Employment Litigation
Tonkon Torp has developed a Field Guide to help employers understand and implement the Emergency Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule (the "Rule"). The Rule, which went into effect on November 16, 2020, places requirements on all workplaces in the State of Oregon, with extremely narrow exceptions. Please fill out this form if you would like to learn more or purchase a copy of the Field Guide.
When a workplace dispute escalates, we help employers get the problem resolved. Whether settling out of court or through successful representation at trial or on appeal, our attorneys are experienced with defending employment claims before all levels of federal and state courts or agencies.
Our experience includes working on the following kinds of issues:
- Harassment and discrimination
- Retaliation and whistleblowing claims
- Wage and hour claims, including class actions
- Disability discrimination and accommodation
- Family and medical leave claims
- Wrongful termination and related tort and contract claims
- Employment contracts
- Pension and employee benefits
- Misappropriation of trade secrets and enforcement of non-competition agreements
Attorneys
Paralegals
Tonkon Torp Secures Complete Victory – and Wins Attorneys’ Fees – in Employment Litigation Matter for Sunshine Retirement Living
In a very rare decision by a federal court, Tonkon Torp partner Haley Morrison won attorneys’ fees for the defense in a case alleging state and federal discrimination and retaliation claims. Morrison, along with local counsel from Troutman Pepper’s Atlanta office, defended Sunshine Retirement Living in the case brought by a former employee, before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Fashion House Dooney & Bourke Wins with Tonkon Torp
Tonkon Torp trial attorneys Scott Seidman and Colin Geiger were victorious in defending Dooney & Bourke, Inc., in a wage claims trial in the U. S. District Court in Portland. Find details and more featured cases here.
1.26.2021
What the 2021 Oregon Legislature Has in Store for Employment Law
The Oregon Legislature has now begun to meet for the 2021 Regular Session. We want to make you aware of a number of interesting bills which could impact the employment arena.
1.20.2021
A Far-Flung Workforce is the Post-COVID New Normal
In less than a year, Covid-19 changed nearly everything across the globe. And one of its major impacts was the definition of workplace. In March, the coronavirus pandemic sent U.S. employers scrambling to keep their businesses afloat and their…
1.19.2021
An Employer's Dilemma: To Mandate (or Not) the COVID-19 Vaccine?
During a year in need of some brightness, December brought some great news: after emergency Food and Drug Administration approvals, first Pfizer and then Moderna shipped COVID-19 vaccines to locations throughout the United States, kicking off a mass…
12.30.2020
EEOC Issues Guidance on Employer-Mandated Vaccines
The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Oregon and in states across the nation. In Oregon, Governor Brown has prioritized front-line health care workers and nursing home residents for receiving the first round of vaccines, but it is a…
11.17.2020
Oregon OSHA Temporary Rule for Exceptional Risk Workplaces
We recently published an article about the Temporary Rule Oregon OSHA issued for workplaces in the State of Oregon. That article covered the provisions of the Rule applicable to all workplaces in the State of Oregon. The Rule also has provisions…
11.16.2020
Oregon OSHA Finalizes Temporary Workplace Safety Rules for COVID-19
On November 6, 2020, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OR-OSHA) adopted the Temporary Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule (the Rule) aimed at addressing the effects of the pandemic on the workplace. Unless otherwise indicated, the Rule’s provisions…
11.3.2020
Oregon OSHA Set to Finalize Temporary Workplace Safety Rules for COVID-19
On October 23, 2020, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Agency (Or-OSHA) issued its fourth draft of the Temporary Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule (the Rule) aimed at addressing the effects of the pandemic on the workplace. The comment period for this…
9.16.2020
Don’t Forget to Update Your Anti-Discrimination Policies: Oregon Workplace Fairness Act Goes into Effect October 1, 2020
Although it may be the understatement of the century, a lot has happened in Oregon in 2020. An employer could be forgiven for overlooking that SB 726 – the Workplace Fairness Act (WFA) – goes into effect on October 1, 2020, nearly 16 months after it…
9.14.2020
FFCRA Update: DOL Revises Rules In Response to Court Ruling
As previously discussed, a New York court recently struck four provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The ruling left many employers outside of New York wondering the extent to which the decision impacted them…
9.10.2020
FFCRA Update: Court Strikes Four Employer-Friendly Rules
On August 3, 2020, a federal court in New York struck four key Department of Labor (DOL) employer-friendly rules implementing the Families Firsts Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Pursuant to the court’s ruling, more employees will be able to take…
11.10.2020
How to Implement OR-OSHA's COVID-19 Rule
Join our Labor & Employment group on November 10 at 10:00 AM as we discuss OR-OSHA's Temporary COVID-19 Rule. OR-OSHA intends to adopt the Rule this week and, when adopted, many of its provisions will take effect 10 days after adoption. The Rule will…
7.30.2020
Coffee Break Series: Preparing to Reopen
Tonkon Torp's Coffee Break educational series for employers continues with a new batch of webinars. Each discussion will include a Q&A session with attendees. Join us for this informative series and be prepared for the next stage of our new normal.
