Larkins Vacura Kayser Prevails at Trial on Behalf of Start-up Commercial Tenant

Larkins Vacura Kayser attorneys Julie Vacura and Kelsey Benedick recently prevailed in a bench trial before Judge Karen Ostrye of the Hood River County Circuit Court in Port of Cascade Locks v. The Puff Factory, 16CV06323. The Port of Cascade Locks entered into a ten-year commercial lease with our client, The Puff Factory, and then terminated the lease approximately four-and-a-half months into the ten-year term based on alleged breaches of lease by The Puff Factory. LVK succeeded in showing the court, through the Port’s own witnesses, that the Port’s claims failed. Judge Ostrye dismissed the Port’s breach of lease claim after the Port’s case-in-chief, finding that The Puff Factory did not materially breach the lease or otherwise abandon or vacate the leased premises, and that the Port was not entitled to damages. As a result, the claim against our client was dismissed with prejudice before we even put on our client’s defense.

Our trial team also included legal assistant Jennifer Barrios, paralegal Amanda Hollowell, and new attorney Sydney Holmes.