Court of Appeals Construes HB 4212

In this decision, the appellate court reviewed three consolidated negligence actions initiated in 2022 that were all dismissed by the trial court as time barred.

Fraudulent Activity Alert Relating to the Corporate Transparency Act

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has been notified of recent fraudulent attempts to solicit information from individuals and entities who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Act. Lawyers should notify their clients about FinCEN’s alert and advise them not to respond to unsolicited requests purporting to come from FinCEN.

Oregon Circuit Court E-Filing Will be Offline on Friday, October 14, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Due to system maintenance, Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) eFile ─ the online platform that allows attorneys and staff to electronically file and serve court documents in Oregon’s circuit courts and the Oregon Tax Court ─ will be offline and inaccessible on Friday, October 14, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. You will not be able to file documents during this time.

Governor’s Order Extends Civil Time Limitations Again

On February 25, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order No. 21-05, which is the sixth extension of Executive Order No. 20-03 and the COVID-19 State of Emergency since her original order declaring an emergency on March 8, 2020. Based on this latest extension, Executive Order 20-03 and the COVID-19 State of Emergency will be extended for an additional 60 days, through May 2, 2021, unless extended or terminated earlier by the governor.

Maintain Control by Narrowing Down Your COVID-19 Resources

At times like these, the amount of information available on the topic of COVID-19 can be overwhelming. With the vast number of unknowns and quickly changing landscapes, it can be difficult if not impossible to feel any sense of control. I’ve compiled various resources for you to reference, organized by topic, to provide you with a sense of where to look when you have questions.

State Courts: Take Advantage of All Available Resources

Navigating the court system can be a challenging experience. Many attorneys find themselves interacting with the court on a regular basis, while others infrequently encounter the court system. Regardless of your experience interacting with the court, a plethora of resources are available to make the experience less stressful for you and your clients.

Copying and Pasting from a PDF

As of August 1, 2017, Uniform Trial Court Rule (UTCR) 21.040(1) is amended to require that a document submitted electronically, whether as a PDF or PDF/A, must allow for copying and pasting text into another document, as much as practicable. The goal of the amendment is to conform the UTCR to the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure, which already require electronically filed documents to include the ability to copy and paste.

Inclement Weather Conditions and State Court Facilities

This past winter has been difficult for many of us to handle, both personally and professionally. Whether it be your commute to and from work, your child’s school schedule, or ensuring sufficient food supply in the pantry, inclement weather conditions can be a stress-inducing phenomenon. It can be especially difficult for attorneys facing deadlines and court appearances if the weather situation does not permit safe travel to and from the court facility.