Tom D’Amore
Professional Summary
Thomas (Tom) D’Amore founded D’Amore Law Group in 1992, leaving behind a successful corporate accounting career to become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most accomplished trial lawyers. He established D’Amore Law Group to help injured individuals and families who lost loved ones secure the justice and compensation they deserve to rebuild their lives.
For over three decades, Tom has developed a reputation as a skilled, passionate, and trusted personal injury attorney. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, he has successfully represented thousands of individuals and families in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, sexual assault & abuse, products liability, class actions, trucking accidents, bad faith insurance practices, medical malpractice, gun violence, construction accidents, employment law, and more.
Nationally recognized for winning challenging cases that other firms turn down, his rigorous trial preparation and prowess in the courtroom have led to several of the largest verdicts in Oregon history. In 2019, he secured a $26.5 million jury verdict for the estate of Sara Allison, who was killed in a road rage incident between two commercial truck drivers. Most recently, Tom represented the family of Freddy Nelson Jr., who was fatally shot by a security guard in a Portland parking lot, resulting in a verdict of $21.25 million. Tom has recovered numerous seven-figure verdicts and pre-trial settlements for clients over the last 30 years.
Tom also successfully represented nine Oregon counties in the national opioid litigation, which sought to hold those responsible for the opioid crisis accountable and provide relief to Oregon communities ravaged by the epidemic. As a result of the litigation, Oregon counties will receive nearly $600 million from national settlements against opioid manufacturers and distributors to address the addiction crisis.
Education
Juris Doctor (J.D.) – Pepperdine Law School, 1990
- Dean’s Honor List, Moot Court Honor Board, Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science & Accounting – University of Nevada, Reno, 1985
- President, Beta Alpha Psi – Honorary Accounting Fraternity, 1984 –1985, Intercollegiate Football, 1980 – 1982
Bar Admissions
- Admitted to the State Bar of California, 1990
- Admitted to the State Bar of Oregon, 1992
- Admitted to the State Bar of Washington, 1994
Legal Experience
Managing Partner & Owner, D’Amore Law Group, 1992–Present
- Lead trial counsel in high-stakes personal injury, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases, securing some of the largest verdicts in Oregon history.
- Represented plaintiffs in complex litigation, including trucking accidents, sexual abuse cases, medical malpractice, bad faith insurance claims, and defective product lawsuits.
- Negotiated multi-million-dollar settlements for individuals and families, as well as for plaintiffs in class actions and mass torts.
- Successfully litigated cases against major corporations and insurance companies, achieving precedent-setting results in civil justice.
- Drafted and argued motions, appeals, and legal briefs in high-profile cases, including catastrophic injury claims and insurance bad faith disputes.
- Conducted countless depositions of corporate executives, medical professionals, witnesses, and industry experts in cases involving product liability, trucking safety violations, and institutional abuse.
- Managed large-scale discovery and trial preparation, utilizing innovative litigation strategies to hold negligent parties accountable.
- Frequently consulted by national media and legal organizations for insights into trial strategy, civil justice, and victims’ rights.
- Earned Chambers USA Band 2 ranking for Oregon Litigation, recognizing the firm’s record of high-stakes verdicts and precedent-setting results in civil justice.
Associate, Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, 1990–1991
- Prepared complaints, memoranda, and motions in business and bankruptcy litigation practice as a first-year associate.
Notable Verdicts & Settlements
- Allison et al v. Smoot Enterprises, Inc et al. (2019) – Secured a $26.5 million verdict in Oregon District Court for the estate of Sara Allison, who was killed in a road rage incident between two commercial truck drivers from different companies.
- Defective Pool Design Settlement (2022) – Secured an $8 million recovery on behalf of a young man who was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of a defectively designed pool. The pool lacked proper signage, lighting, and was missing depth tiles spaced as required, all of which contributed to the plaintiff’s catastrophic injury when he unknowingly dove into the shallow end.
- Ruggiere v. Sherwin Williams Company, et al. (2022) – Secured an $8.5 million settlement on behalf of a woman struck and catastrophically injured by a drunk driver. The driver was a Sherwin Williams employee who was provided an excessive amount of alcohol at a company event and allowed to get in her car to drive home after.
