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

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Kafoury & McDougal

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 →

Case Victories

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

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Kafoury & McDougal

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 →

Case Victories

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

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Kafoury & McDougal

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 →

In The News

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

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Kafoury & McDougal

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 →

In The News

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

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Kafoury & McDougal

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 →

In The News

Police Brutality: Largest Verdict in Portland History

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Kafoury & McDougal

Today, the Portland City Council unanimously approved a $250,000 settlement for a former Portland Police Background Investigator after she was sexually harassed, discriminated, and retaliated against by former Portland Police Officer Robert Bruders. In 2014, a Portland jury awarded the largest police excessive force verdict in Multnomah County history—$562,000—to Jason Cox after he was savagely beaten by three Portland Police … Continue reading →

In The News

Lawsuit: Black Portland Dad Hit with Baton by White Portland Homicide Detective

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Kafoury & McDougal

Elijah Warren, a Black father, filed a lawsuit today against the City of Portland and Detective Erik Kammerer. The Portland law firm of Kafoury & McDougal filed the suit with two claims: civil battery and negligence. On September 5, Mr. Warren was inside his home in Southeast Portland on the 100th night of Portland’s Civil Rights Summer of 2020. Outside, Portland … Continue reading →

In The News

Kafoury & McDougal File Four “Shopping While Black” Lawsuits

Posted on October 15, 2020 by K&M Staff

A video of Dominique DeWeese being refused service at Jay’s Garage went viral about two months ago. DeWeese was trying to buy gas in a container to put into his lawnmower. The employee wouldn’t sell DeWeese gas because he said he was a “black lives protestor” and would use it to light dumpsters on fire across the city. The video … Continue reading →

In The News

Fourth Victim Alleges Sex Abuse by Former Deep Creek Elementary Principal Jeff Hays

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Kafoury & McDougal

Today, the law office of Kafoury & McDougal filed a lawsuit on behalf of a former student of Deep Creek Elementary against the Gresham-Barlow School District, alleging that he was sexually abused as a child by principal Jeff Hays. Under pseudonym, K.A., is the fourth victim to come forward with claims of sexual abuse against Hays. From 2005 to 2009, … Continue reading →

In The News

Lawsuit: Portland Police Officer, Demoted to Desk Duty after Record Brutality Jury Verdict, Sexually Harassed Female Employee

Posted on July 29, 2020 by K&M Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 2020 PRESS PACKET Today, the Portland law office of Kafoury & McDougal filed a complaint for sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation on behalf of a former Portland Police Background Investigator. In 2014, a Portland jury awarded the largest police excessive force verdict in city history—$562,000—to Jason Cox after he was savagely beaten by Portland Police … Continue reading →