David P. Morrison

David P. Morrison


Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP

Recognized since 2012

Portland, Oregon

Practice Areas

Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Railroad Law

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
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David Morrison is a veteran trial attorney with thirty eight years of experience in state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington. David’s practice focuses on railroad, personal injury, toxic torts, products liability, Oregon Employers Liability Act claims, construction, contracts and real estate disputes, as well as environmental and employment litigation. He has tried over 100 cases.

Representative Cases:

Obtained defense verdict in favor of BNSF Railway in an employee lawsuit for permanent injury and disability based on claimed violations of the Federal Employer Liability Act and the Locomotive Inspection Act.

Obtained defense verdict for BNSF Railway in case brought by one of its employees who claimed back injury and disability caused by alleged defective locomotives, seats and track.

Successfully resolved fire trespass case where plaintiff claimed damages of approximately $12 million due to loss of house, structures (including an historic flume) and over 10,000 destroyed trees. Plaintiff’s treble damage claim under Washington statute was dismissed on summary judgment and affirmed on appeal. Retained appraisals for both the land and the trees to combat plaintiff’s four experts. Dispute was complicated by Columbia Gorge approvals for a resort on plaintiff’s property. Case was ultimately settled for about one-tenth of the amount claimed.

Obtained summary judgment for contractor/manufacturer in products liability suit seeking indemnity of $7.6 million.

Successfully defeated a suit by a developer/buyer seeking to enforce real estate sale agreement. The contract was instead rescinded allowing the sellers to resell their property for an additional $1.9 million and recoup attorney fees.

Obtained a greater than $1 million judgment for contractor against commercial developer and defeated a $2 plus million counterclaim.

Secured summary judgment in favor of owner of large building complex avoiding low income housing obligations under the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.

Represented homeowner’s association (121 units) in construction defect case against developer, contractor and window manufacturer resulting in an agreement to perform a complete repair at no cost to the HOA, plus a cash settlement.

Prevailed in contribution/indemnity claim against general contractor arising out of a C-1 quadriplegic injury.

Obtained multiple six figure judgments in favor of contractors performing commercial work including soil, foundations, parking lots, framing, siding and roofing.

Successfully defeated $1 million punitive damage claim and limited wrongful death damages to below $10,000 in defense of residential care facility.

Obtained more than ten defense verdicts from juries in actions where negligence was admitted.

Location

  • 900 Southwest Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor
    Portland, OR 97204

Education

  • University of Oregon, BA, graduated 1974

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon, State Bar

Affiliations

  • ALFA International Business Litigation Practice Group - Steering Committee
  • American Board of Trial Advocates - Member
  • Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel - Member

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:

  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Portland, OR (2014)

Recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in:

  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  • Railroad Law

Awards:

  • Best Lawyers in America in the field of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, and Railroad Law
  • 2014 Best Lawyers in America "Lawyer of the Year" for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Portland, Oregon
  • Oregon Super Lawyer in the field of Business Litigation
  • 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in America by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
  • A.V. rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Additional Areas of Practice:

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Product Liability Litigation

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Publications

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