Oregon State Bar Bulletin — AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
Bar People
Among Ourselves
The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals has launched a website for its Oregon chapter, the Oregon Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators. The online resource can be found at www.ORMediators.org. Seven attorneys and former judges have been recognized as charter members of the Oregon chapter, including an executive committee that includes the Hon. Sid Brockley of Carlton, Susan Hammer of Portland and William Gibson of Clackamas.
New Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (MBA YLS) officers and directors began one-year terms July 1. The new president is Mackenzie Hogan of Harris & Bowker, where he practices in business, probate, estate planning and real estate. President-elect is Tyler Volm of Barran Liebman, who practices in employment litigation and advice. Secretary is Mary Tollefson of Kramer & Associates, where she practices family law. Treasurer is Tyler Bellisof McEwen Gisvold, who practices in real estate and commercial law. Past president is Jeanne Sinnott of Miller Nash Graham & Dunn. New directors, serving three-year terms beginning July 1, are: Holly Hayman of Leonard Law Group; Shayda Zaerpoor Le of Barran Liebman; and Evan Lenneberg of Ball Janik. Continuing directors are Thomas Adams, Kevin Parks and Jovita Wang.
The Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association has elected its 2015-2016 board of directors. Liani Reeves, president, is of counsel at Bullard Law and previously served as general counsel for the office of the governor for the previous four years. Jovita Wang, president-elect, is an associate attorney at Folawn Alterman & Richardson. Dan Simon, secretary, is an assistant deputy city attorney at the Portland city attorney’s office as part of the new honors attorney program. The most recent regional and at-large representatives to join the board are Derily Bechthold, Sara Ghafouri and Rebecca Guiao, as well as four law school student representatives.
Jennifer Morrissey, an associate at Black Helterline, was recently elected to serve as chair of the Oregon chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Her term began in June and will run for one year. Morrissey’s practice is dedicated exclusively to immigration law. She represents businesses, families and individuals seeking a wide variety of immigration benefits. Prior to her election to chair, she served as an officer and member of the AILA Oregon’s executive committee for five years.
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has appointed Gustavo J. Cruz Jr. to the five-member Portland Development Commission. Cruz is a senior counsel at Ater Wynne with a practice in commercial finance, corporate finance and general business matters. He has been active on several nonprofit boards, including the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest District Association.
Nelson Atkin, a partner with Barran Liebman, has been elected to the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association board of directors. He is the only board member on the West Coast and will serve a three-year term.
Lane Powell Shareholder Bob Maloney has been appointed to the board of trustees for the Oregon Zoo Foundation. The trustees bring together individuals in the community who share a passionate commitment to fostering community pride and involvement in the Oregon Zoo.
The Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association has elected new officers for the 2015-16 membership year. They are: Ed Kroll, Hillsboro, president; Sara Collins, Medford, vice president; and Celia Howes, Portland, secretary.
In June, the Klarquist firm in Portland published a 145-page public version of the firm’s internal “Patent Defenses,” a patent-litigation training document. This resource is available at http://www.klarquist.com/patent-defenses. It includes a patent litigator’s analysis and organization of several hundred hyperlinked Supreme Court, federal circuit (mostly since 2004) and other important decisions on patent claim construction, patent infringement, willful infringement, patent invalidity, inequitable conduct, patent exhaustion, laches, patent misuse, patent damages, injunctions, attorney fees and more.
Tonya Alexander of Alexander Law P.C. in Beaverton is proud to be the first attorney in Washington County to be certified with Wevorce, a network of diverse divorce experts that features technology, a holistic separation process and a five-step method that guides families to amicable divorce. Read more at YourPeaceful Resolution.com.
Sam Hernandez, an attorney at Barran Liebman has been elected to the board of directors of the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association, the voice of Latinos in Oregon’s legal community. The organization works to encourage Latinos to become attorneys, retain Latino legal professionals, raise the awareness of Latino legal issues and support Latino law students and legal professionals. Hernandez has previously served on the board, taking a hiatus to complete a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.
The American Academy of Trial Attorneys has recently recognized Lawrence P. Blunck as one of 100 premier trial attorneys in the state of Oregon. This distinction is reserved for attorneys who have established themselves through their professionalism and excellence in service. Blunck has been in practice since 1984 and specializes in complex personal injuries and auto accidents, construction defects, property disputes and premises liability, environmental claims, construction injuries, defense of legal malpractice claims, arbitration and mediation.
Tonkon Torp partner Anna Sortun has been named to the board of directors of Emerge Oregon, which offers training programs for Democratic women in Oregon who aspire to elected offices. Sortun is a partner in Tonkon Torp’s litigation department. Her practice is focused on business litigation in the federal and state courts, as well as in alternative dispute and administrative venues.
