Vanessa Triplett Kuchulis

Representative Experience

• Construction Litigation Plus

  • Delay and defective construction litigation for new mid-rise residential building in Portland. Successfully litigated with lead counsel complex, multiparty delay, payment, contract value, and defective construction claims for developer of a new, mid-rise luxury residential building in downtown Portland. Four years of litigation involved five separate actions; multiple liens and foreclosures by subcontractors; significant delay, cost, and GMP claims between the developer and general contractor; and several separate defect claims involving insurance coverage. Different claims and actions were mediated, arbitrated, negotiated, and litigated with uniformly successful results.

  • Represented owner and developer of biogas facility in a complex construction matter involving parallel lawsuits in Oregon and Arizona. In 2020, she helped the client achieve favorable resolutions in both forums.

  • Represented school districts handling construction defect and scheduling claims against contractors who perform defective or untimely work on projects that range from small scale buildings to multimillion-dollar commercial structures.

  • Represented commercial lumber manufacturer in claim against general contractor for defective work and delay involving a post-fire remediation.

• ADA Defense Plus

  • Defended several restaurant chains against Americans with Disabilities Act claims filed by serial ADA litigants who target businesses throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

  • As part of her ADA work, she advises businesses on ways to reduce the likelihood of ADA claims, engage in remediation, and facilitate cost-effective dispute resolution.

• Construction Plus

  • Drafted and negotiated construction contracts for owners, architects, and contractors for the development of commercial and residential properties in Oregon and Washington.

  • Her experience in construction defect litigation enables her to draft these contracts with an eye toward anticipating and preparing for potential disputes.

• Real Estate Brokerage Defense Plus

  • Represented real estate brokerage firms defending brokers in residential property transactions involving sales that have gone awry.

  • Vanessa advises on pre-dispute strategies to mitigate risk and limit legal exposure.

• Insurance Plus

  • Represented dairy farm owners in federal insurance recovery case involving a denial of coverage for farm personal property and a dispute over ambiguous insurance policy terms. She was part of the trial team that won a full damages award for her clients from the jury.

• Pro Bono Plus

  • Second chaired a jury trial representing an evicted woman in support of her race and religious discrimination claims against a housing facility.

  • Received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Oregon States District Court, District of Oregon, for her contribution to its pro bono program in 2018.