Steve D. Larson

REPRESENTATIVE CASES:

Breach of Contract:
Obtained a $750,000 arbitration award for the owner of an Alzheimer's Senior Residential Care Facility in a breach of contract action against the company that managed the facility. Christopher Place Senior Communities v. Frontier Management, ASP No. 090901-2. Successfully defended Hollywood Entertainment in a multi-million dollar breach of contract arbitration before the American Arbitration Association. Arbitrators awarded plaintiff nothing. Security Source, Inc. v. Hollywood Entertainment Corporation, AAA Case No. 75 Y 181 00126 04 BEAH.

Consumer Class Actions:
Successfully represented two classes of consumers in cases against insurance companies in which plaintiffs alleged the insurers failed to inform policy holders that they had been charged higher premiums based on their credit scores as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The two cases settled; one for $85 million (Reynolds v. Hartford Financial Services Group, 435 F.3d 1081 (9th Cir. 2006)), and the other for $19 million (Razilov v. Nationwide, USDC Case No. CV-01-1466BR.)

Employment Class Actions:
Settled an overtime class action on behalf of employees at a vegetable processing facility for 2 years of overtime, penalties, interest, and attorney fees. Victorio v. Stahlbush Island Farms, USDC No. CV-6061-AA. Obtained an opinion from the Oregon Court of Appeals holding that over 300 union and non-union former employees of Smurfit who failed to receive, in a timely fashion, the severance benefits and other wages owing upon their termination were entitled to recover on all their claims. After the ruling, the case settled for an amount in excess of $1.8 million. Wilson et al. v. Smurfit Newsprint Corporation, MCCC Case No. 9912-13689.

Appeals:
Steve Larson and Scott Shorr successfully represented six putative classes of consumers in six different appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. All cases were reversed and remanded for trial. The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in two of the cases. Steve Larson and Scott Shorr appeared before the US. Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court agreed with their arguments that a lower recklessness standard is sufficient and rejected arguments of the insurance industry that a higher knowing standard is necessary to prove willful violation. Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Burr, 127 S.Ct 2001 (2007).

Antitrust:
Filed several antitrust class actions against the manufacturers of automotive parts arising out of a price fixing agreement.  A number of former executives have been indicted.  Also prosecuting an antitrust class action against manufacturers of optical digital devices for price fixing.

Securities Class Actions:
Obtained $65 million settlement as one of the lead attorneys for the shareholders in a securities class action against Louisiana-Pacific Corp. arising out of misrepresentations regarding the company's oriented-strandboard siding. Louisiana-Pacific Corp. Securities Litigation, USDC Case No. CV 95-707-JO. Obtained a jury verdict in favor of investors in Hanna Car Washes in suit against auditors, Deloitte & Touche. Total recovery for the class exceeded $6 million. Barlean V. Black & Co., et al., MCCC Case No. 9012-07865. Obtained $5 million settlement in securities fraud case against local technology company. In re Flir, USDC Case No. CV-00-360-HA (D. Or. 2001).

Fraud/Breach of Fiduciary Duty:
Obtained favorable jury verdict in a fraud/breach of fiduciary duty action brought by an Oregon corporation against its former national sales manager arising out of an alleged kick-back scheme. Columbia Cascade Company v. Dale R. Gordon, et al,. MCCC Case No. 0305-05324.

Trademark:
Obtained a preliminary injunction and permanent injunction on behalf of an Oregon wireless company in a trademark infringement action brought against a national wireless company. Edge Wireless, LLC v. U.S. Cellular Corporation, USDC Case No. CV 03-1362 AA.

False Advertising/Trade Dress:
Obtained two separate multi-million dollar settlements on eve of trials on behalf of home exercise manufacturer against competitors. Soloflex, Inc. v. Nordictrack, Inc., USDC Case No. 93-545-JE, and Soloflex, Inc. V. Bowflex, Inc. et al., USDC Case No. 98-557-MA.

Unfair Competition:
Successfully defended Jiffy Lube franchisees in suit filed by Portland auto dealer alleging violations of Unlawful Trade Practices Act. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal. Franchisees were awarded attorney fees. Lanphere Enterprises, Inc. et al. v. Doorknob Enterprises, LLC, USDC Case No. CV 03-273 BR.

Conversion:
Successfully defended a local luxury jewelry store in a three day jury trial involving a very expensive emerald ring that went missing.  Christian v. Carl Greve Jewelers, Inc., MCCC Case No. 0811-15957.

Uniform Commercial Code:
Lead trial lawyer in a suit brought by a group of medical doctors against their bank seeking a refund of $5 million of unauthorized online funds transfers made by the group's corporate accountant to himself. Case was settled after a two and a half week jury trial. Oregon Eye Specialists v. West Coast Bank, MCCC Case No. 0610-10727.

Trade Secret:
Obtained injunction prohibiting former employees of medical device manufacturer from starting competing business using client list and other proprietary information from medical device manufacturer. Semler Technologies, Inc. v. Ron Yost, et al., MCCC Court Case No. 9810-07416.

Securities Fraud:
Successfully defended a start-up telecommunications company and its founders in a securities fraud lawsuit brought by a major angel investor. After defense verdict, major angel investor paid defendants' attorney fees in order to settle the case. Snyder v. Springwater Acquisitions, LLC, et al., MCCC Case No. 0402-01172.