Scott M. O'Halloran
Scott O’Halloran is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and AV‑rated by Martindale‑Hubbell. He is a widely respected trial lawyer whose practice centers on complex civil litigation, with a particular emphasis on defending healthcare providers and systems in high‑exposure medical professional liability actions, licensing and disciplinary matters, and medical staff/credentialing disputes. Scott is known for his courtroom skill, strategic judgment, and ability to synthesize complex medical issues into compelling trial narratives.
As lead counsel in hundreds of complex civil cases, Scott has secured defense verdicts for physicians, hospitals, and healthcare systems across a broad spectrum of specialties. He represents clients at trial, arbitration, and administrative hearings, and advises healthcare organizations on enterprise risk management and litigation prevention.
Practice
- Medical Professional Liability Defense
- Licensing and Disciplinary Actions
- Medical Staff, Peer Review & Credentialing
- Civil Litigation
- Products Liability
- Healthcare Risk Management
Representative Cases
- Defense verdict for neurosurgeon in a claim alleging negligent lumbar drain placement during CSF leak repair procedure.
- Defense verdict for a radiologist in a claim alleging failure to identify a suspicious chest CT finding leading to delayed diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.
- Defense verdict for an anesthesiologist accused of negligent epidural catheter placement and postoperative pain management in a patient undergoing major abdominal surgery for ovarian cancer.
- Defense verdict for a family practice physician in a wrongful death action alleging failure to diagnose coronary artery disease.
- Defense verdict for a family practice physician accused of failing to recognize signs of myocardial infarction during a telephone consultation.
- Defense verdict for an anesthesiologist in a claim alleging negligent extubation resulting in permanent brain injury.
- Defense verdict for a primary care physician accused of failing to diagnose rhabdomyolysis leading to acute renal failure.
- Defense verdict for a hospital in a case alleging emergency medicine physician, hospitalist, and institutional negligence for failure to diagnose a lower GI bleed resulting in death.
- Defense verdict for a urologist accused of negligent performance of an ultrasound guided bladder biopsy resulting in severe infection.
- Defense verdict for a neurosurgeon in a claim alleging failure to diagnose and treat a brain aneurysm.
Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1995
- Gonzaga University, B.A., 1992, magna cum laude, 1992
- Student Body President
Admitted to Practice
- Washington
- Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Western & Eastern Districts of Washington
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
Professional Experience
- Fain Anderson VanDerhoef Rosendahl O’Halloran Spillane, Principal/Owner (2015 - Present)
- Williams Kastner & Gibbs, Member (2004–2015); Associate (2000–2003)
- U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Captain (1995–2000)
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London, Intern (1994)
- U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Speaker, Intern (1992)
Professional Memberships
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- American Bar Association, Healthcare Law & Litigation Sections
- Hon. Robert J. Bryan American Inns of Court, Former Barrister
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Past President, Young Lawyers Division
- Washington State Bar Association, Healthcare Law Section; Past Legislative Committee Member
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Past South Sound Committee Chair
- Washington Health Care Risk Management Society
- Defense Research Institute
- Litigation Counsel of America
Publications & Presentations
- Quoted in ED Legal Letter, Physician Risk Management, and other national healthcare risk publications.
- Presenter for the Washington State Bar Association, CHI Defense Counsel Conference, Annual Risk Managers Conference, and multiple healthcare risk management programs.
- Topics include trial strategy, e discovery, emergency department risk mitigation, informed consent, deposition preparation, and medical office risk management.
Honors & Awards
- AV® Preeminent™ rating, Martindale Hubbell
- Super Lawyer, Washington Super Lawyers – (2007–Present)
- 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants), Seattle
- Best Lawyers in America®, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2019)
- Top 40 Under 40, Tacoma Business Examiner
- Top Business Attorneys in Healthcare, Washington CEO
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers (2003–2004)
Community Involvement
- Geneva Foundation, Board of Directors (2010–2017)
- St. Patrick’s School, Commissioner & Chair, Strategic Planning Committee (2011–2014)
- Fellow, American Leadership Forum, Tacoma Chapter (Class XIX)
- Leadership Tomorrow (Class of 2009)
