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Karra has again been named a Super Lawyer in Business Litigation, and one of The Top 40 Women Lawyers in the Mountain States region, covering Utah, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Karra was also named to Utah Business magazine's most recent list of Legal Elite in Business Litigation.
Karra recently ran a half-marathon, in training for her second marathon.
Case v. Max International lawsuit - The firm has filed suit against Max International LLC on behalf of former employee Craig Case. The complaint alleges that Max International has breached certain contractual obligations to Mr. Case, has breached its duty to act in good faith and deal fairly with Mr. Case, and has intentionally and/ or negligently inflicted emotional distress on Mr. Case. The following court filings are available on the website:
Karra argued a case at the Utah Court of Appeals on March 24, 2010.
At the request of the Utah Supreme Court, Karra is arguing a case before the University of Utah School of Law student body on March 31, 2010. In the past year, Karra has argued at the Utah Supreme Court four times, the Utah Court of Appeals twice, and once at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
Karra has been again named to Utah Business Magazine's 2009-2010 Legal Elite for Business Litigation.
As co-lead counsel, Karra won a favorable ruling last month in a lengthy commercial arbitration involving the Utah Pattern of Unlawful Activity Act.
In March 2010, Karra successfully opposed three motions for summary judgment in a wrongful death and catastrophic injury case.
Karra was recently recognized as one of the Mountain States Super Lawyers for 2009. She was also recognized as one of the top 40 women.
She presented "The Do's and Don'ts of Depositions" to the Utah State Bar and University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Young Alumni on October 18, 2008.
Karra will present "Killer Cases" to the Utah Association of Justice on Sept. 19, 2008.
She won a favorable Court of Appeals ruling on February 28, 2008, in Arnold v. Grigsby. Click here for more details
Karra has been named a "Super Lawyer" in Business Litigation by Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only the top 5 percent of lawyers in the state receive the Super Lawyer designation.
In November 2007, Karra was honored by her peers as one of Utah Business magazine's 2008 "Utah Legal Elite."
In February 2008, Karra ran her first marathon.
October 2007, Karra co-authored the article, "Notice, Marking, and Patent Damages," published in the Defense Research Institute's Defending Intellectual Property Claims."
In September, Karra received a favorable ruling from the Utah Supreme Court in Ellis v. the Estate of Ellis, and was quoted in the Deseret Morning News regarding the same case.
Karra also argued a case before the Utah Supreme Court in September.
Karra won a jury trial in Logan, Utah, in August 2007.
Karra is Chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group.
Trial victory for Karra, August 23, 2007, receiving a defense verdict on a policy limits personal injury claim.
Karra has recently been recognized as one of the Mountain States Super Lawyers for 2007. Click here for Superlawyers.com
In April 2006, Karra won a $1.6 million contract / bad faith jury trial in the Third District Court as co-lead counsel for the plaintiff.
In February 2006, Karra won a summary judgment for a national engineering firm in a $100 million construction defect claim in the Fourth District Court.
As co-lead counsel for Parker Jensen and family v. the State of Utah, in February 2006, Karra defeated several motions to dismiss filed by the defendants in Federal District Court.
In May 2006, Karra's book "Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Women's Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981" was published by the University of Nebraska Press.
Karra was recently voted one of Utah’s 2008 Legal Elite in the area of Business Litigation. Legal Elite honorees are determined by Utah Business magazine based on a survey of thousands of Utah lawyers.
Karra was also honored by her peers as a Mountain States "Super Lawyer" in business litigation.
In March 2007, Karra was selected by the Utah Supreme Court to argue a case before the student body at the University of Utah School of Law.
Karra was quoted in the Deseret Morning News on January 24, 2007 Article and Feb. 25, 2007 Article | |
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PRACTICES |
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Dispute Resolution
Appeals
Commercial and Business Litigation
Bad Faith and Insurance Coverage Disputes
Plaintiff’s Practice Group |
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Karra J. Porter
karra.porter@chrisjen.com
Tel: 801-323-5000 |
Christensen & Jensen, PC
15 West South Temple, Suite 800
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 |
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Christensen & Jensen, P.C., 1987 to present
President, 2010
Managing Director, 1998 to 2006
Vice President, 1995 to 2009
Shareholder and Director, 1993 to present
Associate Attorney, 1987 to 1993
Nominated for Third District Court judgeship (February 2004; August 2004)
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Commercial and Business Litigation
Karra represents corporations and others in contract disputes, trademark and intellectual property litigation, employment litigation of every variety, tort litigation, D & O and E & O coverage issues, product liability claims, indemnity suits, cybersquatting disputes, and numerous other areas. Recent successes include:
• Obtained favorable jury verdict on behalf of professional firm in $1.6 million contract
dispute
• Obtained summary judgment for Fortune 500 design/construction
