The Art of Communication News
Larkins Vacura Kayser Awarded for Supporting Legal Aid Funding in OregonFebruary 21, 2019
Larkins Vacura Kayser is a proud supporter of the Campaign for Equal Justice (CEJ), an organization devoted to supporting legal aid programs for low-income and elderly Oregonians. At its annual awards luncheon, CEJ again recognized Larkins Vacura Kayser as a Justice Council firm. This designation means that the firm’s per capita giving was between $301 and $499 for each attorney. In addition, CEJ recognized Bill Larkins, John Rake, and Hopi Costello Ruplin for their service on CEJ committees formed to create and reinforce support for access to justice in the legal community.
Bridget Donegan Presents E-Discovery CLEFebruary 21, 2019
Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Bridget Donegan taught a CLE on E-Discovery law and practice for the Multnomah Bar Association on February 20, 2019. The presentation focused on emerging case law and best practices for effectively and efficiently managing discovery of electronic records in federal and state courts.
Larkins Vacura Kayser Defeats $50 Million Damages Claim Against Bank ClientFebruary 13, 2019
Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys Cody Hoesly and Bill Larkins recently obtained the dismissal with prejudice of a $50 million damages claim against our client, a bank. Fourteen Oregon counties sued our client, along with several other banks, and Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), alleging that the defendants had conspired to defraud the counties of fees charged for recording mortgage assignments. The counties argued that the defendants recorded mortgages that falsely identified the beneficiary as MERS, which allowed the defendants to sell the mortgages on the secondary market without recording mortgage assignments with the counties. Following the court’s dismissal of all but one of the counties’ claims, and the court’s entry of an order sanctioning the counties for discovery violations …
Bridget Donegan Selected for Uniform Civil Jury Instruction CommitteeJanuary 25, 2019
Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Bridget Donegan has been selected to join the state bar’s committee that drafts the Uniform Civil Jury Instructions.  The committee strives to create clear instructions that correctly state the law in plain English as an aid and guide to courts and practitioners across the state. Bridget’s service will be guided by her experience trying several commercial and real property disputes to verdict.
Larkins Vacura Kayser Again Recognized as an Oregon Best Law FirmNovember 1, 2018
Larkins Vacura Kayser is pleased to announce that it was again recognized in the 2019 Edition of Best Law Firms in Oregon. The firm was named as a Tier 1 Best Law Firm in Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Banking & Finance, a Tier 2 Best Law Firm in Litigation – Antitrust, and a Tier 3 Best Law Firm in Litigation – Environmental and Litigation – Real Estate. The rankings are based on peer selection.
Cody Hoesly and Julie Vacura Teach CLEs on Dispositive Motions PracticeOctober 15, 2018
Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys Cody Hoesly and Julie Vacura taught CLEs on dispositive motions practice in September and October 2018. Cody gave a presentation on Winning Dispositive Motions for the Multnomah Bar Association on September 27, 2018. The presentation focused on how to win on motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment, whether by succeeding on one’s own motion or by defeating an opponent’s motion. Julie gave a presentation on Summary Judgment Motions Under FRCP 56 and ORCP 47 for the Oregon State Bar on October 11, 2018. The presentation focused on how to make effective written and oral arguments, with consideration of the differences between federal and state rules.
Larkins Vacura Kayser Prevails in FCRA DisputeSeptember 1, 2018
Larkins Vacura Kayser attorney Cody Hoesly prevailed before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Boydstun v. U.S. Bank, N.A. 726 Fed Appx 601 (2018). Affirming the district court judgment in favor of our client, U.S. Bank, the Ninth Circuit held that the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies only to consumer loans. The plaintiff owned a company that applied for a loan to buy a forklift; the loan was denied following the lender’s review of the plaintiff’s personal credit report. The Ninth Circuit explained that the lender’s decision to consult the plaintiff’s personal credit report based on his status as the owner of the company did not transform the company’s non-consumer application for a forklift loan into …
Larkins Vacura Kayser Attorneys Again Recognized as Oregon Best LawyersAugust 17, 2018
Larkins Vacura Kayser is pleased to announce that Bill Larkins, Julie Vacura, Chris Kayser, John Dunbar, and Cody Hoesly were recognized as Best Lawyers in Oregon in the 2019 Edition of Best Lawyers. 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 the Best Lawyer 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 Real Estate Litigation • Chris Kayser has been ranked a Best Lawyer since 2015 and is recognized in …
Larkins Vacura Kayser Attorneys Again Recognized as Oregon Super LawyersAugust 15, 2018
Larkins Vacura Kayser is pleased to announce that Julie Vacura was recognized as one of the Top 25 women lawyers in Oregon in the 2018 issue of Oregon Super Lawyers. The firm is also please to announce that Bill Larkins, Chris Kayser, John Dunbar, and Cody Hoesly were also 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, Zak Kearns, and John Rake were 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 peer selection and an independent evaluation. • Bill Larkins has …
Campaign for Equal Justice Honors Larkins Vacura Kayser for Support of Legal Aid FundingMarch 1, 2018
Larkins Vacura Kayser is a proud supporter of the Campaign for Equal Justice (CEJ), an organization devoted to supporting legal aid programs for low-income and elderly Oregonians. At CEJ’s annual award luncheon in February 2018, Larkins Vacura Kayser received the Midsize Firm Award. All attorneys in the firm made donations to CEJ, and the firm was again a Justice Council firm, meaning that per capita giving was between $301 and $499 for each attorney. In addition to the Midsize Firm award, CEJ’s Executive Director thanked Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys Bill Larkins and John Rake for their service on the Midsize Firm Partner Committee, which provides outreach to other midsize firms and helps create a culture of community and support around …
LVK Wins $1 Million Verdict In Case of Unpaid CommissionNovember 13, 2017
LVK attorneys Cody Hoesly and Bridget Donegan recently obtained a $1 million jury verdict on behalf of a business broker who got stiffed on his commission and sued his client to obtain it. The broker was hired to sell a business on commission, but, after the broker negotiated a letter of intent with a potential buyer, the business fired the broker. The buyer ultimately paid $20 million for the business, but the business never paid the broker anything, relying on the fact that it had never signed the broker’s fee agreement. LVK helped the broker bring a breach of contract action against the business to recover the broker’s unpaid commission. Following a two-week trial, the jury deliberated just two hours …
LVK Wins Jury TrialNovember 13, 2017
LVK attorneys Chris Kayser and Bridget Donegan won a jury trial for their client who had been denied his share of profits of a lucrative manufacturing business. After hearing a week of testimony, the jury returned a verdict for past and future profits worth several million dollars.
