Aviation


Olson Brooksby practices a wide variety of aviation law. We have experience representing commercial airlines; helicopter emergency service operators; aviation insurers; fixed-wing and component part manufacturers; and airplane owners.

Our aviation experience also includes personal injury defense, UCC litigation, product liability defense litigation, contract and lease drafting, contract negotiation and disputes, and general aviation-related commercial litigation.

We also provide counseling and advice regarding insurance, risk assessment, and best practices.

Much of the firm's practice is devoted to aviation law, and we are one of the few firms in Oregon with aviation trial experience. Shareholder Scott Brooksby leads our aviation practice, devoting a substantial amount of his time and practice to aviation-related matters. Scott served as local counsel for one of the largest aviation manufacturers in the world in a nine-week trial in Oregon state court. The trial involved product liability issues and concerned a helicopter crash that resulted in burns, permanent injuries, and multiple deaths.

Scott served on the aviation subcommittee of the American Bar Association's Mass Torts Committee. He has also been featured as a speaker and moderator at aviation conferences around the country, including the American Bar Association's Aviation Litigation National Institute in New York, New York.

While Olson Brooksby's specialized aviation practice is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the nature of our aviation practice often takes us to various other geographical locations, particularly for investigations, witness interviews, and depositions.

Our aviation attorneys have investigated and successfully litigated numerous aircraft, helicopter, and commercial aircraft accidents. The lawyers at Olson Brooksby have the technical knowledge to hire the right experts. We are familiar with allegations concerning: mechanical malfunctions due to airframe or component defects; improper repair or maintenance; improper weight and balance; weather; piloting and human factors; instruments and avionics; air traffic control; and even issues relating to bird strikes and lasers. We also have extensive experience with the DOT, FAA and NTSB.

We regularly serve as local counsel to national aviation law firms, and we are able to strategically plan for and navigate the various legal and procedural issues and obstacles that arise in and are unique to aircraft accident litigation in our local federal and state courts here in the Pacific Northwest.