While the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’s repercussions for all of us are rapidly evolving, Larkins Vacura Kayser strives to remain a constant source of support and peace of mind for our clients. In order to provide uninterrupted legal services, and for the health of our clients, employees, friends, family, and broader community, we have shifted to remote work arrangements and deployed technology to ensure our firm remains fully operational, integrated, and connected to the clients we serve. Our logistical changes may not be noticeable to many clients, as we pride ourselves on being a lean, adaptable, and resourceful organization, already capable of strategizing with our clients and advocating to courts through video-conferencing, phone calls, and email. Please let us know how we …

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Chris Kayser was interviewed by The Columbian about the firm’s recent filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of Oregon investors who lost over $17 million after investing in “American Equities” securities.  The class action, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, brings claims under the Oregon Securities Law against the lawyers who provided material aid to the unlawful securities offerings.

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Cody Hoesly has joined the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar’s Business Litigation Section. Hoesly is also a member of the Oregon Law Commission LLC Act Modernization Work Group, which is formulating proposed legislation to revamp Oregon’s decades-old Limited Liability Company Act.

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Brett Applegate prevailed before the Arbitration Service of Portland on behalf of a Portland-area business in a dispute involving the ownership of a multi-million dollar apartment complex. The arbitrator granted a motion for summary disposition in favor of our client, awarding it the right to purchase from its business partner all shares in the apartment complex. The ruling represented a full victory for our client.

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys John Rake and Bridget Donegan participated in the Oregon State Bar’s OLIO (Opportunities for Law in Oregon) Employment Retreat. LVK is proud to support OLIO’s mission to recruit and retain diverse legal talent in Oregon. John and Bridget volunteered in mock interview sessions with law students, and enjoyed the chance to talk with many diverse Oregon law students at an employer forum. Thanks to OLIO for a great event.

Larkins Vacura Kayser sponsored Best Buddies Oregon’s 2019 Champion of the Year Gala. Best Buddies is an international organization that works to create opportunities for meaningful one-on-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. LVK attorney Kelsey Benedick is on the 2019 Advisory Board for the Oregon chapter, and also served as a Best Buddies Champion, committing to raise $5,000 this year for Best Buddies Oregon. The Oregon chapter is working hard to open an office in Portland to bring Best Buddies’ mission of inclusion to Oregon and better serve Oregon residents. LVK is happy to support Best Buddies Oregon in these efforts.

Larkins Vacura Attorneys Chris Kayser, Hopi Ruplin, and Kelsey Benedick recently returned from spending a week in El Paso, Texas working on cases of asylum seekers who are fleeing their countries because they are persecuted for their political and religious beliefs or belong to a particular social group. Seeking asylum is difficult enough with representation. Without it, even the best cases have little chance of winning. The firm is proud to sponsor this work and grateful to Chris, Kelsey and Hopi for taking on this daunting challenge.

The attorneys and staff of Larkins Vacura Kayser are honored and delighted that our former partner Danielle Hunsaker has been confirmed by the United States Senate for a seat on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Along with the other federal circuit courts of appeals, the Ninth Circuit is below only the U.S. Supreme Court in our federal court system. Judge Hunsaker joined LVK as an associate attorney in 2009. She became a partner in 2014, and remained with our firm until she was appointed to the Washington County bench in December 2017. While practicing law here, Judge Hunsaker handled a heavy caseload of civil litigation matters, while also teaching at Lewis and Clark Law School, doing pro bono legal work, and …

Larkins Vacura Kayser is pleased to announce that it was again recognized in the 2020 Edition of Best Law Firms in Oregon. The firm was named as a Tier 1 Best Law Firm in Commercial Litigation and Banking & Finance Litigation, a Tier 2 Best Law Firm in Antitrust Litigation, and a Tier 3 Best Law Firm in Environmental Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, and Securities Litigation. The rankings are based on peer selection.

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Cody Hoesly prevailed before the Oregon Court of Appeals in Pride Disposal Co. v. Valet Waste LLC, 298 Or App 751 (2019). Affirming the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of our client, Valet, the Court of Appeals held that Valet’s business of taking trash from tenants’ apartments to on-site compactors at apartment complexes does not constitute “collection” or “transportation” of waste under two municipal codes, such that Valet does not violate a waste hauler’s exclusive franchise. The court explained that, in context, the terms “collection” and “transportation” mean taking waste from the compactor and driving it to the dump or other authorized facility. Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys John Dunbar and John Rake were …

Thanks everyone! We hope you had as much fun as we did.

