Oregon Supreme Court (11 summaries)
Johnson v. Premo
Nothing in the Church opinion may be understood to state an exception to the requirement of ORS 9.320 that represented parties ordinarily must appear through counsel; Church says that if a post-conviction attorney fails to assert a ground for relief, the petitioner must bring that fact to the attention of the court to avoid the effect of ORS 138.550(3).
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Procedure
J.A.H. v. Heikkila
ORCP 9B specifies how an appellant must serve a party when that party is represented; the appellant must serve the party's attorney.
Area(s) of Law:- Appellate Procedure
State v. Nix
"Victim" as used in ORS 161.067, Oregon's "anti-merger" statute, is determined by reference to the underlying substantive statute that is violated.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Hickman
A first identification of defendant occurring in the courtroom falls under the OEC 403 inquiry described in Lawson/James.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
In re Sione
In determining whether reciprocal discipline is appropriate, the Court must determine whether the misconduct in the state the discipline was imposed constitutes misconduct under the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and, if so, what sanction is appropriate for such misconduct.
Area(s) of Law:- Professional Responsibility
Hall v. State of Oregon
Government regulation of the use of property or planning for the eventual taking of property for use that reduces the property's value generally does not result in a de facto taking; however, there are two generally recognized exceptions to that general rule: (1) when a regulation or planning action deprives the owner of all economically viable use of the property, or (2) a physical government occupation or invasion of property rights substantially has interfered with the owner's use and enjoyment of the property.
Area(s) of Law:- Land Use
State v. A.J.C.
The school safety exception applies where the school has "reasonable suspicion that there w[ere] imminent health or safety threats or risk to the students [of] the school"; an imminent safety threat needs to be supported by specific and articulable facts but is accompanied by additional considerations for this exception including the confined close-quarters of a school campus and the heightened standard of care to students and adults in the environment.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Bowen
Defendant should have sought reconsideration of the disposition of the Supreme Court rather than waiting for the order to be issued to the trial court and then assigning error to the trial court's compliance with those terms.
Area(s) of Law:- Post-Conviction Relief
Chase and Chase
After an initial judgment is entered requiring payment of child support in future recurring installments, interest on unpaid installments is postjudgment, not prejudgment interest, and is governed by paragraph (2)(b), not paragraph (2)(c), of ORS 82.010.
Area(s) of Law:- Family Law
State v. Pipkin
When determining whether a jury concurrence is required, a court must first determine the legislature's intent in enacting the criminal statute. If the legislature intended two ways of proving a single element, jury concurrence is not required, so long as Article I, section 11 of the constitution is not violated.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Benoit
The Oregon Constitution does not support the state transforming what begins as a criminal proceeding into a noncriminal proceeding without the defendant's consent.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
Oregon Court of Appeals (49 summaries)
Dept. of Human Services v. J. M.
In order to show a change in plan is a "foster care placement" within the meaning of ICWA, a "significant shift in legal rights" must occur.
Area(s) of Law:- Juvenile Law
State v. Lewis
For a conviction of assault in the fourth degree, the state must show the victim suffered physical injury in the form of "impairment of physical condition or substantial pain."
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Norris v. R & T Manufacturing, LLC
Oregon courts adhere to the "American rule" of attorney fees, under which courts generally will not award attorney fees to the prevailing party absent statutory or contractual authorization.
Area(s) of Law:- Attorney Fees
State v. Campbell
The factors that the court considers in determining whether to correct an unpreserved plain error include the ends of justice in the particular case, the gravity of the error, and whether the policies underlying the preservation requirement were served in another way; one of the policies underlying the preservation requirement is that of allowing the opposing party the opportunity to respond to the asserted error.
Area(s) of Law:- Appellate Procedure
Stoecklin and A. L. C.
The party petitioning the court for the name change of a child has the burden to establish the name change is in the best interest of the child.
Area(s) of Law:- Family Law
State ex rel Schrodt v. Jackson County
A court may use its discretion to award attorney's fees to deter intervenors from taking unreasonable positions on appeal and encouraging compliance with the rules of appellate practice while, at the same time, not discouraging the pursuit of meritorious appeals by intervenors who become involved in mandamus proceedings as a result of local governments' derelictions of duty.
Area(s) of Law:- Attorney Fees
State v. Washington
In Owens, 302 Or at 200, the Court established that the permissible scope and intensity of a search incident to arrest does not turn on whether or not a particular criminal offense is a traffic offense; rather, it turns on whether the space searched was in the immediate control of the arrestee before the arrest, and on whether that space (and the containers therein) reasonably could conceal evidence of the crime of arrest. State v. Brody, 69 Or App 469, 686 P2d 451 (1984) was overruled to the extent that it held that the scope and intensity of a permissible search incident to arrest turns on whether or not the offense of arrest is a traffic offense.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
Hopper v. SAIF
For a claimant to prevail after denial on a claim for failure to cooperate, the claimant must prove one of three things: (1) that claimant, in fact, "fully and completely cooperated with the investigation"; (2) that claimant "failed to cooperate for reasons beyond the [claimant's] control"; or (3) that SAIF's "investigative demands were unreasonable"; to satisfy number (2), the claimant must prove that any failure to cooperate was because of--in other words, causally connected to--reasons beyond the worker's control.
