Dana Sullivan

Dana Sullivan is one of the most highly-regarded lawyers in Oregon representing individuals in employment and civil rights litigation.  She regularly tries discrimination cases in both federal and state court and also devotes a significant part of her practice to advising executives in the negotiation of employment contracts or separation agreements.  Dana has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers has listed her among the top 25 women lawyers in Oregon and among Oregon’s top 50 lawyers.  Dana is a past president of both the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and the Multnomah Bar Association.

Dana earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Princeton University and went on to earn a law degree at New York University School of Law. Dana’s many volunteer activities include service on the Legal Committee of Legal Voice, a Seattle-based organization devoted to advancing the rights of women. Dana is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs and has served as a guest lecturer for classes at Portland State University and Lewis & Clark Law School.  

• Oregon State Bar

• Multnomah Bar Association

• Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

• Oregon Women Lawyers

• National Employment Lawyers Association

• American College of Trial Lawyers

• Legal Voice Intake Committee Member (2006-present)

• Edwards v. Legacy Health, et al.: Obtained a settlement of $321,000 resolving claims of race and gender discrimination asserted by an employee who worked at Legacy Emanual Hospital.

• Pollack-Pelzner v. Linfield University: Obtained a settlement in excess of $1 million on behalf of a tenured professor who alleged that his employment was termination after he publicly shared allegations of sexual misconduct from students and staff involving university board members.

• Plotkin v. State Accident Insurance Fund: Obtained a settlement of $1,700,000 after prevailing on summary judgment in a case in which a former CEO of SAIF contended that SAIF’s decision to terminate his employment violated Oregon’s Public Meetings Law.

• Grimes v. Clatsop County: Jury awarded over $400,000 in damages to former Clatsop County clerk fired for whistleblowing.

• Merrill v. MITCH Charter School Tigard: Court awarded $60,000 to charter school teacher after finding that the school discharged her in retaliation for her assertion of a wage claim.

• Steele v. Snowline Manufacturing: Obtained award of compensatory and punitive damages for a woman who was wrongfully discharged by her employer for obtaining and enforcing a restraining order against a male coworker.

• Wright v. City of Willamina: $165,000 awarded to former City Recorder based upon jury’s finding that the plaintiff was discharged for filing a complaint with the Government Standards and Practices Commission against city councilors.

• Tinker v. Singh: Obtained jury award for the plaintiff for discrimination based upon sexual orientation and wrongful termination for complaints about the employer's violation of wage and hour laws regulating tobacco and alcohol sales.

• Shimer v. Fraternal Order of Eagles, 202 Or. App. 123, 121 P.3d 671 (2005), rev. denied, 341 Or. 80, 136 P3d 1123 (2006): After bench trial, court ruled that the Fraternal Order of Eagles' exclusion of women as members violated the Oregon Public Accommodations Act.

• Huson v. City of Forest Grove: Federal jury awarded the plaintiff $390,000 in damages and $112,000 in attorneys' fees and costs based upon finding that her former employer unlawfully discharged her after she complained of gender discrimination in the workplace.

• Marsh v. Henderson: Federal jury awarded plaintiff $90,000 in compensatory damages, plus attorneys' fees and costs, based upon finding that the plaintiff had been unlawfully denied employment with the U.S. Postal Service due to her pregnancy.

• Oregon State Bar

• Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

• Federal Bar Association

• Multnomah Bar Association

• National Business Institute

• Oregon Law Institute