Tessan Wess is a seasoned trial attorney and Partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, where she provides strategic defense counsel to clients across a spectrum of complex litigation matters. Based in the Portland office, she plays a pivotal role in the firm’s Commercial Litigation, Product & General Liability, Retail & Hospitality, Trucking & Transportation, and Insurance practice groups.
- Summary judgment in favor of cosmetic and beauty retail establishment on ten claims for relief, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, defamation, conversion, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of a vulnerable person, 42 USC 1983 and negligence
- Defense verdict for nightclub in jury trial on vicarious liability defense, second chair
- Defense verdict for construction company in jury trial involving discrimination claims in the employment setting, second chair, state court
- Favorable award for insurer in bench trial on breach of contract and bad faith issues, second chair, federal court
- Complete dismissal for medical provider on statute of limitations defense in medical malpractice action
- Summary judgment in favor of retail establishment on slip and fall (ice) premises liability claim, state court
- Summary judgment in favor of retail establishment on trip and fall (shopping cart) premises liability claim, federal court
- Summary judgment in favor of fast-food franchisee in negligence per se action, state court
- Complete dismissal for franchisee on personal jurisdiction defense and statute of limitations defense, federal court
- Voluntary dismissal for homeowner following effective deposition of plaintiff in premises liability claim
- Article, “Ore. Insurance Ruling Opens Door To Extracontractual Claims,” Law360, February 2024
- Article, “Recreational Marijuana and Insurance Coverage Considerations,” The Verdict, Issue 3, 2015
- Speaker, "Limitations on Liability in a Post-Bagley and Covid World, OADC Fall Seminar," November 2020
- Speaker, “Getting Your Point Across: Effective Witness Testimony,” OADC Annual Convention, June 2019
- Speaker, "Don’t Leave! The Heartbreak of Handling Employee Leaves of Absence," Oregon Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Human Resources Management Meeting, February 2019
- Speaker, "Who? What? Where? Sorting Out Coverage in an Increasingly Small World," OADC Annual Convention, June 2018
- Speaker, "Sticky Green: Legal Implications of Marijuana Legalization," OADC Annual Convention, June 2015
- Speaker, "Let’s Be Blunt: Clearing the Haze Surrounding Legalized Marijuana," CPCU All Industry Day, November 2014
Admissions
- Oregon
- Washington
- Florida
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Memberships
- Director, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Education
- J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School (2009-2010), Nova Southeastern University (2007-2009)
- B.S., University of Central Florida, 2007
Honors
- 40 Under 40, Portland Business Journal, 2026
- Super Lawyers® Rising Stars distinction in Civil Litigation, Construction Litigation, General Litigation, Personal Injury – Products, Professional Liability, 2018, 2020-2025
- Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2024-2026