A Different Approach to Civil Litigation

 

We handle a wide variety of injury and discrimination cases as well as insurance coverage disputes.  Our past cases have ranged from relatively simply automobile collision cases to multi-defendant complex litigation in federal court. Below are just a few examples of the cases we have been involved in. 

 

Race Discrimination:

Oregon Federal District Court Case No. CV06-1603-KI

Four salesmen at a local automobile dealership were repeatedly exposed to racial discrimination by co-workers and managers while their employer failed to respond to repeated complaints.  Instead, the employer allowed the behavior to continue for eight months and actually promoted one individual who had repeatedly made racist remarks and had taken business away from an African American employee.  After the salesmen complained to the Civil Rights Division of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries the employer attempted to manufacture reasons to have them fired.  The employer had a documented history of failing to properly address issues of race discrimination.  This case was tried in federal court where a jury returned a unanimous verdict for $19 million, in large part to punish the company and prevent them from continuing this conduct in the future. 

Toxic Exposures: 

Oregon Federal District Court Case No. CV01-1348-HU

Fifty construction workers were exposed to a toxic chemical while building the Umatilla Chemical Depot incinerator.  They were working unprotected within a few hundred yards of a large stockpile of aging chemical weapons, some of which were known to be leaking.  However, the workers were told that there was no danger of exposure.  After the event air monitoring indicated detections of chemical agent in the building where they were working.  The case against the corporate defendants settled for a confidential amount. 

Products Liability: 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Case No. 0612-12662

A woman was critically injured and suffered a brain injury while one of her children was killed when a piece of industrial equipment caused a massive vehicle collision.  The equipment had not been fixed or taken out of service after the manufacturer and the owner of the equipment learned of the dangerous defect.  Instead, it continued to be operated on a public roadway in a condition known to be dangerous.  The case settled for a confidential amount.  

 Work Place Injuries: 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Case No. 0403‑02830

An overhead cable technician was injured when his employer sent him to work on a line that had been attached to a telephone pole in a dangerous manner that violated state and federal safety standards.  He was not warned of the dangerous condition.  The cable detached from the pole, causing the worker to fall and badly break his hip.  He required surgery and was unable to return to work for an extended period.  At trial, the jury returned a verdict for $618,000.00.  As a result, the worker was able to pay his medical bills, obtain training for a new job that he was physically capable of doing, and care for his family.

Premises Liability: 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Case No. 0612-12535

A woman’s hip was broken and required surgery when she fell off of an unmarked step at the dark entrance of a local restaurant where there was no handrail.  She incurred substantial medical bills and was forced into assisted living for a time when she was caring for her husband who was terminally ill.  During the three years prior to this injury at least three other people had fallen and been injured because of the step.  In spite of this, the restaurant chain failed to simply fix the step to make it safer.  The case settled before trial for $105,000.00.  It wasn't until after this lawsuit was filed, and after yet another patron was injured, that the step was finally corrected to make it safe for employees and customers. 

Insurance Coverage: 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Case No. 0702-01849

A young woman suffered a broken femur and hip because of a vehicle crash caused by another person.  She required surgery and was unable to work for several months.  Her insurance company, however, was unwilling to pay her the full limits of her insurance policy so that she could pay her medical bills and recover her lost wages.  Through a pre-trial settlement she recovered over $75,000.00 in insurance benefits that had been denied.