Bill Larkins honored as a 2018 “Lawyer of the Year”November 13, 2017
LVK partner Bill Larkins has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” in the practice area of Litigation-Banking and Finance in Portland. This award honors expertise in this field in the Portland region, and is based on peer selection.
LVK Law Protects Ridesharing Company’s Confidential Trade Secret Data from Public Records Disclosure in Multnomah County CaseNovember 8, 2016
The Oregonian newspaper sought Lyft, Inc.’s confidential and competitively sensitive ride and vehicle data from the City of Portland. Lyft provides this data to the City of Portland pursuant to nondisclosure agreements and City regulations.  Lyft treats its ride and vehicle data as highly confidential and protects it from disclosure to the public and competitors.  After the Multnomah County District Attorney ordered the City to produce the data to the Oregonian, LVK Law obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the release of the data.  In briefing the case in front of Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Judith Matarazzo, LVK attorneys explained that the data was exempt under Oregon Public Records Law and the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.  After oral argument, …
Larkins Vacura Teams Up with Esler Stephens & Buckley to Pursue Claims for Aequitas InvestorsFebruary 26, 2016
Chris Kayser at Larkins Vacura and Mike Esler at Esler Stephens & Buckley have been investigating claims arising from investor losses in a variety of Aequitas investments, including promissory notes. It has been widely reported that investors were advised to invest in Aequitas by means of a number of misrepresentations and material omissions in apparent violation of Oregon Securities laws.  Our investigation is not limited to Aequitas and its principals but also includes other professionals who participated in promoting  and aiding in the offerings and who may be liable for the losses.  For more information, please contact Chris Kayser at (503) 222-4424 cjkayser@larkinsvacura.com, Mike Esler at (503) 223-1510 esler@eslerstephens.com, or Gary Hardiman at (503) 223-1510 hardiman@eslerstephens.com.
Portland Trial Lawyer John Dunbar Joins Larkins Vacura LLPFebruary 1, 2016
Larkins Vacura LLP has announced that John Dunbar has joined the firm as a partner. For five years, Dunbar headed the Special Litigation Unit at the Oregon Department of Justice. Serving under two different Oregon Attorneys General, Attorney General Kroger and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Dunbar led a trial team that focused on many of the State’s most important cases, including high-profile Constitutional challenges, tort claims against the State, complex regulatory cases and environmental litigation. Dunbar’s deep exposure to a wide variety of legal conflicts equips him for all facets of his complex commercial litigation practice. John’s diverse background includes, for example, in-depth forays into healthcare issues, environmental disputes, intellectual property, consumer disputes, and regulatory litigation. He also has represented …
Larkins Vacura LLP Again Ranked As First-Tier Best Law Firm By U.S. NewsNovember 2, 2015
Larkins Vacura LLP is pleased to announce that for 2015 it has again been ranked a first-tier Best Law Firm by U.S. News. The firm was specifically cited for its expertise in commercial litigation, banking and finance litigation, and real estate litigation, receiving top-tier designations for each of the former practice areas in the Portland area.
Larkins Vacura LLP’s Best LawyersSeptember 2, 2015
Larkins Vacura LLP is pleased to announce that for 2016 its attorneys have again been recognized as Best Lawyers by U.S. News. Bill Larkins, Julie Vacura, Chris Kayser, and John Dunbar were all recognized as Best Lawyers in commercial litigation, Bill and Julie were further recognized as Best Lawyers in banking and finance litigation, Julie was also recognized as a Best Lawyer in real estate litigation, and Chris was also recognized as a Best Lawyer in antitrust litigation.
Larkins Vacura LLP’s Super LawyersAugust 18, 2015
Larkins Vacura LLP is pleased to announce that Bill Larkins, Julie Vacura, Cody Hoesly, and John Dunbar were recognized as Super Lawyers in the 2015 issue of Oregon Super Lawyers, signifying their place in the top 5% of all lawyers in Oregon. Bill has maintained that designation since 2009, and Julie has done so since 2007. Cody was named a Rising Star in the same publication from 2012 to 2014. The same publication also named Danielle Hunsaker and Bridget Donegan 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. Danielle has maintained that designation since 2014.
Danielle Hunsaker wins Ninth Circuit appealJuly 20, 2015
Congratulations to Danielle Hunsaker on her recent Ninth Circuit victory on behalf of a national banking institution in a Fair Credit Reporting Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act case concerning a failed mortgage loan modification. After securing full victory at summary judgment in the trial court, Danielle defended and argued the appeal to the Ninth Circuit, which affirmed the trial court’s decision.