The Sherwood City Council has appointed Josh Soper as city attorney. As Sherwood’s first in-house city attorney, he will be responsible for effectuating the city’s transition to an in-house legal services model. He previously served as county counsel for Coos County, where he began his career as assistant county counsel after graduating from Lewis & Clark Law School.
John Casey, a commercial litigation partner at K&L Gates, was recently appointed to the board of directors for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest.
Moves
The Oregon Lottery has hired Angela Schneider as the lottery’s contracts officer. Schneider has more than 14 years of experience as legal counsel in the high tech and consumer industries. Most recently, Schneider was the director of global legal operations for RadiSys Corp., a publicly traded company offering wireless infrastructure solutions. She previously served as legal counsel for more than five years at Canon U.S.A. Inc. She has also spent parts of her legal career at Goldman Sachs and at private law firms.
Deanna Rusch has joined McKinley Irvin as an associate attorney in the firm’s Vancouver office. Rusch’s practice includes all areas of family law, with an emphasis on complex divorce, relocation and interstate and international custody issues. She is particularly skilled in assisting divorce clients who own businesses or other complex financial assets. A Pacific Northwest native, Rusch graduated from the University of Washington and attended law school at Gonzaga University, where she founded the Sports & Entertainment Law Club. In 2012, she was named a “Washington Outstanding Young Lawyer” by Seattle Met Magazine and was honored as one of The Vancouver Business Journal’s “Accomplished and Under 40.”
Arnold Gallagher P.C. is pleased to announce the addition of John Roberts as an associate attorney. Roberts was previously in private practice in Eugene. His practice focuses primarily on litigation, including complex trust disputes, commercial landlord/tenant disagreements, unfair trade practices claims and employment matters. Roberts is a “double Duck,” having graduated from the University of Oregon in 2009 with an undergraduate degree in accounting and later receiving his law degree in 2012.
Sara Heskett has been appointed to serve as Holland & Knight’s executive partner in the firm’s Portland office. Heskett will oversee the day-to-day management of the 23-lawyer office while continuing her business and tax law practice. She succeeds Mark Von Bergen, who has served as executive partner since the office opened in 2001 and will return to his corporate law practice full time. Heskett, who was a summer associate at Holland & Knight while attending law school, joined the firm upon graduation in 2000 in Boston and moved to Portland in 2004. She focuses her practice on affordable housing projects eligible for federal and state low-income housing tax credits, federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits and renewable energy credits.
Bob McGaughey and Aurelia Ericksonare pleased to announce the formation of McGaughey Erickson. The firm will focus on securities litigation, employment claims and shareholder, partner and LLC member disputes.
Robert S. Wiggins has joined Lane Powell as a shareholder in the firm’s corporate/M&A practice group. Wiggins is a well-known lawyer, entrepreneur and investor with more than 30 years of experience leading and advising established and emerging companies in the Pacific Northwest. Wiggins will focus his practice on offering outside general counsel services, including general corporate and board representation, business transactions and capital events. He is the founder and manager of Mount Hood Equity Partners and was formerly a partner at Stoel Rives and chair of its technology ventures group. Wiggins has held a number of executive roles for companies, including chair and CEO of Portland software companies Site9 and Legal Anywhere, and president and general counsel of Vancouver-based BLT Technologies. He has also served on the boards of more than a dozen companies, including Routeware, Learning.com, Veris Industries and Cerus Industrial. He has been involved in a number of local charities and currently serves as a commissioner on the Palatine Hill Water Board.
Tonkon Torp partner Darcy Norville has been elected managing partner of the firm, effective July 1. Norville succeeds Michael Morgan, who held the role since 2006. Norville’s practice includes general business and corporate law, with particular emphasis on executive compensation, ERISA and employee benefits. She served on the firm’s managing board from 2005 to 2014, co-chaired the firm’s business department in 2014-2015 and leads the firm’s diversity task force. Prior to joining Tonkon Torp in 1998, Norville worked for 14 years in legal services programs and nonprofit organizations representing seniors, low-income and disabled individuals. Norville is active in Portland’s business and legal communities. She currently serves on the Oregon Business Association board of directors and is on the advisory board and is a statewide co-chair of Oregon’s Campaign for Equal Justice.