Area(s) of Law:- Workers Compensation
State v. McKarge
Under ORS 135.230(4)(c), the portion of the definition of "family or household members" that refers to "persons related by * * * marriage," is limited to "[a]dult persons related by * * * marriage" and does not apply to a minor child.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Muhammad
A defendant cannot be required to pay restitution for pecuniary damages arising out of criminal activity for which s/he was not convicted or which he did not admit having committed.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Walker
Casual and informal associations of individuals, as well as organizations with formal structures, can constitute an "enterprise" within the meaning of ORS 166.715(2); the key is whether the association or entity is engaged in ongoing, coordinated criminal activity and undertakes a purposeful venture, undertaking, or activity through a pattern of criminal activity.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Perry v. Hernandez
As a general matter, when a party prevails on a claim for which attorney fees are authorized and a claim for which they are not, the trial court must apportion the fees incurred for each claim; however, there is an exception to that rule when the claims involve common issues: that exception is based on the premise that attorney fees should not be subject to apportionment when the party entitled to fees would have incurred roughly the same amount of fees, irrespective of the additional claim or claims.
Area(s) of Law:- Landlord Tenant
State v. Brown
Arguments that a defendant intends to raise on appeal must be preserved at the trial level.
Area(s) of Law:- Appellate Procedure
State v. Burciaga
Request for reconsideration in light of factual errors made in Court's previous opinion.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Frier
A person who has been ordered to serve time in county jail as a condition of probation has been sentenced to a "term of imprisonment" for purposes of ORS 813.010(6)(c). Accordingly, that person would not be subject to the mandatory minimum $2,000 fine set forth in that statutory subsection; however, if the court wished to exercise its discretion under ORS 161.635(1)(a) in choosing to impose a fine not exceeding $6,250 for a Class A misdemeanor, it could do so.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Ramirez-Hernandez
The state bears the burden of proving that a defendant "is or may be able to pay" attorney fees; mere speculation as to a defendant's ability to pay is insufficient.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Acuna
A stop is legal if the officer, under the circumstances, has reason to believe suspect has engaged in unlawful activity; all circumstances are considered to determine whether the encounter with police has risen to the level of "compelling" and thus required the reading of Miranda rights.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. E. D.
Under ORS 426.005(1)(e), in order to justify an involuntary civil commitment, the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that a person has a mental disorder and that, because of that disorder, the person is a danger to self, a danger to others, or unable to meet his basic needs.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Commitment
State v. Zamora-Martinez
The test to determine whether a seizure has occurred "is an objective one: Would a reasonable person believe that a law enforcement officer intentionally and significantly restricted, interfered with, or otherwise deprived the individual of his or her liberty or freedom of movement."
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Geren
An officer's reading of the statutory rights and consequences of refusing to submit to blood, breath, or urine testing does not render a defendant's consent to such testing involuntary; telling a defendant that his refusal may be used against him is not unconstitutional.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
Camacho v. SAIF
A claimant's statements in medical reports constitute prima facie evidence under ORS 656.310(2) if those statements were for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment; otherwise, a claimant's statements in medical reports are hearsay to which the board may afford whatever weight it deems appropriate under the circumstances. Additionally, the agency shall seek the services of an interpreter whenever one is necessary to perform an adjudicative function.
Area(s) of Law:- Workers Compensation
State v. Lambert
The administrative seizure exception applies when the seizure is "specifically authorized by law," and suspicions of criminal activity "play no part" in the officer's decision to seize the property; a tent falls within the burglary statute if the tent was modified for use in a business.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
Benson and Benson
When property is purchased with one spouse's pre-marital assets, the court's task is to determine each spouse's contribution to the acquisition of the house; to assess whether, in light of those contributions, the presumption of equal contribution has been rebutted; and, if so, to evaluate the just and proper distribution of the assets in the light of factors considered by the court.
Area(s) of Law:- Property Law
State v. Simkins
Offense surcharge imposed on crimes not falling under the time frame of the statute constitutes error.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Campbell
Whether a police-citizen interaction rises beyond a mere encounter to the level of a seizure under Article I, section 9, depends on whether a reasonable person would believe that an officer has intentionally and significantly restricted, interfered with, or otherwise deprived a citizen of his or her liberty or freedom of movement; for police to seize an individual under Article I, section 9, an individual must have an objectively reasonable perception that police are exercising coercive authority; asking for identification is not enough to show coercive authority.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
Friends of the Hood River Waterfront v. City of Hood River
ORS 197.175(2) represents a mandatory requirement to identify the 100-year floodplains in connection with a project on a site where the floodplains have not yet been identified; however, nothing in the text or context of that provision expressly requires that identification to take the form of a map prepared by the applicant.
