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Tessan Wess

Partner

  • Office Contact Info
  • Biography

    Tessan Wess is a Partner in the Portland office of GRSM with experience in Oregon, Washington and Florida courts. Tessan is a skilled advocate, with a proficiency in risk analysis and evaluation. She has a thoughtful and efficient approach to litigation that consistently results in optimal outcomes for her clients.  In her role as Partner, Tessan is engaged in all aspects of litigation and case management, where she strategically defends individuals and businesses in diverse practice areas, including:  

    • Premise Liability
    • Product Liability
    • Transportation/Trucking
    • Environmental/Toxic Torts
    • Commercial Litigation and Business Torts
    • Contracts
    • Professional Liability
    • Construction
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death

    In addition to her role as a litigator, Tessan has served in various leadership roles throughout her career. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, a non-profit professional organization. Tessan’s dedication to her clients, community and peers has earned her the distinction as a Rising Star by Thompson Reuters Super Lawyers.

    Admissions

    • Oregon
    • Washington
    • Florida
    • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

    Memberships

    • Director, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
  • Practice Areas
  • Representative Experience
    • Summary judgment in favor of cosmetic and beauty retail establishment on ten claims for relief, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, defamation, conversion, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of a vulnerable person, 42 USC 1983 and negligence
    • Defense verdict for nightclub in jury trial on vicarious liability defense, second chair
    • Defense verdict for construction company in jury trial involving discrimination claims in the employment setting, second chair, state court
    • Favorable award for insurer in bench trial on breach of contract and bad faith issues, second chair, federal court
    • Complete dismissal for medical provider on statute of limitations defense in medical malpractice action
    • Summary judgment in favor of retail establishment on slip and fall (ice) premises liability claim, state court 
    • Summary judgment in favor of retail establishment on trip and fall (shopping cart) premises liability claim, federal court  
    • Summary judgment in favor of fast-food franchisee in negligence per se action, state court
    • Complete dismissal for franchisee on personal jurisdiction defense and statute of limitations defense, federal court
    • Voluntary dismissal for homeowner following effective deposition of plaintiff in premises liability claim
  • Publications & Presentations

    Presentations

    • Speaker, "Limitations on Liability in a Post-Bagley and Covid World, OADC Fall Seminar," November 2020
    • Speaker, “Getting Your Point Across: Effective Witness Testimony,” OADC Annual Convention, June 2019
    • Speaker, "Don’t Leave! The Heartbreak of Handling Employee Leaves of Absence," Oregon Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Human Resources Management Meeting, February 2019
    • Speaker, "Who? What? Where? Sorting Out Coverage in an Increasingly Small World," OADC Annual Convention, June 2018
    • Speaker, "Sticky Green: Legal Implications of Marijuana Legalization," OADC Annual Convention, June 2015
    • Speaker, "Let’s Be Blunt: Clearing the Haze Surrounding Legalized Marijuana," CPCU All Industry Day, November 2014

    Publications

  • Education

    Education

    J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School (2009-2010), Nova Southeastern University (2007-2009)

    B.S., University of Central Florida, 2007

    Honors

    Super Lawyers® Rising Stars distinction in Civil Litigation, Construction Litigation, General Litigation, Personal Injury - Products, Professional Liability (2018, 2020-2023)

    Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2024-2025)

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