Member Bio
Jeanne Loftis is a trial attorney who represents companies in the Pacific Northwest in a wide variety of commercial and casualty cases, with an emphasis on asbestos product liability claims and other mass tort litigation. She has represented businesses in many sectors, including construction, manufacturing, retail, food service, publishing, health care, and professional services. Her cases have involved product liability, insurance coverage, premises liability, Employer Liability Law (ELL), employment litigation, enforcement of non-competition agreements, construction injury and defect, investor mismanagement and fraud, environmental cleanup, sex abuse, and high exposure vehicular casualty cases.
As a past Shareholder-In-Charge of Bullivant Houser Bailey's Portland Office and Leader of the firm's Casualty Law Practice Group, Jeanne has tried as First Chair more than 25 cases to verdict. Her product liability expertise focuses on the defense of mass tort cases, particularly asbestos and silica products and medical drugs and devices. She has represented defendants in hundreds of products cases locally, regionally, and nationally, and has served on more than four national trial teams, involving medical devices and other products. As a result of her vigorous defense and proven track record at trial, the majority of her clients are facing no current mass tort litigation in the Pacific Northwest.
Jeanne has taken 8-figure cases to verdict. One of her notable victories was a defense verdict on behalf of client mine operator against Employer Liability Law (ELL) and Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA) claims for catastrophic injuries sustained by subcontractor employee during a drilling accident, totaling $15 million in claimed damages. Additionally, Jeanne has represented a major health care provider in numerous employment-related claims including assisting with a confidential personnel investigation of claims of harassment and retaliation via a hotline complaint, defending and securing settlement in a federal court case alleging unlawful employment practices and civil rights deprivation, responding to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charge for age discrimination and negotiating a separation agreement with complainant, and assisting in preparing to investigate and defend potential Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) complaint.
Jeanne has assisted clients in a variety of commercial disputes and represented investment professionals in the National Association of Securities Dealers Forum. As regional counsel, she has participated as chair and speaker in numerous counsel training seminars.
Currently, Jeanne is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and serves on its local Executive Board. Jeanne also serves as an appointed advisory to the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Litigation Section. Additionally, she serves as the National Chair of Membership for ADTA. She has previously held other high-ranking positions, including serving as a Board member and Northwest Regional Director for DRI, President of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC), Chair of the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Litigation section. Chair of the Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners, and Chair of the Diversity Section of the Oregon State Bar.
On an annual basis for the past decade, Jeanne has been named a Super Lawyer and listed as a Best Lawyer, including Lawyer of the Year, repeatedly.