Vial Fotheringham LLP

To: arv@vf-law.com

Your Email Address

Message

Practice Emphasis:
Construction Defect, Homeowner Association, Real Estate and Land Use, Litigation, and Aviation Law.

Professional Experience:
Rich Vial has practiced law in areas of real estate, homeowner associations and litigation since 1981. Prior to joining McLaughlin, Gunnar, Woods & Wilcox in the spring of 1981, Rich also worked for the public accounting firm of Touche Ross in Salem. Having clerked at the Oregon Department of Real Estate in the condominium section, Rich brought to the practice of law a depth of experience in common property ownership issues at they relate to real estate. Because he had held a real estate license during his undergraduate in law school education, he naturally began to focus on real estate in his practice.

Rich represents associations for general purposes, but has special expertise and success in homeowner association work as it relates to construction defect issues with which homeowner association boards often find themselves confronted. He also represents individuals and businesses in commercial litigation, regulatory compliance issues, and contractual creation and dispute issues. Rich tries to live by the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to disputes in this modern age.

Rich's broad experience with homeowner associations has provided him with the opportunity to speak both locally and nationally on issues relating to the creation and management of healthy communities. He is the managing editor of the official HOA Handbook Oregon 2003 (handbooks are updated after each legislative session) and has written numerous articles on matters affecting homeowner associations.

Education:
Willamette University College of Law, J.D., 1981
Brigham Young University, B.S., 1978

Professional Involvement:
Board member and past president, Community Associations Institute, Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapters

Board member and vice-chair, Washington County Fair Board

Executive Committee Chair, Oregon State Bar Aviation Section

Member and former board member, Oregon State Bar Real Estate and Land Use Section (served for several years as chair of the legislative sub-committee)

Rich has served and continues to serve on a large number of boards and commissions including school boards, youth programs and community action committees

Bar/Court Admissions:
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court
Admitted to Oregon State Bar
Admitted to Washington State Bar
Admitted to Idaho State Bar
Admitted to Utah State Bar
Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Admitted to U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Articles & Presentations:
Author, "Continuing Evolution in the Oregon Condominium Law," 16 Willamette Law Review 263 (1980)

Author, "The Oregon Condominium Act, A Question of Vested Interests," 18 Willamette Law Review 95 (1982)

Author, "Condominium Hotels: Fad or Future," Developments, April, 1986

Editor, "The Official HOA Handbook of 3rd Edition," produced and distributed by the Northwest HOA Law Center

Editor, "The Official HOA Handbook of Washington 1st Edition," produced and distributed by the Northwest HOA Law Center

Editor, "The Official HOA Handbook of Utah 3rd Edition," produced and distributed by the Northwest HOA Law Center

Language:
Japanese

Personal/Family:
Married to Paula Wright of Grants Pass, Oregon for 30 years. Six birth and seven Vietnamese adopted children, along with many grandchildren. He raises registered cattle on the Vial Homestead Washington County, Oregon.