About

E. J. Simmons, Attorney at Law

Trial lawyer for Federal and State courts; plaintiff’s personal injury; business litigation; intellectual property litigation. Office in Portland, Oregon, near the Federal and State courthouses. Most cases are referred by other attorneys.

Undergraduate education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Morehead Scholar.

Law education: University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctor magna cum laude.

AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell. Member of Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Former member of the committee that investigates bar complaints against Multnomah County lawyers. Observation from that service: when the lawyer and client are not suited for each other, withdraw and move on.

Personal background:

Born in Roseboro, North Carolina. This small town, about 1,000 population, is in a rural area. From there, went to college in Chapel Hill. After graduation served in the Navy as an officer on board ship. Worked for Electronic Data Systems in New York and Dallas, then went to law school in Ann Arbor.

Working philosophy:

“Some professionals become complacent with experience. However, the most capable practitioners just keep getting better. The best lawyers sometimes show up as the opponents, so trial work is like an arms race. I put a lot of effort into finding and implementing strategies, tactics and techniques that give the advantage. But I know that what wins now will lose its impact over time.”

“For me, the law is the best profession. It is a pleasure to get to do this work. It is fighting complex battles with capable opponents, to get results that help clients.”

Karen Ruth Thompson, Attorney at Law

In specific major personal injury cases, Simmons Trial Practice associates with Karen Ruth Thompson as co-counsel. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978 with a B.A. in the Plan II Honors Program.  She attended the University of Houston Law Center where she served as Casenote and Comment Editor for the Law Review.  She received her Juris Doctor degree in 1989 and was admitted to practice in Texas that same year.  Ms. Thompson moved to Portland, Oregon in 1998.  She has been in private practice for twenty years, concentrating in plaintiff’s personal injury and wrongful death, with a special interest in construction site injuries.

Gail Boger, Legal Assistant

Ms. Boger was born in Portland, graduated from the University of Oregon and is a lifelong Oregonian.  Her degree prepared her with skills of organization, thoroughness and follow through.  She brings all of these into use in examining background documents and assisting with cases.  Her experience with teaching ballroom dancing translates into strong communication skills when working with clients.