Employment Litigation

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

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…
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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…
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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…
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Oregon OSHA Releases Proposed Temporary Workplace Safety Rules for COVID-19

On August 17, 2020, Oregon OSHA released its draft temporary rules aimed at addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon OSHA will accept public comment on the proposed rules through Monday, September 7, and will implement the temporary rules – which…
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How Employers Should Handle Political Speech in the Workplace

During this time when we are seeing protests related to Black Lives Matter and COVID-19, and as political campaigns start to heat up, it can be expected that employers will start to hear more discussion of a political nature in the workplace…
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Reopening the Pacific Northwest: A Checklist for Employers

With Governors Brown and Inslee announcing their respective phased approaches to reopening the Oregon and Washington economies, employers need to start planning for how they will resume operations in a safe and legally-compliant manner given the…
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New DOL Guidance on Joint Employers, Summer School Closures, and Domestic Workers

The Department of Labor released new Q&A guidance regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Among other things, the guidance provides new insight on various coverage issues relating to whether domestic service workers are covered…
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Governor Releases Phase One Reopening Guidance for Oregon Employers

On May 7, 2020, Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released a series of guidelines and resources concerning the prerequisites to “Reopen Oregon.” Among the guidelines, and of immediate interest to many Oregon employers, is the…
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Further DOL Guidance on Interaction Between EPSL, EFMLA, and Employer-Provided Leave

On April 20, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) released further Q&A guidance (questions 80-88) regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
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DOL Issues Corrections to FFCRA Regulations

The Department of Labor ("DOL") issued corrections to the regulations implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. While most of DOL’s corrections are technical, one of them is significant and clarifies whether employers can require…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Tonkon Torp's Annual Employment Law Update

Tonkon Torp's Annual Employment Law Update presentation
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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.
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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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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.
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Chris Morehead Shares Strategies for Enforcing Pandemic Safety Rules

Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group continued its coffee break webinar series with a July 23 program featuring attorney Chris Morehead. The topic focused on strategies to enforce pandemic workplace safety policies in a fair and consistent…
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Kristin Bremer Moore Unpacks Unemployment Insurance Obligations for Employers

The Coffee Break webinar series is hosted by attorneys in Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group to help businesses navigate L&E issues during COVID-19. During the July 9 program, Partner Kristin Bremer Moore spoke about employer obligations…
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Blerina Kotori Talks Workplace Enforcement of Masks, Health Checks, and Contact Tracing

Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group continued its coffee break webinar series with a program featuring partner Blerina Kotori, focused on questions about the workplace enforcement of masks, health checks, and contact tracing.
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26 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2020 Super Lawyers Lists

Twenty-six Tonkon Torp attorneys in nine practice areas have been included in the 2020 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists. Tonkon Torp partner and bankruptcy authority Albert N. Kennedy has been once again recognized on the Top 50 list of…
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Clay Creps Leads Talk on Navigating Political Expression in the Workplace

The Coffee Break webinar series, hosted by attorneys in Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, provides practical advice to help businesses navigate L&E issues as they reopen their business. During the June 18 program, Clay Creps explored…
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L&E Attorneys Examine the New Normal of Telecommuting

The Coffee Break webinar series, hosted by attorneys in Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, provides practical advice to help businesses navigate L&E issues as they reopen their business. During the May 28 program, Clay Creps and Megan…
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Tonkon Torp L&E Coffee Break Looks at the ADA and COVID-19

The Coffee Break webinar series, hosted by attorneys in Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, provides practical advice to help businesses navigate L&E issues related to reopening their business. The May 21 session, featuring partners Bob…
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