Steven Olson

Defended a large manufacturing client against multiple hazardous waste violation claims by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, resulting in a reduction of almost $200,000 in assessed violations.

Represented a large industrial landowner in a series of appeals successfully challenging the City of Portland's North Reach River Plan ordinance as failing to comply with Oregon's statewide land use planning goals and the City's own comprehensive plan. (Land Use Board of Appeals, Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Supreme Court)

Counseled clients in the decommissioning of old lumber mills in Oregon, Idaho and Montana and preparing them for different land use.

Successfully negotiated reductions and settlements of environmental enforcement actions, including offsetting penalties by supplemental environmental projects.

(Multnomah County Circuit Court) – Successfully assert claims for breach of judicial dissolution, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of shareholder agreement seeking damages of $6.0 million.  

Represented three brothers who sold their family trucking business in several proceedings in both court and arbitration. The claims involve indemnity and other issues under a Stock Purchase Agreement, real estate matters, professional malpractice, and taxation.

In Montana, assisted Stimson in the negotiation and implementation of an administrative order for the $6 million cleanup and removal of a PCB-contaminated cooling pond formerly owned by Stimson. Successfully asserted claims against prior owners of the cooling pond under CERCLA, recovering past and future cleanup costs.

Tonkon Torp represents the City of Lake Oswego, Oregon in a lawsuit concerning ownership of and access to Oswego Lake. After Tonkon's lawyers were successful in moving to have the case dismissed in federal court, the lawsuit is now pending in Oregon state court.

Tonkon Torp represents the Port of Arlington, Oregon in ongoing federal court litigation arising out of the Corps' revocation of the Port's permit to build a dock facility in the Columbia River.

Successfully asserted claims of nearly $50 million on behalf of the City of Portland arising out of defects in the new utilities software billing system.

Asserted product defect claims against industrial coolant manufacturer seeking damages of nearly $2 million. Obtained favorable settlement.

Obtained a jury verdict following a two week trial on defective product and failure to warn claims.

Obtained a favorable award following a week-long arbitration on claims of recession and damages relating to the purchase and sale of real estate.

Successfully defend against statutory and common law claims arising from serious workplace injury.

Successfully asserting claims for breach of contract and promissory estoppel seeking damages of $1.5 million arising from failure to honor lease obligations.

(Clackamas County Circuit Court) – Successfully defend breach of contract claims and assert breach of fiduciary duty claims against past officers and shareholders.

Representing Tri-Way Industries in the defense of statutory and common law claims for environmental contamination seeking damages of over $5 million for damages allegedly caused by Tri-Way's business operations.

Successfully defend claims for negligence and premise liability brought by injured work seeking damages of $1.5 million.

Successfully defending claims of warranty and defective product involving the purchase and sale of a yacht.

Successfully defend third-party claims seeking indemnity and contribution for damages arising from a serious workplace injury involving the loss of limb.

Successfully asserted Alien Tort Claim Act and human trafficking claims brought by an Ethiopian woman against her captor.

Obtained a multi-million dollar jury verdict in a state court trial arising out of the client’s losses in an investment fund (Case No. 1106-07241). “Jury says it matters what investment firms say to clients when an adviser leaves,” Oregonian, August 4, 2012.

Successfully defended the City of Lake Oswego in federal and state court lawsuits involving disputes about the ownership of Oswego Lake.

Successfully asserted claims on behalf of the City of Portland arising out of defects in a new utilities software billing system.

Successfully asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty, dissolution, and minority shareholder oppression seeking damages of over $3M.

Successfully asserted claims for breach of contract and warranty seeking damages of $4.2M caused by defective professional services.

Successfully asserted breach of fiduciary duty and contract claims brought against a corporate director and public utilities company.

Successfully asserted and defended against injunction claims involving non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.

Won summary judgment against dissenters’ rights and breach of fiduciary duty claims seeking nearly $3M.

Won summary judgment against disability discrimination claims brought against a national sporting goods and apparel company.

Won summary judgment against a nearly $15M claim arising out of a train derailment in Nebraska.

Successfully defended a large Oregon manufacturer in several lawsuits brought in courts across the country involving train derailments allegedly caused by defective products.

On behalf of a large Oregon timber company, recovered millions of dollars in costs arising from the cleanup of a Montana mill that was contaminated by a prior owner.

Successfully asserted claims against a brokerage house and investment firm brought by a group of investors who lost millions of dollars in connection with a Ponzi scheme.

On behalf of a large manufacturer, successfully challenged a controversial Portland city ordinance, Riverplan, which would have significantly hampered development in Portland’s industrial sanctuary.

Obtained a favorable arbitration award against rescission and damages claims arising out of a real estate transaction.

Obtained a defense verdict against wrongful discharge and retaliation claims brought against a large timber company.

Prevailed on summary judgment against a nearly $15 million claim filed in Texas arising out of a train derailment in Nebraska.

Successfully defend contract rescission claims and successfully assert breach of fiduciary duty claims seeking damages of $3 million.

Successfully defended a large manufacturing company against products liability and breach of warranty claims filed in the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska by establishing that plaintiff’s alleged losses were caused by a component part manufacturer and by plaintiff’s own negligence.

Representing a railcar manufacturer in a series of related lawsuits arising from train derailments in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. Plaintiff alleges that products manufactured by Greenbrier failed, causing damages in excess of $10 million.

(United States District Court, District of Oregon) – Prevailed on summary judgment against dissenters’ rights and breach of fiduciary duty claims seeking nearly $3,000,000. 

(USDC, E. NY) – Successfully assert claims for breach of contract and preliminary and permanent injunction arising from unauthorized use of bar code technologies.

Upheld grant of judgment establishing entitlement to insurance coverage for a multi-car train derailment. (Texas Appellate Court)

(Multnomah County Circuit Court) – Successfully assert claims of breaches of contract and fiduciary duties seeking damages of nearly $4 million arising from failure to deliver securities.