5.28.2020
Labor and Employment: Coffee Break Series
Tonkon Torp has launched a Coffee Break educational series for employers and we hope you can join us. The series will focus on the challenges employers will face as they reopen their business.
4.10.2020
Webinar - FAQs for Employers in the COVID-19 Reality
On Friday, April 10, at 12:00 PM, Blerina Kotori and Clay Creps of Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group will address Frequently Asked Questions in a webinar moderated by business attorney Sherrill Corbett.
5.2.2019
Tonkon Torp's Annual Employment Law Update
Tonkon Torp's Annual Employment Law Update presentation
2.16.2021
Clay Creps Looks at COVID Employment Considerations for Law Firm Alliance
On February 10, Tonkon Torp partner Clay Creps was a featured panelist for an event hosted by the Law Firm Alliance, an international network of mid-sized law firms.
2.1.2021
Employees Getting Political? Clay Creps Talks Political Speech in the Workplace
Protests in response to political developments and racial injustice remain an active element in cities across the country. Tonkon Torp partner Clay Creps was recently interviewed by the Portland Business Journal about political speech in the…
12.8.2020
Tonkon Torp Litigators Share Expertise in Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation Publication
Tonkon Torp litigators have contributed their expertise to a new treatise on civil litigation practice, Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation.
12.4.2020
Haley Morrison Provides L&E Update on ORLA Podcast
Tonkon Torp partner Haley Morrison was a featured guest on Boiled Down, a podcast hosted by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). Haley and Anne Hasenstab from Ward Insurance joined ORLA's Greg Astley and Lori Little for a wide-ranging…
11.30.2020
Labor & Employment Attorneys Brief Employers on New OSHA COVID-19 Rules
Attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group have delivered a series of alerts and webinars to help employers navigate the newly released OSHA COVID-19 Rule. The Rule was adopted on November 6 and went into effect on November 16…
11.20.2020
Employer Field Guide for Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule – Available Now!
Tonkon Torp has developed a Field Guide to help employers understand and implement the Emergency Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule (the "Rule"). The Rule, which went into effect on November 16, 2020, places requirements on all workplaces in the State of…
11.5.2020
U.S. News "Best Law Firms" Publication Ranks 37 Tonkon Torp Practice Areas for 2021
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® has released its 2021 edition of "Best Law Firms." Tonkon Torp is once again ranked among the nation's best for five business law categories and is top-ranked in the metropolitan Portland market in 37 practice areas.
9.29.2020
Erin Roycroft Joins Tonkon Torp from Oregon Court of Appeals
Tonkon Torp LLP welcomes Erin Roycroft to the firm as an associate in its Labor & Employment Practice Group. Roycroft joins the firm from the Oregon Court of Appeals, where she served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Scott Shorr for two years.
8.20.2020
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more…
8.11.2020
Megan Reuther Discusses How to Handle COVID-19 in the Workplace
Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group concluded the first round of its coffee break webinar series with a July 30 program featuring attorney Megan Reuther. The topic focused on how to handle a COVID-19 diagnosis in the workplace.
