Aukjen (pronounced “owk-yen”) Ingraham is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer with more than 17 years of experience in administrative, state, federal, and appellate courts. Known for her success rate in winning “unwinnable” cases, she is a strategic thinker and problem solver. Equally comfortable representing plaintiffs or defendants on the right side of an argument, Aukjen works with her clients to attain the best results in difficult situations.

Her experience spans healthcare, product liability, and transportation litigation. Aukjen’s special focus is in railroad and transportation law, with a particular emphasis on catastrophic injury and crisis management.

Aukjen is adept at handling complex litigation and creating strategies for multiple lawsuit litigation, for regional and national clients. She is a seasoned trial lawyer who has argued over 50 workers’ compensation cases and tried multiple jury trials to verdict, as well as argued in front of the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Oregon Court of Appeals, and numerous circuit courts across Oregon.

Experience

Transportation, ports & maritime

• Handled over 25 rail-related cases, including grade crossing accidents, wrongful death, and contract disputes.
• Successfully represented a port client in high stakes dispute with a former rail operator. Led client through confidential arbitration, lawsuit, and settlement.
• Successfully resolved catastrophic injury suit claiming multi millions of dollars against maritime client
• Successfully resolved a personal injury claim for a rail car owner.

Product liability

• Obtained dismissal of a $25 million personal injury and products liability lawsuit against a small, family-owned business.

Healthcare & medical devices

• Represented a physician in a lawsuit against a hospital, obtaining a $1.5 million jury verdict.
• Represented a healthcare company in pre-suit litigation related to a multimillion dollar contract dispute.

Published opinions

• Dine Citizens et al. v. Bureau of Indian Affairs (9th Circuit, July 29, 2019) (cert. denied); affirming district court dismissal of a case pursuant to FRCP 19 and based on tribal sovereign immunity (argued)
• Figueroa v. BNSF, 351 Or 142 (2017); ordering circuit court to dismiss case against BNSF Railway Company based on lack of general personal jurisdiction.
• SAIF v. Hoffman, 193 Or App 750 (2004); upholding insurer responsibility for a hearing loss claim in a workers’ compensation case

Memberships

• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC) Member, Environmental Committee (2012-present)
• Multnomah Bar Association, Member (2003-present)

Awards

• Oregon Rising Stars List (2011-2012, 2014-2016)
• Whitman College, Myron Ells Prize for History (1998)

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

Moderator, Schwabe Maritime Safety Summit 
Portland, Oregon, May 2017

Speaker, Joint Liability, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Phoenix, Arizona, March 2017

Speaker, Apartments vs. Condos
AIA Portland, Portland, Oregon, November 2016

Speaker, Construction Contracts
Halfmoon Education, Portland, Oregon, October 2016

Speaker, Damages, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Sun Valley, Idaho, February 2016

Speaker, “Marijuana Legalization, Drug Testing and Maritime Employer Liability,”
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Portland, Oregon, January 2016

Speaker, “Discovery—Beyond the Basics"
Oregon Paralegal Association Annual Meeting, Seaside, Oregon, October 2014

Publications

Community Activities

• Friends of the Children Scholarship Committee (2011-2018)
• Portland State University, Advisory Board to the School of Urban & Public Affairs (2008-2011)

Pro bono work

• Aukjen regularly volunteers to represent clients in Schwabe’s East Multnomah County Legal Clinic, successfully resolving matters for low-income clients.
• Aukjen also acts as pro bono trial counsel in other matters both within Oregon and nationally, including in partnership with the Capital Post Conviction Project of Louisiana.

Services