mfarnell@pfglaw.com
503.222.1812

Practice Areas:  

Insurance Coverage, Litigation, Appellate

Background:   

As a founding partner of Parsons Farnell & Grein, Mike serves his clients in the areas of insurance coverage, appellate law, and commercial litigation.

Mike believes much of his success is due to deep roots in Oregon. Raised and educated in Oregon, Mike counts many of his clients as friends. This translates to a personal, as well as a professional commitment to provide each client with top-notch service with an end goal of success. Mike also brings skills of aggressive precision, keen attention to technical details, and a highly competitive approach to yield results for his clients.

Education:   

Seattle University, School of Law, J.D.
Willamette University, B.A.

Admissions:   

Admitted to practice in Oregon and Washington and before the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Memberships:   

Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association

Articles:   

Construction Defect Litigation: When Your Additional Insured Status Matters, PFG Client Briefing, Issue 7
(Winter 2009), co-author

Fundamentals of Liability Coverage for Contractors, PFG Client Briefing, Issue 7 (Winter 2009), co-author

Insurance 101 for Construction Lawyers-Part I: Fundamentals of Liability Coverage for Contractors, OSB Construction Law Newsletter, Issue No. 31 (January 2008), co-author

The Insured Defense Against Construction Defect Claims, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (Winter 2008), co-author

Commercial Crime Policies: How to Recover Your Policy Limit Multiple Times Over on a Single Claim, PFG Client Briefing, Issue 4 (Spring 2006), co-author

Bait and Switch: Insurers Market ERISA Compliant Fidelity Bonds, Then Honor Only Partial Compliance, PFG Client Briefing, Issue 3 (Fall 2005), co-author

Expecting the Unexpected: Appropriate Insurance Coverage for Your Business, PFG Client Briefing, Issue 1 (Spring 2005), co-author
 

Representative    Cases:   

Capital Consultants Litigation
Representation of Taft-Hartley trustees concerning all insurance coverage matters in the largest investment fraud case in U.S. history. Mike helped negotiate a $15 million dollar settlement with the trustees' insurers, resolving 3 class action lawsuits pending against the trustees.

Kirkland vs. Legion Insurance Company
Representation of Taft-Hartley trustees from several western states in dispute with the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner, as Rehabilitator of Legion Insurance Company. The United States District Court for the District of Oregon ordered the Commissioner's immediate payment of $10 million on the trustees' behalf into the court's registry. When the Commissioner refused, the court held the Commissioner in contempt.

Fiduciary Dishonesty Bond Litigation
Representation of insured trusts in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Utah in multi-million dollar claims on fiduciary dishonesty bonds issued pursuant to Section 412 of ERISA. These claims are pending. Mike is also working with the United States Department of Labor and the insurance industry to address the pervasive problem of noncomplying ERISA bonds.

The Embers vs. Clarendon Insurance Company
Representation of bar owner in dispute with liquor liability insurer over owner's alleged liability for one patron's assault of another. The insurer claimed that the policy's assault and battery exclusion precluded coverage. The court ruled that the exclusion violated public policy and would therefore be disregarded, resulting in the insurer's payment of the policy's $1 million limits to resolve the underlying case.

Flanders Lofts, LLC vs. Allstate Insurance Company
Representation of condominium developer in dispute with insurers over developer's liability for alleged construction defects. Following denial of the developer's claim by four separate insurers and the commencement of a coverage action by the developer, the insurers paid a combined $700,000 to resolve the developers' alleged liability.

Willamette Egg Farms v. DeKalb Poultry, Inc.
Representation of egg farmer forced to destroy thousands of chickens following outbreak of salmonella caused by infected chicks purchased from breeders. After initially refusing to do so, the breeders' insurers ultimately paid $1.5 million to resolve the matter.

Sampling of Reported Decisions
Villanueva vs. Board of Psychologist Examiners, 179 Or App 134, 39 P3d 238 (2002)
Villanueva vs. Board of Psychologist Examiners, 175 Or App 345, 27 P3d 1100 (2001)
Potter v. Schlesser Co., Inc., 171 Or App 646, 17 P3d 529 (2000)
Nelson v. Keisling, 155 Or App 388, 964 P2d 284 (1998)
Nelson v. Keisling, 153 Or App 714, 960 P2d 386 (1998)
Peppers v. Meyers, 325 Or 611, 942 P2d 273 (1997)
Vannatta v. Keisling, 324 Or 514, 931 Or 770 (1997)
Vannatta v. Keisling, 899 F Supp 488 (D Or 1995)
Gilliam County vs. Department of Environmental Quality, 319 Or 251, 876 P2d 749 (1994)