Municipal and State Disputes

Sulliger v. Lane County

Employment Dispute: Unjust Enrichment Case: Sulliger v. Lane County, 2005. Synopsis: This case arose from plaintiff’s unjust enrichment claim stemming from his employment with Lane County’s Mental Health Division. Plaintiff argued that defendant was unjustly enriched by receiving plaintiff’s services as a special deputy sheriff and failing to match his accrued pension amount when he retired.

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Rainier Economic Development Council v. Columbia 911 Communications District

Enforceability of Intergovernmental Agreement Case: Rainier Economic Delvopment Council v. Columbia 911 Communications Dist., 2007 WL 5813754 Synopsis: This case required Judge Rasmussen to determine the enforceability of a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that required nine entities to transfer tax revenue to Petitioner, Rainer Economic Development Council (REDCO). That determination required the court to decide two

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Qwest v. City of Springfield

Utility Taxes Case: Qwest Corp. v. City of Springfield, 2016 WL 2755048 (Or.Cir.). Synopsis: This matter raised multiple issues. First, the parties asked the Court to decide whether the City of Springfield could impose a new utility tax in light of statutory and Oregon Constitutional restrictions. Defendant also raised the affirmative defense that Plaintiffs were precluded

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Cherniak v. Brown

Utility Taxes Case: Chernaik v. Brown, 2015 WL 12591229 (Or.Cir.). Synopsis: Plaintiffs alleged that their personal and economic well-being was directly dependent upon the health of the state’s natural resources held in trust for the benefit of its citizens, including water resources, submerged and submersible lands, coastal lands, forests, and wildlife. Specifically, Plaintiffs alleged that their

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ACLU v. City of Eugene

Excessive Force: Civil Liberty Case: American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, Inc. v. City of Eugene, 2011 WL 10894596 (Or. Cir.). Synopsis: Eugene police officers arrested Plaintiff. To subdue him, the arresting officers used a Taser stun gun. Following the arrest, the officers were accused of misconduct and the Police Department conducted an internal investigation to

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Home Builder’s Association v. City of Springfield

Municipal Water Management Case: Home Builders Association of Lane County v. City of Springfield and Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, 2005. Synopsis: This case concerned the legality of a System Development Charge (SDC) Methodology that was drafted by the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, and formally adopted by the cities of Eugene and Springfield. Petitioners alleged that the

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Dewberry v. Kulongoski

Tribal Gaming Case: Dewberry v. Kulongoski, 2010 WL 9932505 (Or. Cir.) Synopsis: This case arose out of relators’ challenge to a tribal gaming compact entered into between the Governor of the State of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes that allowed gaming activities on a parcel of land known as the “Hatch Tract.” Judge Rasmussen determined that

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