Year in Review: 2019’s Most Interesting and Frivolous Litigation

By David Briggs, Employment Law and Litigation Attorney and Daniel Reynolds, Litigation Attorney We scoured our inboxes and the internet to come up with some of the most ridiculous, entertaining and . . . let’s just say “creative” lawsuits from this year. If you’ve ever wondered by some TV commercials spend half their time airing

The Disappearing Lien: Application of Oregon Agricultural Liens Outside the State

This article was originally published in the Oregon State Bar Debtor Creditor Newsletter in the Fall of 2019. By Erich Paetsch, Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy and Litigation Attorney and Elayna Matthews As national farm debt and chapter 12 filings increase in 2019, many farmers and related service providers are at risk of nonpayment. For many

Just In: IRS Announces 2020 Retirement Plan Dollar Adjustments

By: Randall Cook,  Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Attorney On November 6, 2019, the IRS announced the annual cost-of-living dollar adjustments applicable to retirement plans beginning January 1, 2020. The full list of adjustments is contained in IRS Notice 2019-59. Here are some highlights:   2020 2019 401(k)/403(b) Elective Deferral Limit $19,500 $19,000 Defined Contribution Plan Annual

Warning…Do Not Delay Correcting Credit Reports After Notice of Fraud

By: Creditor’s Rights & Bankruptcy & Litigation Practice Groups In early September 2019, after about six hours of deliberation, a federal jury awarded a Portland, Oregon man $101,000 in non-economic damages against Wells Fargo Bank for violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The jury found that the bank negligently and willfully violated the Fair

Lessons from Court: The Fair Credit Reporting Act and Washington State Securities Act

By Erich M. Paetsch, Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy and Litigation Attorney Two very different courts recently issued opinions on issues routinely impacting financial institutions. In Multnomah County, a jury considered whether a financial institution should pay damages for a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.[1] Across the Columbia River, the Supreme Court for the State

News Update: USDA Issues Draft Hemp Rules

By Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy and Litigation Practice Groups This just in! The USDA has finally issued its long-awaited draft rules and regulations establishing a domestic hemp production program in the United States. These regulations, once finalized, will interpret the 2018 Farm Bill signed into law last year. Check back soon for more information about

Summer at Saalfeld Griggs: The Law Clerk/Associate Experience

By: Matthew Stevenson, Law Clerk Choosing the perfect summer clerkship can be like drawing a number out of a hat – you never know what you are getting yourself into until you see it for yourself. It is hard to tell whether the work will be engaging or whether law clerk professional development is a

Special Conditions to Insurance Coverage—Have You Carefully Reviewed Your Agreements to Confirm You Comply?

By: Daniel S. Reynolds, Litigation Attorney Every insurance policy contains obligations with which an insurer must comply to receive coverage of a claim. Increasingly, however, insurance policies contain special “conditions precedent” for construction contractors to receive coverage for any claim based on a subcontractor’s work. These conditions can include a requirement that the insured contractor (1)