POWERS FARLEY - Key Persons
Member, Boise Gun Club (trap & skeet shotgun sports club with history dating back to 1892)
Job Titles:
- Member of the Introducing the Powers Farley Team
- Partner
- Member of the American Bar Association
Donald J. Farley has been in private practice for 45 years and has tried over 100 cases to a jury verdict for both plaintiffs and defendants with great success. Don understands the trucking industry, motor carrier and driver practices, and safety standards. Don has been a leader in defending product liability lawsuits during his career. Insurers seek his advice in suits throughout the State relating to fire cause and origin analysis.
Don has also developed the firm's business law practice. He assists clients in the sale and acquisition of businesses and business assets. He works closely with the auto dealer and manufacturer industry. He appreciates the legal entities for business and professional practices which may be best suited to a client's needs, and how to prepare the best governing documents for them. He understands how to handle business disputes to achieve a successful or negotiated resolution. He is also well versed in the obligations ERISA laws and regulations impose on business owners and fiduciaries. He knows how to reasonably protect a business and business owners' interests against the loss of intellectual property, trade secrets or customers, as well as employer and employee rights in the event of termination or departure.
Don has practiced in Boise, Idaho, since 1975. He successfully brought to trial numerous cases in aviation, premises liability, truck and auto collisions, machine and equipment failure, pneumatic nailer cases, fire and property damage cases, intellectual property disputes, employment cases, commercial and business disputes and contract claims, and insurance coverage cases.
In the fall of 2003, Mr. Farley was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Farley is a member of the American Bar Association, its Tort and Insurance Practice and Litigation Sections, and the ABA's Committee on Product Liability Litigation. He was named lawyer of the year in Product Liability Litigation in 2011 by Best Lawyers. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, and serves on its Casualty Insurance, Product Liability and Business Litigation Committees. He served on the committee that drafted the Idaho Rules of Evidence and is a former law clerk to the Honorable J. Blaine Anderson, District Judge, United States District Court for the District of Idaho. Mr. Farley also has been a lecturer and a contributing author to various programs sponsored by the Idaho Law Foundation and the National Business Institute.
Job Titles:
- District Judge, United States District Court, District of Idaho, Law Clerk
Professional Associations
American Bar Association, Member
Idaho State Bar Association, Member
Idaho Association of Defense Counsel, Member
International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
Defense Research Institute, Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Introducing the Powers Farley Team
- Partner
Jim Thomson understands the business and law of insurance as well as any lawyer in Idaho. This knowledge, combined with his litigation skills and thoughtful analysis, makes him the choice of some of Idaho's largest insurance companies seeking guidance and advice in coverage analysis, policy interpretation, and bad faith litigation. Jim is called upon to train claims representatives and staff on best practices in handling claims in Idaho. Sorting through coverage issues or making decisions in claims handling requires timely and efficient advice, Jim provides that service. Jim is also an experienced trial lawyer, having tried several cases to juries and arbitration panels. Jim's trial experience crosses a broad spectrum of cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, contract disputes, construction defects, fire losses, as well as insurance contract and bad faith litigation.
Jim has practiced law in Idaho since 1997, representing individuals and businesses in a variety of legal disputes. For the past 20 years, Mr. Thomson's practice has focused on general civil litigation, and has included serving clients in matters involving insurance breach of contract and bad faith, personal injury, wrongful death, workers' compensation claims, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product defects, construction defects, construction disputes, contract disputes, civil rights issues, professional malpractice, medical & dental malpractice, professional board licensing actions, as well as error and omission claims against insurance agents. In addition to guiding and managing hundreds of disputes through pre-trial litigation, including negotiated resolutions and mediation, Mr. Thomson is an experienced trial lawyer, having tried several cases to juries and arbitration panels.
Mr. Thomson is uniquely qualified in the area of insurance coverage and bad faith law, having developed extensive experience evaluating coverage matters, as well as handling coverage and bad faith related litigation arising under both personal and commercial insurance policies. Through his experience Mr. Thomson has developed a vast knowledge base that includes a comprehensive understanding of insurance company operations and claims-handling practices, problems arising in claim-handling that can lead to breach of contract and bad faith-related claims, as well as numerous insurance policy coverage-related issues that arise across the spectrum of commercial and personal lines policies. Mr. Thomson's insurance coverage practice has included insurance coverage litigation (declaratory judgment actions, breach of contract and bad faith claims) in both state and federal courts, insurance policy analysis and interpretation, examinations under oath, addressing various coverage issues arising under automobile and homeowner policies, commercial general liability policies (including construction defect litigation), professional liability policies, and umbrella/excess policies, as well as advising and training on insurance claims and underwriting practices, assistance in drafting proposed legislation affecting the insurance industry, and insurance policy drafting assistance.
Through his other broad range of experience, Mr. Thomson has developed knowledge of motor vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction techniques, fire investigations, causation of various physical and mental injuries and resulting damages, as well as construction methods, contracts, project management and claims pertaining to construction defects. Mr. Thomson has successfully represented home builders and other general contractors and subcontractors on matters ranging from injury claims to construction defect claims valued at several million dollars. Mr. Thomson's personal injury practice also includes knowledge of work-related injuries and workers' compensation claims. Mr. Thomson has attended the advanced level training for workers' compensation professionals offered by the Idaho Industrial Commission.
Mr. Thomson joined the legal profession in 1997 and first came to Idaho as an active duty attorney with the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Department, stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. As an Air Force attorney, he prosecuted criminal cases before military courts-martial and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Idaho. He also worked in a variety of civil practice areas, including environmental law and government contract law. Mr. Thomson and his family made Idaho their home, and he departed the Air Force to begin his practice in civil litigation in late 2000.
