In The News
Legal counsel that makes news
We enhance and strengthen our service and value to our clients with news about the firm – who has joined the firm, who has published an article or is scheduled to speak at a meeting or forum, who has received a professional award or recognition, what seminars or other educational opportunities regarding current legal topics are we offering, and what newsworthy and precedent-setting issues has the firm handled recently. The following is a sample of recent coverage, or you can view archived stories covering a broad range of topics.
HLGR News Archives
Randy Duncan on Panel of Experts at Business Succession Planning Summit
August 18, 2010
On Wednesday, September 22nd, from 7:30am - 9:00am, Randy Duncan will serve on a panel of experts that will discuss why succession planning is important to your business and how to utilize succession planning to create new opportunities. The Summit will be held at George Fox University - Portland Campus. Download the Business Succession Planning Summit Flyer for more information.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2011
August 4, 2010
HLGR is pleased to announce that Bill Gary, Susan Marmaduke, Jim Mountain, Sharon Rudnick, Jens Schmidt and Frank Moscato have been named in several categories in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
Bill Gary: Administrative Law, Appellate Law, Commercial Litigation
Susan Marmaduke: Appellate Law
Jim Mountain: Appellate Law
Sharon Rudnick: Appellate Law, Labor and Employment Law
Jens Schmidt: Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Frank Moscato: Professional Malpractice Law
For 28 years, Best Lawyers has come to be regarded – by both the legal profession and the public – as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the U.S. The new 2011 Best Lawyers, their 17th edition, is based on a rigorous national survey involving more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.
Gary, Marmaduke and Moscato honored by the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society
July 16, 2010
Bill Gary, Susan Marmaduke and Frank Moscato have been named by the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society as among the most distinguished trial lawyers in Oregon. Each year the Society honors a group of people who have contributed to the rich history of the Oregon Courts. This year's recognition is in honor of distinguished trial lawyers in Oregon. Those selected have been identified as individuals who consistently exhibit a high level of trial advocacy and skill, as well as professionalism and integrity.
Oregon Supreme Court Affirms Vacating of $100 Million Punitive Damages Award in Philip Morris USA Case
July 6, 2010
On June 24, 2010, the Oregon Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the Oregon Court of Appeals in setting aside a $100 million punitive damages award imposed against Philip Morris USA. At the time of the original verdict, it was the largest punitive damages award in an individual smoker case in the country, Schwarz v. Philip Morris USA. Philip Morris USA was represented in the appellate courts by Bill Gary, Sharon Rudnick and Susan Marmaduke.
The Oregon Supreme Court held that, as a result of improper jury instructions, the trial court violated the U.S. Constitution by allowing the jury to impose punitive damages to punish for harm to people who were not parties to the litigation. In Williams v. Philip Morris USA, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution forbids imposing punitive damages on such a basis. Bill Gary, Sharon Rudnick and Susan Marmaduke represented Philip Morris before the Oregon appellate courts and the United State Supreme Court in the Williams case.
Bob Steringer Speaks to OPB regarding “Open Courts” and Its Application to the Boy Scouts of America Case
June 16, 2010
HLGR shareholder Bob Steringer was quoted in a news story that ran June 14, 2010, on Oregon Public Broadcasting's local report during NPR's Morning Edition. Bob spoke on the "open courts" provision of the Oregon Constitution and its application to a case brought against the Boy Scouts of America by an alleged victim of sexual abuse. A link to the story is here. Click the "listen" button to hear the audio version of the report.
Shareholder Disputes: A Statutory Escape Route
May 11, 2010
In this month's Oregon State Bar Bulletin, Susan Marmaduke discusses a fairly new Oregon statute that provides for a court-ordered "divorce" for warring shareholders, allowing both sides to move on toward a more productive future. Click on the following link to read the article: Shareholder Disputes: A Statutory Escape Route.
Easy Access to Records Poses Hard Questions
March 21, 2010
The Chair of the firm's Government Law Department, Pete Shepherd, recently contributed an opinion piece about possible improvements to Oregon's Public Records and Public Meetings Laws.
Suit Filed Against Life Insurance Company on Behalf of Widow
March 12, 2010
Long-time HLGR shareholder Bill Gary represents a Eugene widow who is suing her late husband's insurer for denying benefits following his fatal household accident on the grounds of the policy's intoxication exclusion. Click here to read the story by The Register-Guard.
Government Law Department Publishes First Edition of The Capitol Mall Dispatch
February 19, 2010
Our quarterly newsletter will cover developments in the law that will be of interest to attorneys representing clients with matters involving state and local governments, to businesses subject to government regulation, to lawyers representing governments, and to policy-makers. We welcome your suggestions and comments. If you wish us to add your name to our distribution list, simply e-mail your request to Jane Leonhardt.