Exxon Valdez Case Decided by US Supreme Court

June 25, 2008 - Today, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Exxon's appeal of the punitive damage award arising out of the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster.  More than 19 years after Exxon's disastrous spill, we are disappointed in that court's decision, which results in a 90% reduction of the $5 billion award issued by the jury that heard the extensive evidence of Exxon's egregious misconduct during a four-month long trial fourteen years ago. Thousands of Alaskans were devastated by a corporation which was not concerned about putting a known alcoholic at the wheel of a 950-foot long single-hulled tanker, in dangerous waters in a pristine and highly environmentally-sensitive area, loaded with 53,000 gallons of crude oil.

Robert Stoll and others in the firm have been litigating the Exxon Valdez case from the outset of this case. Among other duties, Robert Stoll served on the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee, which steered the litigation for all plaintiffs' counsel on behalf of the large group of diverse plaintiffs injured by the oil spill.

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Judge Brown orders Farmers Insurance Company to Trial

June 20, 2008 - Federal District Court Judge Brown issued a 65-page opinion today granting in part and denying in part the cross-motions for summary judgment in a class action filed by insureds who were charged more for insurance based on their credit scores, but did not receive the notice required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Judge Brown indicated that the only two issues remaining - willfulness and the amount of statutory damages (between $100 and $1000 per class member) - will be for the jury to decide.  To read the full opinion, click here (size of file: 2005 KB).  For more information on this case, click here.  Steve Larson and Mark Friel represent the policyholders in the class action against Farmers.

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STOLL BERNE Recognized by Chambers Publication

June 13, 2008 - STOLL BERNE is proud to announce that Chambers and Partners, an independent researcher of the legal profession, has ranked the firm as one of Oregon's top firms.  In addition, individual recognition has been given to Gary Berne, Rob Shlachter, Robert Stoll (Commercial Litigation) and David Lokting (Real Estate).

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Class Action against TRM Corporation

June 4, 2008 - STOLL BERNE announces that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon on behalf of purchasers of TRM Corporation common stock during the period between March 16, 2006 and May 22, 2007.  Click here to read Plaintiff's Complaint. Click here to read press release.If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions, please contact Gary Berne at gberne@stollberne.com.

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Portland Monthly Announces Top Lawyers

June 2, 2008 - Portland Monthly announces Portland's top lawyers including six from STOLL BERNE: Robert Stoll, Gary Berne (Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation) and Rob Shlachter (Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Law), Keith Ketterling (Commercial Litigation), Timothy DeJong (Intellectual Property Law), and David Lokting (Real Estate Law and Taxation Law).

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Josh Ross Recognized for Pro Bono Work

May 21, 2008 - STOLL BERNE attorney Josh Ross has been recognized by the Multnomah Bar Association ("MBA") for his pro bono work and was the recipient of the 2008 Michael E. Haglund Pro Bono Award at the MBA's 102nd Annual Meeting on May 21, 2008. Josh volunteers for the Legal Aid Domestic Violence Project representing victims of domestic violence in contested restraining order hearings. You can read an article in Multnomah Lawyer about this award by clicking here. (Reprinted with permission by the Multnomah Bar Association.)

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Rob Shlachter Speaks at OLI / Federal Bar

May, 30, 2009 - Rob Shlachter spoke on May 30, 2008 at an OLI / Federal Bar Association CLE called: "Hot Topics in Federal Practice and Procedure". The CLE was held at the US Federal Courthouse in Portland from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 30, 2008. The topic for Rob's panel was "Effective Written and Oral Advocacy".

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Steve Larson named as top Business Litigator

March 24, 2009 - Steve Larson was designated as one of the top attorneys in Business Litigation in the 2008 Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel edition.

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Lincoln High School - 2nd in State Mock Trial Competition

March 17, 2008 - STOLL BERNE attorneys Rob Shlachter, Josh Ross and Yoona Park, along with coaches Mara Shlachter and Gardner Ashmanskas, led Lincoln High School's mock trial team through the regionals and into the State Rounds, where Lincoln garnered the second place trophy. This is Rob's 12th year of coaching mock trial, Josh's second year and Yoona's first.

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Third Stoll Case (Exxon Valdez) Goes to US Supreme Court

January 28, 2008 - For the third time in two years, a case in which Stoll Berne is involved will be argued before the United States Supreme Court.  This is exceptional for any firm. Last term, lawyers in the firm briefed and argued the cases, GEICO v. Edo and Safeco v. Burr, relating to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This term, the United States Supreme Court granted review of Exxon's appeal of the punitive damage award arising out of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster.

Robert Stoll and others in the firm have been litigating the Exxon Valdez case for over 15 years. Robert Stoll served on the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee, which has steered the litigation for the large group of diverse plaintiffs injured by the oil spill. In addition, our firm served as lead counsel in the state case and has assisted in the briefing of the federal case that is now headed to the Supreme Court.

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