Peder A. Rigsby

Practice Experience

Peder Rigsby's practice includes a variety of areas in casualty and commercial litigation in both state and federal court of Oregon and Washington. His practice emphasizes insurance defense, products liability, wrongful death and catastrophic injury, professional malpractice, employment litigation, and general commercial litigation.

Prior to joining Bullivant, Peder practiced insurance defense, construction defect, and general civil litigation. Peder has handled complex litigation, including multi-party construction defect cases. His role as a former extern for a state Supreme Court justice and law clerk for two state trial court judges has given him a broad range of legal experience.  

Product Liability & Commercial Litigation
Defended seller of concrete patching repair compound against claims for the defective product, indemnity, breach of contract, and breach of warranties. Successfully briefed and argued a motion to dismiss and a motion for summary judgment, resulting in the dismissal of numerous claims and, ultimately, resulted in a favorable settlement.

Premises Liability
Defended national clothing retailer in a premises liability matter. The plaintiff alleged significant personal injuries for an alleged slip and fall in the client's store. Established that there was no evidence of the incident occurring and that the plaintiff's injuries were unrelated, which resulted in a nominal settlement.

Property Damage
Successfully defended a towing company in arbitration involving a claim that the tow operator negligently damaged a vehicle during a tow operation.

Workplace Injury
Represented asbestos remediation company against a claim for negligence and a claim under Oregon's Employer Liability Law. Persuaded the plaintiff's counsel to drop the case after filing a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the claims were barred under Oregon's workers' compensation "exclusive remedy" statute.

Sexual Abuse
Successfully briefed an extensive motion for summary judgment dismissing claims for sexual abuse allegedly committed by the client's teacher at a private, religious school. The plaintiff was seeking several million dollars, including punitive damages, against Bullivant's client.

Commercial Litigation & Consumer Protection
Defended warranty company against claims for fraud, financial abuse of a vulnerable person, and breach of contract. Successfully defeated fraud and financial abuse claims in arbitration, resulting in a modest award against the warranty company, including persuading the arbitration panel to limit the claimant's fee petition to less than 25 percent of the requested amount.

Commercial Litigation
Represented Christmas tree seller against buyer involving claims for breach of contract, action to pierce the corporate veil, and unjust enrichment. Successfully briefed and argued motion for sanctions arising out of the defendant committing various discovery violations, resulting in the court striking the defendant's motion for summary judgment and awarding monetary sanctions in the client's favor. Successfully assisted with a briefing in opposition to the defendant's petition before the Oregon Supreme Court that challenged the trial court's ruling.