Corporate Transparency Act ruled unconstitutional. Do I still have to comply?

By Matthew K. Stevenson – Attorney, Business Law & Taxation Law Practice Group On March 1, 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ruled that the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) is unconstitutional. The court found that the CTA, which requires the federal registration of most corporations, limited liabilities and

Nine Defamation Cases That Will Leave You Speechless

As a law firm with nearly a dozen civil litigation attorneys, we are often asked about defamation cases. These cases receive attention from the media and loom large in courtroom dramas and the public imagination. What exactly is defamation? Defamation occurs when a person makes an untrue statement about another individual, either verbally (slander) or

New Developments with Pre-condemnation Rights of Entry

By Jennifer C. Paul – Partner, Condemnation, Litigation & Employment Practice Groups When the government takes private property for public use, such as for public projects, right of way expansions or for other public development, the government is constitutionally required to pay just compensation, under the Fifth Amendment Takings Clause of the US Constitution and

Oregon Senate Bill 498 – Natural Resource Exemption/Property/Credit

Dear Clients: As you may know, Oregon Senate Bill 498 was signed into law by Governor Kotek on July 13, 2023.  The new law provides an available $15 million Oregon estate tax exemption for decedents who engage in the active management of Natural Resource Property (e.g., farming, forestry, and fishing) and who meet certain requirements

PRU•DENT: adj. acting with or showing care or thought for the future

By Erich Paetsch, Chair, Financial Services Industry Group At the start of the Great Recession, the Federal Financial Institution Examination Counsel agencies (“FFEIC”)  adopted a Policy Statement on Prudent Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts (“2009 Statement”). The 2009 Statement was a useful tool for financial institutions to understand risk management and accounting practices for commercial real estate

Are You Ready for Paid Leave Oregon? What Employers Need to Know

By David Briggs, Partner – Employment Law & Litigation Practice Group   Ready or not, here it comes.  Paid Leave Oregon is here.  Employees are eligible to apply for benefits and can start receiving those benefits beginning on September 3, 2023. The Oregon Employment Department is estimating that 41,000 individuals will apply for benefits before

Solicitation Alert: Oregon Business Annual Report

The Oregon Secretary of State recently warned business owners to be aware of solicitations sent out by for-profit companies offering to file an annual report with the Oregon Secretary of State on behalf of the business or business owner. These companies are commonly charging a “processing” fee or some other additional fee for this filing

Jennifer Paul and Paul Sundermier Presenting and Co-Chairing at Eminent Domain Conference

Jennifer Paul and Paul Sundermier, our two Condemnation attorneys, will be presenting and co-chairing at the upcoming Eminent Domain: Current Developments in Condemnation, Valuation & Challenges Conference. Jennifer will be giving an overview on pre-condemnation entries, and Paul will be moderating a panel on appraisal problems in condemnation. The conference is May 11 and 12

2022 Yearend Estate Planning Review

  Dear Friends and Clients: Happy Holidays! As with years past, we wanted to send a letter to friends and clients with new information on prospective tax updates and law changes, as well as key estate planning reminders for an estate planning checkup. We are excited to see what this new year will bring us.