Oregon appeals court upholds million dollar judgment against advertising company
The court ruled in favour of a Portland building owner after a company surrendered a permit that made his wall unusable for ads.
An Oregon appeals court has upheld a $1,237,191.92 judgment against Lamar Obie Company, LLC, after finding the firm acted unfairly. According to the Times of India, the ruling issued on November 12, 2026, supports building owner Jim A. Atwood, his trust, and J.A.
Atwood Corporation.
The dispute concerns a large brick wall on West Burnside Street in downtown Portland. Atwood had previously rented the wall to advertising firms to display commercial signs. The legal conflict arose when the street was designated a state highway, requiring a special permit from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to continue displaying advertisements.
The court found that after the lease ended in 2019, Lamar refused to transfer the permit to Atwood. Instead, the company removed the advertising equipment and surrendered the permit to the state to seek a relocation credit. This action prevented Atwood from using the wall for commercial advertisements because the sign exceeds current size limits.
Presiding Judge Darleen Ortega wrote that a jury could reasonably decide that Lamar breached its duty to act honestly under the lease agreement. The jury had previously awarded Atwood damages to compensate for expected loss of future advertising income.
Lamar challenged the verdict on nine separate grounds, arguing that the award was based on guesswork. However, the Oregon Court of Appeals rejected all arguments brought before it.