About Susan K. Eggum

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1982)
  • Georgetown Journal of Law and Policy in International Business, Editor (1981-1982)
  • University of California at Berkeley (B.A., with highest honors, 1976; M.A., with honors, 1977)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Admitted to Practice Before The:

  • Oregon Circuit Courts
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Elected To Super Lawyers: 2006-2024

I handle a broad range of commercial and employment litigation and trial matters.

My experience includes not only understanding and managing the needs of major corporations in crisis, but also individuals and small local businesses whose needs demand precision and efficiency.

That experience, along with many state and federal court trials, has also laid the foundation for me to serve as an effective Expert witness, as well as serve as a thoughtful, fair and effective Mediator and Arbitrator.

Decades of Experience in State and Federal Courts

Employment Litigation

  • Discrimination, Harassment
  • Retaliation & Whistleblower Matters

Intellectual Property Litigation

  • Misappropriation, TROs & Preliminary Injunctions

Cannabis Whistleblower Litigation

Restrictive Covenant Litigation

  • Non-Competes, Non-Solicitation & Non-Disclosure Agreements

Business Tort Litigation

Legal Malpractice - Offering Expert Witness Testimony

Examples of Representative Matters

Represented Double Board-Certified Mohs Surgeon in the Lane County Circuit Court and in Arbitration seeking to set aside a non-competition agreement.  Client received an expedited unanimous decision setting aside the non-compete and awarding attorney fees and costs against the physician seeking to enforce the non-compete.

Represented two whistleblowers in tandem actions against former employer, a large integrated cannabis enterprise, arising out of reports of significant illegal activity.   Both matters settled favorably to the whistleblowers.

Retained as an Expert witness by counsel for legal malpractice claimant to analyze a high volume three-year federal court case filed and tried to a jury in the southeastern United States.  The malpractice claimant retained law firm to manage a partial breach of a 75 year royalty agreement entered in connection with the sale of intellectual property.  As a consequence of the negligent advice and series of negligent actions taken by the law firm, the client suffered damages of approximately $8 million. Testified before a three-person out of state Arbitration Panel.

Won summary judgment in the Multnomah County Circuit Court against the State of Oregon and the City of Portland on a six figure statutory attorney lien arising out a settlement where State and City failed to satisfy the attorney lien. Attorney fees, pre-judgment interest, prevailing party fees, and costs awarded to clients for a total recovery more than twice the sum of the original unsatisfied attorney lien.

Served as arbitrator in a highly-publicized whistleblower and wrongful termination suit filed by a former technical services manager for the Water Environmental Services (“WES”) Department of Clackamas County. The manager claimed he was terminated in retaliation for complaining that his supervisor was violating county and state contracting rules, and that the supervisor, when presenting to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, would be misrepresenting the need to pay an additional $300,000 to an outside vendor on a project where more than $1.5 million had already been spent by WES. The matter was settled in favor of the former employee, the supervisor was put on leave while his contracting practices were audited and Clackamas County was ordered to pay $322,236 in damages. Sunday Oregonian Article

Defended major national manufacturer and supplier of perishable consumer goods against multiple claims brought by major national purchaser and distributor asserting violations of CPG supply chain industry standards of notice for supply termination, including claims for interference with economic relations, promissory estoppel and breach of contract.

On behalf of a Silicon Valley high-technology entity in the industrial digital imaging industry, defended a suit brought by a Fortune 500 company against its former employee for alleged breaches of a non-compete, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement. Moved for summary judgment on grounds of invalidity of agreement, and filed counterclaims for wage and hour violations. The matter was settled in favor of the client, including reimbursement of attorney fees incurred in bringing countersuit.

Represented a multinational Japanese corporation and its two Oregon subsidiaries operating in the light utility vehicle manufacturing and distribution sector. Brought suit for theft of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duties of loyalty and honesty, and conversion against a shareholder and former officer and director. The defendant counterclaimed for wrongful discharge and an accounting of the value of shares held. The counterclaims were dismissed, and a unanimous jury verdict was awarded in favor of the Japanese national on all claims brought.

Represented major real estate developer with interests in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oregon. Presented and defended claims in seven separate civil actions generally arising out of debt repayment obligations addressed in numerous LLC operating agreements, including the defense of claims of securities law violations. All matters were resolved favorably to the client.

Defended Fortune 500 company against claims for sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and retaliation brought by former employee terminated after lodging internal complaint of harassment and filing administrative law charges during employment. Substantial claims were dismissed on summary judgment, and the remaining claims were settled favorably to client.

Served as second chair in defense of claims that the formation and operation of the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund violated federal antitrust law, including 15 USC §1, Sherman Act, and established record demonstrating applicability of the Noerr-Pennington defense. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. District Court’s decision that the operation of the Professional Liability Fund falls within the Noerr-Pennington exception to anticompetitive conduct.

