Lizz Esfeld is a Director in the Portland office of Betts Patterson Mines P.S. Lizz has a multi-state practice specializing in business litigation, complex torts, and catastrophic injuries. Lizz has successfully defended clients in multiple federal jurisdictions including the 9th and 7th Circuit as well as in state courts in Illinois, Oregon and Washington. Lizz prides herself in being able to leverage extensive litigation experience into providing her clients not only world class litigation services, but also transactional and corporate advice to help avoid litigation and set themselves up for success.

Lizz received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Truman State University before moving to Chicago for law school, where she participated in DePaul’s Center for Intellectual Property Law program, received multiple accolades in Moot Court and was appointed to the Order of the Barristers. She practiced in Chicago for six years, representing doctors and hospitals among other complex litigation prior to moving to Portland. Her background in the sciences allows her to understand complex issues as well as communicate them effectively to juries.

Lizz volunteers for the Children’s Representation Project where she represents children pro-bono in custody cases in Oregon. Lizz is co-chair of the Roberts’ and Deiz Award Committee through which the Oregon Women Lawyers honor members of the legal community who mentor and promote those from outside the dominate culture. She is also co-founder of the Nepal Pride Project, which works to repatriate stolen works of art and cultural heritage to Nepal.

Representative Cases

• Successfully won an appellate verdict limiting liability for landlords under the Oregon landlord tenant act and limiting liability without certain proof under negligence at the summary judgment stage.
• Successfully won a motion for summary judgment ruling that emotional distress damages are not available under the Oregon landlord tenant act for habitability claims.
• Successfully won a motion for summary judgment in Washington limiting claims against service contract providers.
• Successfully won a motion for summary judgment regarding hot coffee in Oregon and extended caselaw from other parts of the country requiring some additional negligence beyond the temperature of coffee for a claim to be sustained.
• Successfully defeated motion to compel apex depositions of client in Oregon.
• Successfully defended client in discrimination claim in the Western District of Washington.
• Successfully defended against a motion for sanctions regarding video that was overwritten within 10 days of incident and established the standard for maintaining video footage in Oregon prior to notice of litigation.
• Negotiated the purchase and sale of hotels in Oregon and Washington including drafting and review of purchase agreements.
• Obtained a defense verdict in a two-week jury trial involving claims against a primary care physician of malpractice after patient developed endocarditis. 
• Obtained summary judgment in Illinois Cook County regarding plaintiff’s practice of law without a license.