My sympathies and passion were for the people on the other side of the disputes, the underdogs that were fighting these large institutions to get justice for the wrongs that had been visited on them. In 2003, I jumped into the void and started my own law practice. At first it was practicing “door law” — handling whatever came in to keep the lights on including business, construction and employment litigation, and a small but growing number of personal injury cases. Going from a firm of 180 lawyers to a solo practice, I knew I needed a support network, and OTLA was the logical place to go. To be candid, I was intimidated about getting involved in OTLA. I had been doing defense work, and the organization felt powerful and was populated by many larger-than-life personalities. I want to thank Neil Jackson for persuading me to co-chair the education committee. Jackson and others encouraged me to jump in and attend our annual convention. I remember getting in the first drink line at the first event at my first OTLA convention in Sunriver. Two of those personalities — Larry Wobbrock and Bill Gaylord — were ahead of me in line. Wobbrock introduced himself. To my surprise, they both welcomed me with a warmth and sincerity that I had not expected and not experienced doing defense work. I fell in love with the people and the mission of doing what OTLA does best — improving lives through the civil justice system. In your corner After a couple years, I limited my practice to personal injury cases. In many ways, I felt like I had finally arrived. I was at a place in my career where I could use my strong sense of what was just — and not — and help ordinary people who sometimes faced long odds in getting justice for what had happened to them. My most enjoyable cases have been representing people that have never had anyone in their corner fighting for them. The work we do can be extremely taxing, but it is also incredibly satisfying to be able to make a difference in the lives of our clients. Over the years I have chaired or served on just about every OTLA committee. The relationships, education and inspiration I have gained from the organization have been absolutely invaluable to me, my practice and my clients. Along the way, innumerable people have given generously of their time and helped me in ways both small and large without hesitation or any expectation of anything in return. The risk of mentioning one person by name is that all the other people who have helped me along the way will feel left out, so please forgive me if you are on that list as I mention one. I will never forget the kindness Mark Bocci demonstrated helping me while I was preparing for my first solo jury trial. Bocci often encouraged me to call him in the hospital where his now-late wife was getting chemotherapy and, in typical Bocci style, his offer of assistance felt like he was asking me to do him a favor. My opportunity to give back to the organization came in the fall of 2017. The Oregon State Bar proposed amending Rule 5.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct in a manner that would have had the effect of permitting internet lawyer referral services, awash in venture capital, to aggressively solicit injured Oregonians, obtain a stake in their cases and auction them to the highest bidder. Oregon would have become the first state in the country to create such a radical change. I led the charge, with the help of many others, to stop the proposal in the OSB House of Delegates. Some 600 emails later, and with the invaluable assistance of Steve Berman and many others in a variety of forums, we succeeded in getting the Bar to table the plan. Share ideas and give back I am honored to serve as your OTLA President. My charge to you is to get involved. Find a cause that motivates you. Talk to me or a board member or a staff member. Chances are that a lot of others will agree with and support you. If you are a newer OTLA member or haven’t yet taken advantage of what OTLA has to offer, approach a more experienced member, join a committee or attend convention. I think you’ll find the openness and willingness to help other members that I first experienced 20 years ago in Sunriver. It’s part of what makes OTLA so special. We need you, your skills and your ideas. If you have been a member for a longer time and haven’t been active, I urge you to reach out to a newer member, teach something, share something or find another way to give back. There are so many opportunities to give and participate and bring the benefits of OTLA to others. Remember what got you thinking about law school in the first place — for me it was secret government funding of the Contras — and leverage that passion. Rob Kline specializes in cases involving motor vehicle collisions, workplace injuries and sexual abuse. Kline practices as senior counsel at the Johnston Law Firm, 200 SW Market St., Ste. 1900, Portland, OR 97201. He contributes to OTLA Guardians as the Guardians Club level. He can be reached at rob@johnston-lawfirm.com or 503-546-3167.
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