Filed in Lane County Circuit Court a whistle blower retaliation suit seeking damages exceeding $800,000 against former employer, a major Northwest home builder.  Defeated former employer’s motion to dismiss and transfer to private arbitration per a signed arbitration agreement.  Case settled favorably to whistle blower.

Prosecuted claims for breach of restrictive covenants, including a covenant not to compete, on behalf of a building envelope diagnostics and testing entity doing business throughout the Northwest and California.

Tried preliminary injunction trial defending former employee in exterior insulation finish industry who allegedly breached a non-competition and non-disclosure agreement. Following submissions of the evidence and testimony, the court denied the motion for injunctive relief, and the party seeking relief dismissed all claims.

Represented Fortune 500 company in heavy duty truck manufacturing industry in action for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion against former high level executive following resignation and joining chief competitor. Defended multiple counterclaims including race discrimination, national origin discrimination, and alleged violations of ERISA. After substantial local and multi-district third party discovery and trial preparation, all claims were settled favorably.

Represented one of the top five suppliers of shipping containers in North America in an action for breach of employment agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud against former salespersons. Sought and obtained a temporary restraining order addressing post-employment conduct of the former sales persons. Following entry of the TRO, the matter was then settled favorably to the client.

Represented members of the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors, President of the Oregon State Bar, the Executive Director of the Bar, and Disciplinary Counsel for the Bar in defense of federal claims brought by a former member of the Board of Governors for violations of 42 USC § 1983, including claims for First Amendment retaliation and violations of Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process of law and equal protection. The federal court granted summary judgment as to all claims, the Ninth Circuit affirmed, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied petitioner’s writ of certiorari. Letter from OSB Executive Director

Defended Fortune 500 company against claims for race discrimination and retaliation, and violations of ERISA, brought by a minority employee discharged by new manager after more than 25 years of service. Following limited discovery, claims were settled favorably to client.

Represented Susan Kuhnhausen against Michael Kuhnhausen, Sr., her estranged ex-husband, who pled guilty to solicitation to murder her and was sentenced to an eight-year prison term. In defense of her own life during the attack by Edward Haffey, hired by the ex-husband, Mr. Haffey died. The jury awarded Ms. Kuhnhausen $1 million in emotional distress damages. Interview regarding Susan Kuhnhausen trial, KATU news channel 2.

Represented claimant in retaliation and discrimination matter. Tried case to the jury and to the bench recovering economic damages and full award of all attorney fees incurred.

Represented members of the Northwest Food Processors Association in a federal court action seeking a preliminary injunction barring the EPA’s enforcement of a national emergency order suspending the use of dinoseb, a broad leaf weed control agent. The federal court heard all the evidence, including the testimony of agricultural producers and economic experts, and granted the preliminary injunction sought. The U.S. Department of Justice then sought and obtained an emergency appeal to the Ninth Circuit which, following oral argument, affirmed the U.S. District Court’s entry of the preliminary injunction.

Served as local counsel in defense of Siemens Industry Inc. in multi-defendant class action alleging breaches of fiduciary duty or aid and abetting such breaches arising out of an agreement entered with Mentor Graphics Corporation to sell all outstanding shares to a Siemens subsidiary. The transaction is valued at approximately $4.5 billion.

Represented claimant in wrongful discharge matter and tried case to a jury verdict recovering 90 percent of prayer and full award of attorney fees.

Represented an investment adviser in defense of federal unsuitability claims arising out of investing all of a college teacher’s retirement funds in secondary stocks on margin. Expert testimony from the parties was received concerning standards for determining suitability; the adviser’s chosen portfolio at the time of losses; and inherent market volatility. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict on all claims for relief.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Since 2006 through 2024, annually awarded Super Lawyer designation among all Oregon practitioners for Business and Employment Litigation.
  • Member, Oregon State Bar Member, Multnomah Bar Association, Lane County Bar Association
  • Panel Member, American Arbitration Association
  • Panel Member, Arbitration Service of Portland
  • Panel Member, ADR Support Services
  • Member, OSB Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
  • Past President, Owen M. Panner American Inn of Court
  • Past Member, Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee
  • Past Member of Editorial Board, Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal
  • Past Member, Oregon State Bar Federal Practice and Procedure Committee
  • Past Editor, Federal Civil Litigation in Oregon, Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education
  • Past Chair, Multnomah County Continuing Legal Education Committee
  • Past Member, Local Professional Responsibility Review Committee for Multnomah County
  • Past Member, Oregon State Bar Ad Hoc Committee on Specialization
  • International Association of Defense Counsel Past Member (after peer review and nomination), Programs and Projects, Employment Law Committee
  • 2024 Elected to OGALLA Board of Directors

Extracurricular

Susan Eggum, 2024

I ride.  Horses.

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I ride.  Horses.