Area(s) of Law:- Land Use
Fuentes v. Tillett
Under ORS 125.480, intermediate accounting orders are final only as to the conservator's liability with respect to matters that were actually presented to, and considered by, the probate court when it approved the intermediate accountings.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Law
Brown v. SAIF
The correct test in determining a combined condition claim is whether claimant's work-related injury incident is the major contributing cause of the combined condition.
Area(s) of Law:- Workers Compensation
Bazzaz v. Howe
Evidence that may be "relevant and essential" to a causation based defense, which requires a finding of fact that cannot have been made by a judge on summary judgment, is admissible, so long as the jury is not making a determination on the causation issue.
Area(s) of Law:- Evidence
State ex rel Gary Schrodt v. Jackson County
The text and context of ORS 215.402(2) reflect the legislature intended the phrase "application for discretionary approval of a proposed development of land" to include requests for discretionary approval of a proposed use of land.
Area(s) of Law:- Land Use
State v. Barajas
Appellate tag lines must be read in the context of the opinion as a whole.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Doyle
To determine whether an initial violation of Miranda is cured before the start of a second interview, the court should consider the time between the first and second interview, whether Miranda rights were read before the second interview, and whether those rights were understood and intelligibly waived prior to the second interview.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Andrews
In order to preserve an assignment of error, Defendant must argue at trial that testimony must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Area(s) of Law:- Evidence
Clackamas River Water v. Holloway
Under ORS 31.150(1)(3), Oregon's anti-SLAPP statute, a defendant's successful special motion to strike canooot then "proceed to trial."
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Law
Fleming v. Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision
Petitioner must first raise issues on administrative review in order for them to subsequently be considered on judicial review.
Area(s) of Law:- Administrative Law
State v. Lopez
Under ORS 137.106, restitution must be imposed within 90 days after sentencing or otherwise extended by the court for good cause and Defendant must be given an opportunity to be heard before the court on the imposition, amount, or distribution of the restitution.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council v. Albert
The Worker's Compensation Board is required to use evidence on the record to determine whether a claimant has been released to his post-injury job, such as medical records, claimant's own description of work history, employer's Regular Duty Job analysis, and evidence about claimant's post injury capacity.
Area(s) of Law:- Workers Compensation
State v. Mazzola
Under Article I, section 9, an officer can conduct field sobriety tests (FSTs) if the tests are justified by probable cause and exigent circumstances.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Pipkin
A one time sale of intangible assets is excluded from the definition of "sales" under ORS 314.665(6)(a) and is not included in that definition under the "unless" clause of that statute.
Area(s) of Law:- Tax Law
State v. Wright
A fact finder may logically infer, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a single transaction was the result of a continued scheme of defraudment based on previous transactions of similar nature.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State v. Flores
Under ORS 161.067, the court must merge two convictions when a defendant's acts constitute the same conduct or criminal episode, violate two or more statutory provisions, and all elements of one offense are necessarily included in the commission of the other offense.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Minihan v. Stiglich
An intentional trespass action may properly result in compensatory and punitive damages for both loss of use and emotional distress even if emotional distress is not specifically alleged.
Area(s) of Law:- Property Law
State v. Gruver
Leaving the supervision of an unarmed civilian not on the premises of a correctional facility is not escape in the second or third degree and instead constitutes unauthorized departure under ORS 162.175.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Dam v. Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision
Erred psychological report leading to denial of parole requires new psychological evaluation pursuant to ORS 144.226 and ORS 144.228.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
Multnomah County Corrections v. Multnomah County
Requirement of a minimum of 40 hours training for strike-prohibited corrections employees cannot be reasonably understood to relate to a matter of on-the-job employee safety under ORS 243.650.
Area(s) of Law:- Employment Law
Shelter Products v. Steelwood Construction
When a contract is terminated "for convenience" and not "for cause," a general contractor cannot deduct their damages from the amount awarded for work completed by a subcontractor.
Area(s) of Law:- Contract Law
State v. Meza-Garcia
When an officer asks for consent to search following an illegal stop, evidence resulting from the search can be found admissible if the consent is "sufficiently attenuated" from the initial illegal stop.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
State of Oregon v. Marvin Opitz
For a conviction of kidnapping the first degree, the defendant must move the victim to a "qualitatively different" location.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
State v. Collins
Courts now should utilize the Lawson/James test for determining the admissibility of in court and out of court identifications.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure