Author: Kafoury & McDougal

In a Raft of New Lawsuits, Black Oregonians Say Leading Retailers Profiled and Persecuted Them

The cases follow a $4.4 million shopping-while-Black verdict in Multnomah County last year. By Nigel Jaquiss, Willamette Week March 08, 2023   They hold different jobs: actor, banker, creative director, maintenance technician and sheriff’s deputy. They got detained at different stores: Home Depot, Safeway, Sephora and Walmart. But they use the same words to describe their alleged experiences: “humiliating,” “demeaning” and … Continue reading

Jury awards $1 million in Race Discrimination Case against Jacksons Food Stores

Jury awards $1 million in Race Discrimination Case against Jacksons Food Stores Gas Attendant: “I Don’t Serve Black People”   On Monday, January 23, 2023, a Multnomah County jury found that Rose Wakefield, a retinal imager at the Veterans’ Administration had suffered racial discrimination by PacWest Energy and Jacksons Food Stores, and awarded her damages of $1 million. The verdict … Continue reading

$10.4 Million Verdict for Injuries in 2016 NW 23rd Gas Explosion Case

On October 13, 2022, a Multnomah County jury awarded several million dollars to two people who suffered physical and emotional injuries in a 2016 gas explosion in Portland, and assessed punitive damages of $4.6 million against Loy Clark Pipeline Co. Both plaintiffs were represented by Greg Kafoury and Mark McDougal of Portland.   Firefighters responded after a natural gas explosion … Continue reading

JOURNALIST SUES CITY OF MEDFORD AND JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON, FOR UNLAWFULLY ARRESTING HER WHILE SHE WAS REPORTING ON A “HOMELESS SWEEP”

On September 20, 2022, April Ehrlich, an award-winning Oregon journalist, sued the City of Medford and Jackson County for violating her First and Fourth Amendment rights. On September 22, 2020, Medford city police and a Jackson County probation officer arrested Ms. Ehrlich while she was reporting for Jefferson Public Radio, an NPR affiliate, on the police sweep of an encampment … Continue reading

‘Shopping while Black’: Walmart ordered to pay Portland area man $4.4M for summoning police on bogus charges

  A Multnomah County jury has slapped Walmart with $4.4 million in damages after a Portland area man said in a lawsuit that a theft prevention employee racially profiled him for “shopping while Black” and tried to have him jailed on bogus charges. Michael Mangum said he felt “disrespected and embarrassed” after a worker at the Wood Village Walmart began … Continue reading

Largest Race Discrimination Verdict in Oregon History

  $4.4 Million Verdict Against Walmart in “Shopping While Black” Case; Company Ignored Police Warnings Regarding Security Employee’s “Pattern of False Reports” Watch on Youtube: Law&Crime On Friday, August 19, 2022, a Multnomah County jury awarded $400,000 in non-economic damages and $4 million in punitive damages against Walmart. On March 26, 2020, Michael Mangum, then 59, went to a nearby Walmart … Continue reading