Notable Cases

Abercrombie v. Hayden Corp., 320 Or. 279, 883 P.2d 845 (1994)
Leading Oregon case on ambiguity of documents and integrated writings, and on the use of parol evidence for interpreting documents.

Banister Continental Corp. v. N.W. Pipeline Corp., 76 Or. App. 282, 709 P.2d 1103 (1985), vacated on other grounds, 301 Or. 763 (1986)
Seminal case establishing the right to prejudgment interest on contract disputes and providing for jury review of complex contract documents under court's instructions. Provided largest contract recovery, in excess of $17,000,000, in an Oregon jury trial to date.

Dockins v. State Farm Ins. Co., 329 Or. 20, 985 P.2d 796 (1999)
The leading case in Oregon detailing an insured's right to recover attorney fees against an insurance company for work performed in the course of the lawsuit.

Dockins v. State Farm Ins. Co., 330 Or. 1, 997 P.2d 859 (2000)
The first case in Oregon establishing a homeowner's right to insurance coverage for cleanup of oil from underground storage tanks.

Douglass v. Allstate Ins. Co., 152 Or. App. 216, 953 P.2d 770 (1998)
The first case in Oregon establishing an insured's right to recover attorney fees against an insurance company for nonpayment of uninsured motorist benefits.

Erickson Air-Crane Co. v. United Technologies Corp., 303 Or. 281, 735 P.2d 614 (1987)
Established product liability responsibility for ongoing service bulletins, to compensate helicopter owner and operator in multimillion dollar loss.

Farmers Ins. Co. v. Trutanich, 123 Or. App. 6, 858 P.2d 1332 (1993)
The leading case in Oregon establishing an insured's right to recover attorney fees for work performed before filing suit.

Fleming v. USAA, 329 Or. 449, 988 P.2d 378 (1999), adhering to on recon., 330 Or 62 (2000)
The case that "rocked the insurance biz" by declaring that insurance policy exclusions in a homeowners policy were invalid because they were not sufficiently explanatory.

Hazelwood Chronic and Convalescent Hospital, Inc., v. U.S. Secretary of Health Education and Welfare, 556 F.2d 981 (9th Cir. 1977)
Persuaded the United States Supreme Court to accept certiorari from the decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals validating the constitutionality of retroactive application of Medicare regulations, in an opinion by Circuit Judge Anthony Kennedy, in the 9th Circuit. The Supreme Court reversed,  430 U.S. 952 (1977), the earlier decision of the 9th Circuit, 543 F.2d 703 (1976).

Largent v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 116 Or. App. 595; 842 P.2d 445 (1992)
The first case in Oregon establishing a rental property owner's right to insurance coverage for a tenant's meth lab and invalidating a pollution exclusion.

Orchard View Farms, Inc. v. Martin Marietta Aluminum, Inc., 500 F. Supp. 984 (D. Or. 1980)
Punitive damages awarded for airborne trespassory emissions from aluminum plant, to enforce emission controls and compensate for further harm beyond economic loss.

Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Coop. v. Co-Gen Co., 168 Or. App. 466, 7 P.3d 594 (2000)
Validated long-term $100,000,000+ contract rights of power generator, under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).

State ex rel. Boe v. Straub, 282 Or. 387, 578 P.2d 1247 (1978)
Constitutional litigation on behalf of the governor of the State of Oregon, requiring the Legislative Assembly and the Oregon Senate to waive confirmation of gubernatorial appointments without a constitutional provision therefor.