PORTLAND (May 23, 2023)—A Perkins Coie litigation team successfully secured the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit against the Oregon State University before the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in relation to claims in the class action that remote classes had caused harm to students.   

U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon Chief Judge Marco Hernandez dismissed the class-action lawsuit and reached the same conclusion as an Oregon state court in a former case against the University of Oregon (UO) that the same Perkins Coie litigation team managed for UO.   

The Perkins Coie litigation team was led by partners Steve English and Sarah Crooks, as well as senior paralegals Michelle Moniz and Ruth Peake.  

“The global COVID-19 pandemic was unique in its breadth and in the scope of emergency restrictions that state and federal health officials required schools and universities to follow," said Steve English. "We were pleased that the District Court recognized this tension. We strongly believe the court reached the right decision for the right reasons and are pleased that students can continue to receive a top-quality education." 

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

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