Jean E. Schroeder is a proud Boise native and graduate of Boise High School. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona with her Bachelor's in 2013. Post graduation, she performed as a professional ballerina for 7 years touring across the United States in various national campaigns and musicals. In 2020, Jean moved back to Boise to attend the University of Idaho College of Law where she graduated with honors in 2023. Jean chose her law career because she wanted a challenging career where she would never stop learning. As a law student, Jean was a member of Inns of Court, Trial Advocacy, and the Agricultural Law Society. She also gained valuable practical experience with the Ada County Public Defender's Office in their Juvenile Department and as an extern with J.R. Simplot Company In-House Counsel.
When she is not at the office, Jean enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking, and spending time with her family in Boise.
John M. Howell is a graduate of Saint John's University in Minnesota. He continued his education at the University of Idaho College of Law, graduating in 2000. While in law school, John worked on Governor Phil Batt's staff, the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washing and Idaho, externed for the Honorable Edward J. Lodge of the Federal District of Idaho, and also represented clients before the United States Tax Court. Following law school, John served as a law clerk for the Honorable Cheri C. Copsey in the Fourth Judicial District for the State of Idaho. John entered private practice thereafter.
John has an active litigation practice and has tried more than 100 jury trials. He has appeared and argued cases throughout Idaho, Oregon, Utah, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Idaho Supreme Court. He primarily assists clients in business disputes, real estate matters, contested probate cases, employment issues, and all aspects of general commercial litigation. John further represents trusts and trustees in contested restate issues and handles collection actions for various creditors throughout Idaho. He serves on the Criminal Justice Act Panel in Federal Court. He is a frequent presenter to other lawyers for continuing legal education.
Outside of the office, John enjoys family time with his wife and four children. He is active in the Idaho hockey community and coaches teams that travel throughout the United States and Western Canada. John also serves as the volunteer Hockey Director and board member for the Idaho Jr. Steelheads hockey program.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Introducing the Powers Farley Team
- Partner
Mark J. Orler joined the firm as an associate in September 2006. Mr. Orler received both a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Montana. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law, graduating with honors in May 2006. During law school, Mr. Orler was a member of the Idaho Law Review, serving as Lead Articles Editor and a member of the Executive Board.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Orler worked in the hi-tech industry as a technical recruiter for hardware and software companies located in Silicon Valley.
Mr. Orler is the author of Awarding Attorney Fees in Personal Injury Actions Under $25,000: What Prospective Plaintiffs Need to be Aware of Following the Idaho Supreme Court's Ruling in Gillihan v. Gump appearing in Volume 41 of the Idaho Law Review.
Mr. Orler is currently licensed to practice law in all courts of the State of Idaho and the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. He is a member of the Business & Corporate Law, Litigation, and Young Lawyers Practice Sections of the Idaho State Bar. He is also a member of the American Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Introducing the Powers Farley Team
- Partner
Portia L. Rauer is a native of Eastern Idaho. She and her family maintain business interests in Ashton, Idaho, where they continue to operate the same family seed potato farm she grew up on. Her experience with agriculture and understanding of farm related issues, combined with her litigation skills, make her uniquely suited to advise the firm's clients in Southern and Eastern Idaho in farm and agricultural business disputes. Portia is lead counsel in several cases involving the business of farming.
Portia's interest in medicine has resulted in an understanding of the body and the mechanisms of injury and has led to her recognition by the medical community as one of the firm's leaders in health care law. Hospitals, physicians, nurses, and allied health care professionals know her to be the lawyer who can guide them through the challenging maze that defines the delivery of health care today, including appearances before state boards, agencies, and departments in disciplinary and licensure proceedings. Portia has tried a range of cases to a jury as both primary and secondary trial counsel. She has the experience to manage the most complex jury trial.
Portia Rauer graduated summa cum laude from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in 2003. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Idaho, College of Law in 2005. During law school, Ms. Rauer was Editor-in-Chief of the Idaho Law Review, vice-president of the Women's Law Caucus, and winner of the Idaho State Bar Water Law Writing Competition.
She joined Hall, Farley, Oberrecht & Blanton as an associate in September 2005, with over 15 years of experience in the legal field. Before attending law school, Ms. Rauer was a paralegal in a general practice law firm in Rexburg, Idaho, where she gained knowledge in water law, real estate transactions, probate, and litigation.
Ms. Rauer is licensed to practice law in all courts of the State of Idaho, the State of Washington, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Washington, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Idaho State Bar, the Washington State Bar, and Idaho Women Lawyers. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on healthcare litigation; professional licensing, credentialing, and privileging matters for healthcare providers; professional liability claims; commercial and casualty litigation; product liability; and agriculture and employment law.
Throughout her legal career, Ms. Rauer has participated in over two dozen bench and jury trials. In addition, she has participated in a number of appeals before the Idaho State Supreme Court. Ms. Rauer also has experience in governmental relations as a registered lobbyist having appeared before the Idaho Legislature on healthcare issues.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Introducing the Powers Farley Team
- Partner
Raymond D. Powers has practiced law for 40 years and has tried over 60 cases to jury verdict in every part of the state. Ray understands the art of persuasion having prevailed in the great majority of those jury trials. Many of those verdicts involved complex medical issues and significant injuries to the plaintiff.
He possesses knowledge of the Idaho medical community that allows him to manage the medical issues arising in any civil tort complaint. Ray assists a host of savvy purchasers of legal services including insurers and hospitals. Ray also represents individuals who have sustained traumatic brain and spine injuries drawing upon his understanding of the medicine involved in those injuries.