Larkins | Vacura: Trial Attorneys

Our Attorneys
Julie is a trial attorney specializing in business and real estate disputes, insurance coverage disputes and property damage cases. She enjoys a reputation among her colleagues for success in the court room. She has long held an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, and in 2007, 2008 and 2009, was ranked by her peers as being in the top five percent of all business litigation attorneys in the State of Oregon in the annual publication of Super Lawyers. Julie acts as both a plaintiff’s attorney and a defense attorney, depending on the nature of the case and the needs of her clients. Her clients cover the spectrum from individuals to national businesses.

Julie is a native of Alaska, but has made her home in Portland with her husband for the last 23 years where they are raising their two children.



Practice Areas			Trial work in business, real estate and banking litigation, real property damage claims, and insurance coverage disputes.

Representative Cases			Obtained a defense verdict for a regional business client after a jury trial in federal court in a multimillion dollar action alleging misappropriation of business opportunity. Obtained a jury defense verdict in federal court in favor of a national bank in a case involving claims brought under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and Oregon Unfair Debt Collection Practices Act, in which economic, emotional distress and punitive damages were sought. Obtained a jury verdict in state court in favor of a national company on its claim against a competing business for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Represented a large credit union in a multimillion dollar complex commercial case involving liquidated damages under a contract termination clause. The case was settled on terms favorable to the client prior to trial in federal court in Washington. Obtained an award in favor or a California LLC in arbitration of a dispute with a Washington real estate developer over a multimillion dollar sale of a shopping center for damages resulting from the developer’s breach of the land sale agreement. In a complex commercial case, obtained summary judgment in favor of regional business client against its insurers for failure to defend and indemnify. Represented 17 homeowners to recover real property damages resulting from a landslide caused by improper excavation and other construction errors. After four weeks of trial the homeowners settled on highly favorable terms. . Represented five homeowners to recover real property damages resulting from soil subsidence caused by improper excavation and other construction errors. The client settled on highly favorable terms shortly before trial. Represented five homeowners whose homes were destroyed or damaged when an antique jet flying in an airshow crashed into their properties. In response to our motion for summary judgment, the court ruled that the airshow operator was strictly liable for the crash and vicariously liable for any negligence of the pilot. The court also rejected defendant’s defense that the claims are preempted by federal law. Two weeks later, the case settled on favorable terms for the homeowners.

Professional Memberships			Multnomah Bar Association • Board of Directors, 1999-2002 • Professionalism Committee, 1995-1998 (Chair 1998) Oregon Trial Lawyers Association • Mentor Program 2008 Washington State Bar Association Oregon State Bar • Business Litigation Executive Committee (1998-2005, Secretary, 2002, Treasurer, 2003, President-Elect, 2004 and President, 2005) • Disciplinary Board, Region Five (1993-2000, Chair 2000) • Board of Bar Examiners (1992-1995, Chair 1995) • National Conference of Bar Examiners (MPT Policy Committee, 1995-1997) American Bar Association

Admitted to Practice			1984 Oregon 1986 U.S. District Court, District of Oregon; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 2003 Washington 2005 U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington

Education			Willamette University, J.D., cum laude, 1984 University of Santa Clara, B.S., cum laude, 1981

Professional Experience			Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Law Clerk for the Honorable Otto R. Skopil, 1984 – 1986 Miller Nash LLP, Associate Attorney (1986 – 1990) United States Department of Justice, Commercial Litigation Division (WPPS litigation) (1991 – 1993)

Significant Reported Cases			Allen v. Hall, 328 Or 276, 974 P2d 199 (1999) • In this case the Oregon Supreme Court recognized a new tort claim in the State of Oregon for intentional interference with prospective inheritance