Foley & Mansfield has expanded its profile in the Pacific Northwest with the addition of experienced litigator Diane C. Babbitt, a former partner and head of the Northwest litigation practice at Jackson Jenkins Renstrom. Babbitt will work in the firm’s new Portland office, joining three other attorneys licensed in Oregon. An accomplished trial attorney, she represents clients in product liability, toxic tort and construction litigation. The firm is located at 1500 S.W. First Ave., in the south waterfront area of downtown Portland.
Sussman Shank has appointed Dallas G. Thomsen as chair of the firm’s estates and trusts practice group, effective July 1. He succeeds the previous group leader, Michael D. Levelle, who will continue his role as an attorney with the firm. Thomsen has been practicing law for over a decade. He focuses his practice on business law, taxation (including partnership and corporate tax), intellectual property, food and beverage and trademarks. He provides clients with in-depth tax analysis, evaluation, and planning, particularly in the areas of complex partnerships and advanced estate planning.
Charles A. Kovas is the newest partner at Warren Allen LLP. Kovas represents landlords in FED trials, stay hearings, post-foreclosure matters and all other facets of landlord-tenant law. His other areas of practice include family law, estate planning, real property law and business litigation. He lectures on landlord-tenant law throughout Oregon and is on the board for the area chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers.
Shanelle A. Honda and Steven R. Powers have joined Parsons Farnell & Grein. Honda joins the firm’s litigation practice group, where her practice focuses on commercial and business litigation, as well as employment law issues. Prior to joining the firm, she gained significant litigation experience as a judicial clerk for the Hon. Jerome E. LaBarre of the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Powers joins the firm as of counsel and is part of the insurance recovery, appellate and litigation practice groups. Most recently with the office of the governor as deputy general counsel, his practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses in disputes against insurance companies.
Watkinson Laird Rubenstein welcomes Chas. Hornerto its estate planning group. Prior to joining the firm, Horner was the civil clinic director and a staff attorney at the Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center in Eugene. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon School of Law. Horner received both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Oregon.
In Memoriam
Wally P. Martin died peacefully on the afternoon of June 3, 2015. He was 88.
Martin was born Sept. 11, 1926, in Grants Pass. After graduation from Grants Pass High School in 1944 and one year of college at the University of Oregon, he joined the Army Air Corps (a precursor to the U.S. Air Force), hoping to become a navigator. Nine months later, when the end of World War II was in sight, he, like many other new enlistees at the time, chose to accept an early honorable discharge.
Martin then attended the University of Oregon School of Law, graduating second in his class in 1950. He joined the law practice of Samuel M. Bowe, which later became Martin & Wolke.
Martin served on the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners from 1969 to 1972, acting as chair from 1971 to 1972. He was municipal judge for the city of Grants Pass for 25 years.
Martin married Lucretia (Crete) Josephine Bunce on Nov. 10, 1952, in Reno, Nev. Together they raised four children, who survive, as well as 10 grandchildren, three great-grandsons and several nieces and nephews.
In 1985, Martin married Lorraine (Licha) Wodke, who survives him. They were able to travel to exotic and far-flung destinations for several years, until both experienced declining health.
Bruce E. Jarman was born March 8, 1931 in Portland at age 84.
In 1949, Jarman graduated from Grant High School in Portland, where he was senior class president, quarterbacked the football team and captained the track team. He then attended Willamette University until January 1951, when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. While at Willamette, Jarman played football and threw the first touchdown pass in the first game at the new McCulloch Stadium in 1950.
After military service in the Air Force, Jarman continued his college education and graduated from Lewis and Clark College in 1957. Later, he attended Northwestern College of Law in Portland (now Lewis & Clark). On July 27, 1963, Jarman and Cathleen Marie Cavanaugh were married in Tacoma, Wash. They raised three children.
In 1968, he moved from Portland to Salem and worked at the Oregon Corporation Division until 1971, when he started his private practice of law in Salem that lasted 35 years.
Jarman is survived by two sisters; his wife of 52 years, Cathy, three children and four grandchildren.
Donald K. Armstrong, a Eugene attorney, died June 6, 2015, after a year-long fight against pancreatic cancer. He was 72.
Armstrong was born May 5, 1943, the youngest of nine children. His family moved to Bandon when he was 4. He graduated from Bandon High School in 1955.
He served in U.S. Army security in Vietnam and worked in sawmills at night while attending college. In 1973, he graduated with honors from the University of Oregon School of Law. He practiced with various attorneys, including Robert Naslund, Owen McCullen, Jim Caher and Steven Philpott, who assisted him with the closing of his law practice. Client inquiries are being referred to attorney John Billington of Eugene.
Friends remember Armstrong as a skilled and compassionate attorney who believed in the power of the judicial system to create a more civilized society. He was known also for his intellect and generosity. Over the course of his 40-year legal career in Lane County, he gave thousands of hours of his time without compensation to help people whom he believed deserved access to justice and had nowhere else to turn.
His last years were spent creating a home beside the Row River surrounded by orchards and gardens. His door was always open, and he loved nothing more than whipping up a good meal and sharing a bottle of wine with friends.
Armstrong was a member of the Springfield Rotary Club and later a founding member of the South Lane Rotary Club.
Armstrong is survived by his wife of 15 years, Cindy, as well as two sons, a brother and a sister.
Long-time Grants Pass attorney William M. (Bill) Sloan, age 85, died July 7, 2015, at his home in Sunriver,
Sloan was born May 30, 1930, in Omaha, Neb. and grew up in Geneva and Lincoln, Neb. While attending high school, he earned his Eagle Scout badge and an athletic letter in football as a guard. Following a family move to Oregon, Sloan graduated from Eugene High School in 1948.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in 1952. Sloan then served in the Army with duty in Korea, where he was promoted to first lieutenant and awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. He returned to the University of Oregon School of Law, where he was an editor on the law review staff. He received his LL.B. degree and was admitted to the bar in 1956.
In September 1956, Sloan joined the law firm of Johnson & Telfer in Grants Pass and practiced law in the same offices for 46 years. His other associates or partners include Brian Hawkins, Kim Jordan, Gerald Neufeld, Tom Hull and Mark Lansing. His practice focused on estate planning, probate, real estate law and taxation. He received an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubble in 1991 and his 50-year membership award from the Oregon bar in 2006. Sloan served as president of the Josephine County Bar, state legal counsel for the Oregon Jaycees and chair of the Josephine County Juvenile Advisory Council.
Sloan’s civic activities include president of the Grants Pass Jaycees, chair of the Josephine County Parks Board, chair of the Four Way Foundation, National Ski Patrolman and pack master and assistant scout leader for his son’s Boy Scout troop.
Sloan was committed to an outdoor life with emphasis on his family. He loved the mountains and summited all the major Cascade peaks in Oregon and Washington, several in California and five in the Teton Range, He enjoyed running and completed over 17 marathons, two 50-milers and several Hood-to-Coast relays. Downhill skiing was another passion; he also made eight cross-country ski trips around Crater Lake.
He rowed more than 30 unguided family white water rafting trips, primarily on the wild section of the Rogue River, and led many extended family hikes through the mountains. Some of Sloan’s most enjoyable leisure time was spent at the family’s beach house in Bandon. In 2004, Sloan and his wife moved to Sunriver to be closer to the many recreational activities. He is survived by his wife, Joan, four children and four grandchildren.
Jonel Keith Ricker of Island City, Ore., died July 15, 2015, with his family by his side. He was 60.
Ricker was born Nov. 26, 1954, in Enterprise, Ore., and was raised in Enterprise, Salem and La Grande. Ricker graduated from Enterprise High School in 1972, where he was a leading state wrestler. He then went on to Eastern Oregon State College and Willamette University, where he obtained his law degree. He was married to Ruth Morgan and later to Marilyn Brastrup (1989).
Ricker was employed at Trotters in Enterprise and was a ranch hand and a lawyer from 1979 to his death. He was also the La Grande city attorney. He enjoyed hunting, rafting, coaching Little League baseball, amateur basketball and summer youth soccer. He was involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (where he won the State Farmer and the National Farmer awards), Future Business Leaders of America and the Optimist Club. Ricker was a member of the Elks, National Wild Turkey Federation and Oregon Hunters Association.
Ricker is survived by his wife, Marilyn, four children, two sisters, a brother and four grandchildren.
William (Bill) Delbert Dials died July 26, 2015, at home in Lebanon, Ore. He was 64.
Dials was born July 21, 1951, in Lebanon, Ore. He married the love of his life, Catherine, in 2005.
Having grown up in Tillamook County, he attended Bay City Elementary School and Neah-Kah-Nie High School through 1969. Though he left the county to continue on his life’s path, the bigger part of his heart was always there.
Friends say Dials cut a wide path, living the life he enjoyed and was passionate about. An accomplished professional, he was good at his work because he loved it, as he did his wide community of friends. He was even more passionate about his family. He was a good student, studying anything that interested him, and he became a capable participant in many activities, including football, law, gardening, fishing, hunting, traveling, rafting, boating, classic cars and the great outdoors in general. He also loved dogs and was the loving master of a succession of great ones. He cared about the welfare of all animals and rescued a few them.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine, their sons and daughter, his brothers and sisters and two grandchildren.