The attorneys and staff of Larkins Vacura Kayser are honored and delighted that our former partner Danielle Hunsaker, currently Chief Judge of the Washington County, Oregon, Circuit Court, has been nominated for a seat on the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ninth Circuit, headquartered in San Francisco, covers nine western states, including Oregon and Washington, as well as two Pacific Island jurisdictions.  Along with the other federal circuit courts of appeals, the Ninth Circuit is below only the U.S. Supreme Court in our federal court system. Judge Hunsaker joined LVK as an associate attorney in 2009, following clerkships with Judge Paul J. Kelly, Jr. of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Michael W. Mosman of the U.S. District …

If you invested in an American Equities fund (including mortgage investment funds beginning with an “American Eagle Mortgage” label) and you are interested in learning more about possible claims and remedies you may have, please contact Larkins Vacura Kayser.  American Equities, Inc. and its affiliated American Eagle Mortgage funds were placed in receivership in May 2019 based on management’s revelation that the funds’ collective liabilities exceeded their assets by over $42 million.  Under the terms of a receivership process, a court-appointed official (the “receiver”) takes control of the company in order to investigate its assets and liabilities and develop a plan, subject to court approval, to liquidate the assets and repay creditors and investors.  Given the finding of a significant …

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys Kelsey Benedick and John Rake recently provided pro bono representation of the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force (“SATF”) in submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Oregon Supreme Court in MAB v. Buell, 296 Or App 380 (2019).  The underlying case addresses the standard for issuing a restraining order under Oregon’s Family Abuse Prevention Act and in particular what evidence can create an “imminent danger of further abuse.”  SATF’s brief supplies crucial information related to characteristics of domestic violence associated with increased lethality risks to survivors, and argues that the Court of Appeals’ decision in Buell could hinder the ability of domestic violence survivors to obtain restraining orders following separation from an abuser, which …

Larkins Vacura Kayser is pleased to announce that Bill Larkins, Julie Vacura, Chris Kayser, John Dunbar, and Cody Hoesly were again recognized as Best Lawyers in Oregon in the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers. Julie was also named the 2020 Lawyer of the Year for Banking & Finance Litigation in Oregon. The rankings are based on peer selection. Bill Larkins has been ranked a Best Lawyer since 2014 and is recognized in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Banking & Finance Litigation. In 2018, Bill was named Lawyer of the Year for Banking & Finance Litigation in Oregon Julie Vacura has been ranked a Best Lawyer since 2011 and is recognized in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, and …

Larkins Vacura Kayser is pleased to announce that Julie Vacura was recognized as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Oregon, and one of the Top 25 women lawyers in Oregon, in the 2019 issue of Oregon Super Lawyers. The firm is also pleased to announce that Bill Larkins, Chris Kayser, John Dunbar, and Cody Hoesly were also again recognized as Super Lawyers, signifying their place in the top 5% of all lawyers in Oregon. Finally, the firm is pleased to announce that Bridget Donegan and John Rake were again recognized as Rising Stars, signifying their place in the top 2.5% of all Oregon litigators under 40 or in their first 10 years of practice. The rankings are based on …

Larkins Vacura Kayser Attorneys Bridget Donegan and Hopi Ruplin recently won a defense verdict for a home seller who was sued for fraud after his real estate agent whited out his disclosure forms that were given to the buyers. After hearing a week of testimony, the jury found that there had been no fraud. On a separate claim for consumer law violations, the buyers asked for $250,000 plus $500,000 in punitive damages. The jury awarded the buyers $3,000, and rejected their punitive damages claim in less than 15 minutes.

If you invested in a GPB Capital Holdings fund and are interested in learning more about possible claims and remedies you may have, please contact Larkins Vacura Kayser.  GPB Capital Holdings, LLC is facing serious allegations of wrongdoing from authorities and individuals alike.  The company is currently under investigation by the SEC, FINRA, the FBI, and a number of state and local authorities and regulators.  In addition, there are already multiple lawsuits underway against GPB Capital Holdings, including allegations by former GPB Holdings Operating Partner Patrick Dibre that GPB was operating as a Ponzi scheme, “GPB paid its investors significant returns based upon falsified financial information,” and GPB had to “implement a different investment methodology than the one disclosed to …

Julie Vacura led a session on direct examination at the 2019 Rothauge Women’s Trial Academy on April 5. The Women’s Trial Academy is a practice course designed and taught by women to help trial lawyers enhance skills in a small, collaborative group setting. The session addresses some of the unique challenges women face in the courtroom.

Julie Vacura made a presentation about Summary Judgment on March 7, 2019 for the Multnomah Bar Association Young Litigators Forum. The Young Litigators Forum is a series of weekly, one-hour seminars on litigation issues geared towards members who are new to the practice of law.