Steve Larson is a trial lawyer who handles cases in state and federal courts, as well as before arbitration panels, emphasizing all types of complex business litigation. Steve has experience in class actions, securities litigation, corporate disputes, intellectual property disputes, unfair competition claims, employment matters and disputes involving family wealth. Steve has handled many cases in these and other subject areas, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Steve has also appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Steve is on the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors representing Multnomah County. Steve is also an editor of the Oregon Civil Pleading and Practice Handbook, and is a regular contributor to continuing legal education programs. He has authored chapters in Oregon Continuing Legal Education publications on securities law, contract law and trial practice in Oregon, has written several articles for legal periodicals, and has lectured on class actions, securities law, consumer law, and unfair competition.

Areas of Practice:

Business Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Class Action Litigation

Securities/Investor/Broker Litigation

Trademark, Patent and Other Intellectual Property Litigation

Representative Cases :

Representative Cases:

Consumer Law:

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 Circ. 2006)), and the other for $19 million (Razilov v. Nationwide, USDC Case No. CV-01-1466BR.)

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).

Breach of Contract:

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:

Obtained certification of a class action involving over 200,000 class members with aggregate claims in excess of $100 million against Farmers Insurance Company of Oregon arising out of the use of credit scores in setting premiums. Ashby, et al. v. Farmers Insurance Company of Oregon, USDC Case No. CV 01-1446BR.

Employment Class Actions:

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.

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.

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 Law:

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.

Broker-Dealer Claims:

Represented numerous individual investors in actions against investment advisors and brokers.

Employment Law:

Represented numerous executives and owners of corporations seeking to recover sums owed under employment agreements, shareholder agreements, age discrimination statutes or laws relating to oppression of minority shareholders.

Family Wealth Disputes:

Recently resolved through mediation, a dispute between heirs, trustees and personal representatives arising out of the administration and distribution of proceeds from a multi-million dollar estate.

Professional Experience:

Stoll Berne; shareholder, 1995 - present; associate, 1990-1994

Lindsay Hart Neil & Weigler LLP, Portland; associate, 1986-1990

Education:

University of Oregon, J.D., Order of the Coif, graduating first in his class, 1986

Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Awards for Evidence, Contracts, Damages, and Trusts and Estates

University of Minnesota, B.A., 1981

Admitted to Practice:

Oregon State Bar, 1986

United States District Court, Oregon

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit and Eleventh Circuit

United States Supreme Court

Professional Activities:

American Bar Association

Litigation Section

Class Actions and Derivative Suits Committee, 2007-present

Co-Chair Emerging Trends subcommittee, 2007-present

Oregon State Bar

Board of Governors, 2009-present

Litigation Section Executive Committee, 2007-2008

Consumer Law Section Executive Committee, 2007-2008

Business Litigation Section Executive Committee, 2000-2004; chairman, 2004

Securities Regulation Section Executive Committee, 1999-2003; chairman, 2003

Uniform Trial Court Rules Committee, 1998-2000

Oregon Practice and Procedure Committee, 1996-1998

Multnomah Bar Association

CLE Committee, 2007-2008

Committee on Judiciary, 2002

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Business Litigation Section Chair, 1999

Board of Governors, 1994-1998

National Consumer Law Center

Partners Council, 2009-present

American Association for Justice, member

National Association of Consumer Advocates, member

Arbitrator, Multnomah County Circuit Court

Community Activities:

Oregon Law Foundation Board Member, 2006-2008

Senior Law Project volunteer, 1986-present

Executive Board of the Campaign for Equal Justice, 2000-2004

United Way campaign coordinator, 1999-2001