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Steven  Olson

Steven Olson

ATTORNEY

503.802.2159
steven.olson@tonkon.com
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Overview

Steve is the past Co-Chair of Tonkon Torp’s Litigation Department. He has a broad range of commercial litigation experience representing companies, shareholders, and business professionals in cases involving contract disputes, business torts, shareholders disputes, unlawful trade practices, environmental matters, injunctions, product defects, and real estate transactions.

Steve's experience includes litigation and trial work in federal and state courts, as well as in private arbitration and mediation. Steve has served a broad client base including, among others, The Greenbrier Companies, Nike, the City of Lake Oswego, and Costco in disputes in Oregon and across the country.

Before becoming a lawyer, Steve served six years as an officer in the United States Coast Guard. He spent time at sea, and then managing the Port of New Orleans. In his leisure time, Steve enjoys playing and coaching sports, cooking, travelling, and most importantly, spending time with his wife and daughters.
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Featured Representative Matters

City of Lake Oswego

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

Beal v. Kerr-Cruickshank Inc.

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

Portland City Ordinance

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.

Nebraska Train Derailment

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

Ponzi Scheme

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.

Oregon Timber Company

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.

City of Portland

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

Defective Professional Services

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

Damages Of Over $3M

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

Judgment Against Dissenters’ Rights

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

Timber Company

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

Real Estate Transaction

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

Fiduciary Duty & Contract Claims

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

National Sporting Goods

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

Alien Tort Claim Act

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

Oregon Manufacturer

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

Injunction Claims

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

Tonkon Torp Wins Appellate Victory in Auto Insurer Case

Tonkon Torp recently achieved a complete appellate win on behalf of its client, Leif Hansen, in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2018, Tonkon Torp attorneys Steve Olson, Paul Conable, and Meg Houlihan represented Hansen individually and in a proposed class action against his auto insurer, GEICO, for refusing to pay for digital scans of his truck as part of the truck’s repair following a collision. Hansen sued for breach of contract under his insurance policy and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The federal district court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim. That dismissal prompted an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, which was led by Bob Koch and Meg Houlihan.

Tonkon Torp Wins Appellate Victory in Lake Oswego Access Dispute

Tonkon Torp litigators won a remarkable victory at the Oregon Court of Appeals in the ongoing high-profile dispute regarding public access to Oswego Lake. Here are the details.

Tonkon Torp Harvests Victory for Oregon Radish Seed Farmers

Tonkon Torp represented 45 Northwest farmers in a dispute with an East Coast commercial bank over who should receive the proceeds from the sale of the farmers’ radish seed crop. Find details and more featured cases here.

Tonkon Torp Litigators Win Judgment on Lake Oswego Access Question

A prolonged, high-profile dispute about public access to Oswego Lake was resolved recently when Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Henry Breithaupt issued an opinion upholding the City of Lake Oswego’s right to control access to the lake from the City’s public park.

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Community Involvement & Activities


Oregon State Bar
Practice and Procedure Committee
Executive Committee
Business Litigation Section
Executive Committee
Products Liability Section
Executive Committee

Jesuit High School
Volunteer and Fundraising

Catholic Charities
Immigration Legal Services

Southeast Legal Clinic
Pro Bono Volunteer

All Saints School
Volunteer and Fundraising

Portland Business Alliance
Leadership Portland
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Professional Memberships

American Association for Justice
Federal Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Owen M. Panner Inn of Court
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Awards & Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America

The Best Lawyers in America

2013-2021, Commercial Litigation
Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers

2009, Oregon Rising Star – Business Litigation
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Recent News

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…
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8.15.2019

2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys

Forty-eight Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. A majority of attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five…
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8.17.2018

Best Lawyers in America® Names 51 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2019 List

Fifty-one Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 41 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years
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8.16.2017

Best Lawyers in America® Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2018 List

Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years…
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8.15.2016

Best Lawyers in America® Names 44 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2017 List

Forty-four Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 38 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017. Each attorney has been named to the list in past years, and nearly all have been recognized for more than five years…
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6.10.2016

Homeless Camping Addressed in Lawsuit Filed Against Portland

Tonkon Torp litigators Steven Olson and Paul Conable are lead counsel in a lawsuit filed against Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and the City of Portland on April 20 by a coalition of plaintiffs that include neighborhood associations, businesses, and…
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8.18.2015

45 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America® 2016

Forty-five Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016. All of them have been named to the list at least once before, and many of them have been recognized for a number of…
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7.29.2015

Portland's Parks-Fee Blowout Brings Expected Lawsuit

Led by litigators Paul Conable, Steven Olson, and Chris Pallanch, Tonkon Torp recently filed a "Petition for Writ of Review," challenging the City of Portland and its new method of calculating parks system development charges (effectively a tax on…
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8.20.2014

Best Lawyers in America® 2015 Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to Prestigious List

Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 40 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015. All of them have been named to the list at least once before, and many of them have been recognized for a number of…
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1.13.2014

Steve Olson & Paul Conable Quoted Regarding the City of Lake Oswego Access Dismissal

Congratulations to Steve Olson and Paul Conable on their recent victory regarding Oswego Lake! Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Henry Breithaupt’s opinion granted summary judgment to our client, the City of Lake Oswego, as well as to the other…
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Publications & Presentations


"Litigation 101: When Solid Business Plans Go Awry," Daily Journal of Commerce, May 2013

"Venue," Oregon Civil Pleading and Practice, 6th edition. Oregon State Bar, April 2012
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Services

Contract & Commercial Disputes Corporate & Business Owner Disputes Environmental Litigation Products Liability & Complex Torts Government Solutions
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Education

J.D., magna cum laude,
University of Minnesota Law School

M.P.H., with honors, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

B.S., Dean’s List,
United States Coast Guard Academy
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Bar & Court Admissions

Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar Association
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Western District of Washington
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