- Bickers v. Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co. (2023) – Secured a $5.5 million settlement in a wrongful death claim brought on behalf of a construction worker who was killed on the job. Specifically, he was caused to fall and die when a heavy rolling cart—designed only for flat surfaces—was used on a sloped roof without proper safeguards. The defendant negligently chose this unsafe method over safer alternatives.
- Construction Accident (2023) (parties are confidential) – Secured a $33 million settlement on behalf of a construction worker who suffered a catastrophic brain injury after being struck by a steel I-Beam on the job.
- Nelson v. TMT Development CO., et al. (2024) – Secured a $21.5 million verdict in Multnomah County (Oregon) Court for the estate of Freddy Nelson Jr., who was fatally shot by a security guard in a Portland parking lot.
- National Opioid Litigation (2024) – Secured a $239 million settlement from the primary opioid distributors on behalf of nine Oregon counties whose citizens were severely impacted by the national opioid epidemic.
- Secured over a dozen seven-figure verdicts and settlements on behalf of individuals who were catastrophically injured or families who lost loved ones at no fault of their own.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 4th Edition, Co-Author, 2015
- Oregon State Bar Civil Practice and Procedures Manual, “Defense Medical Examinations” Section, XX
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Motor Vehicle Deskbook, “Rules of the Road” Section, XX
- Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, Co-Editor, 2018
- Tom has spoken dozens of times at both national and state trial lawyer associations, including The American Association for Justice, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, the Oregon State Bar Association, the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, the Western Trial Lawyers Association, and more.
- Topics include trucking litigation, trial strategies, depositions, bad faith insurance practices, leveraging media attention to advance litigation, legal marketing, the opioid epidemic and how litigation brought relief, voire dire, leveraging focus groups to support litigation and trial strategy, bringing claims when defendants are un- or underinsured, pursuing bad faith insurance damages, navigating statutory arbitration provisions, and bringing successful gun violence claims.
Awards & Certifications
- Winning Litigator – National Law Journal, Finalist, 2025
- Distinguished Service Award – American Association for Justice, 2013, 2014, 2019 2022, 2023
- The Above and Beyond Award – American Association for Justice, 2015, 2021
- Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award – Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2016
- Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, Finalist – Public Justice, 2019
- Trial Lawyer of the Year – San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2020
- David Shrager President’s Award – American Association for Justice, 2023
- Centum Gratias Award – American Association for Justice, 2023, 2024
- Masters of Trial Law, Diplomat & Champion – American Association for Justice, 2024
- Super Lawyers – Top 50 lawyers in Oregon, 2010-Present
- Best Lawyers – Best Lawyers in America, 2011-Present
- AV Preeminent Rating – Martindale Hubbel
- 2026 Lawdragon – 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
- Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney – National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Band 1 Ranking – Chambers USA – 2026 Litigation in Oregon
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Association for Justice (AAJ) – Board of Governors, Executive Committee, 2009 – Present
- Past Chair, Budget and Audit Committees
- Past Chair, Motor Vehicles Committee
- Oregon Trial Lawyers Association – Member, 1992-Present
- President, 2010–2011
- Washington State Association for Justice – Eagle Member, 1995-Present
- National Board of Trial Advocacy – Member, 1999-Present
- American Board of Trial Advocates – Member
- National Crime Victims Bar Association – Member
- Pound Civil Justice Institute – Member
- Multnomah County Bar Association – Member
Community Involvement
- Oregon Food Bank – Volunteer, 2017-2018
- Refugee Program, Adopt a Family – Lutheran Community Services Northwest, 2014- 2023
- Board Member – Good Deeds, Lake Oswego Oregon, 2016-Present
- Lift Up Portland – Food Drive Sponsor, 2020
- Board member & Finance Chair – Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, 2024
- Finance Committee, 2021-2022
- Leadership Academy Sponsor – Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2017 – Present
- Rose Haven – Sponsor and Volunteer, 2023-Present
- Elle D’Amore Law School Scholarship, 2022 – Present
Skills & Competencies
- Litigation & Trial Advocacy – Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Class Actions, Mass Torts
- Expert in Plaintiff’s-side Truck Accident Litigation
- Complex Discovery & Depositions
- Settlement Negotiation & Mediation
- Governmental Representation & Public Health Litigation
- Case Strategy & Expert Witness Collaboration
- Legal Research & Appellate Brief Writing