company on alleged defective design of electricity-generation plant
• Successfully resisted summary judgment motion on behalf of Fortune 500 company
in utility construction dispute
• Successfully resisted motion to dismiss trademark infringement claim on
behalf of insurance company
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of claims administrators in two
ERISA cases
• Obtained favorable Utah Supreme Court ruling on behalf of former in-house
counsel in contract claims against insurance company
• Obtained favorable Utah Supreme Court ruling for property owner in boundary
line dispute
Personal Injury and Insurance Bad Faith
In select cases, Karra represents persons who have been injured, or who have otherwise suffered from the wrongful conduct of a third party. Karra has represented heirs in wrongful death claims, persons injured by defective products or negligence, whistleblowers in False Claims Act (qui tam) actions, and persons who have wrongfully been deprived of rights under insurance policies, contracts, statutes, or Constitutional provisions. Recent successes include:
• Obtained $4 million settlement for insureds in bad faith case
• Obtained Court of Appeals ruling in favor of patient on claim of breach of
confidentiality and fiduciary duty against physician
• Successfully resisted numerous motions to dismiss filed by defendants in
high-profile Parker Jensen lawsuit over State’s attempt to force chemotherapy on minor
without confirming diagnosis of cancer
• Obtained favorable Utah Supreme Court ruling on behalf of insured in disability
insurance case
• Successfully resisted motion for summary judgment in Idaho premises liability
lawsuit
• Obtained favorable jury verdict in medical malpractice case involving burns from
laser procedure
• Obtained favorable Utah Court of Appeals ruling on behalf of religious institution
in claim alleging sex abuse
• Successfully resisted motions for summary judgment by defendants in two
construction-site accident cases
• Obtained $9 million favorable ruling from Utah Supreme Court in Campbell v. State
Farm punitive damages case In conjunction with Department of Justice, exposed
large-scale fraud on U. S. government
Appeals
Karra is one of the most experienced appellate lawyers in Utah, having handled more than 70 appeals at the Utah Supreme Court, Utah Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court, Wyoming Supreme Court, and Arizona Court of Appeals. She chairs the firm's Appeals group. She is known as a quick study in virtually any area of civil litigation, and has prosecuted appeals in a wide range of areas. Examples of reported appellate opinions in which Karra has been lead or co-lead counsel include:
• Sorensen v. Barbuto, 2006 UT App 340, 143 P.3d 295 (confidentiality and
fiduciary duty of physicians; representing patient)
• Saleh v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, 2006 UT 20, 133 P.3d 428 (homeowners’ insurance
coverage dispute; representing insured)
• Machan v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of America, 2005 UT 37, 116 P.3d 342 (disability
insurance coverage dispute; representing insured)
• Estate of Berkemeir v. Hartford Ins. Co. of Midwest, 2004 UT 104 (applicability of
survivor statute to underinsured motorist coverage; representing
defendant insurance company)
• Savage v. Utah Youth Village, 2004 UT 102, 104 P.3d 1242 (negligent placement;
representing defendant youth facility)
• Dowling v. Bullen, 2004 UT 50, 94 P.3d 915 (medical malpractice;
representing defendant health care provider)
• Doe v. The Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 2004 UT App 274 (allegations of child abuse against religious
entity; represented defendant)
• Campbell v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 2004 UT 34 (punitive damages;
represented plaintiffs); see also Campbell v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co.,
2001 UT 89 and 538 U. S. 408 (2003) (insurance bad faith and fraud; represented
plaintiffs)
• Spratley v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 2003 UT 39 (scope of
attorney-client privilege; represented former in-house counsel plaintiffs)
• Johnson v. Rodrigues, 293 F.3d 196 (10th Cir. 2002) (non-‘state actor’ status of
adoption agencies; represented defendant adoption agency)
• Neely v. Bennett, 2002 UT App 189 (effect of expert testimony in personal
injury trial; represented defendant driver)
• Ault v. Holden, 2002 UT 3 (boundary by acquiescence; represented plaintiff
landowners)
• Kessler v. Mortenson, 2000 UT 95 (attractive nuisance doctrine on residential
construction site; represented defendant construction company)
• Johnson v. Rodrigues, 226 F.3d 1103 (10th Cir. 2000) (‘federal question’
jurisdiction; represented defendant adoption agency)
• Oliver v. Woods, 209 F.3d 1179 (10th Cir. 2000) (liability of backup police officer;
represented defendant city)
• Straub v. Fisher and Paykel, 1999 UT 102 (standing to bring product liability suit;
represented defendant manufacturer)
• Hardman v. Specialty Services, 177 F.3d 921 (10th Cir. 1999) (‘dual employment’
under Utah workers’ compensation law; represented defendant manufacturer)
• Facer v. Allen, 958 P.2d 919 (Utah 1998) (election laws; represented defendant
county)
• Barney v. Pulsipher, 143 F.3d 1299 (10th Cir. 1998) (jail assault; represented
defendant county)
• Barrie v. Grand County, 119 F.3d 862 (10th Cir. 1997) (jail suicide; represented
defendant county)
• American Towers Owners Assoc. v. CCI Mechanical, 930 P.2d 1132 (Utah 1996)
(architect liability; represented defendant architect)
• Stevenson v. Goodson, 924 P.2d 339 (Utah 1996) (architect liability; represented
defendant architect)
• Glover v. Boy Scouts of America, 923 P.3d 1383 (Utah 1996) (Boy Scout liability;
represented defendant)
• Thurston v. Box Elder County, 892 P.2d 1034 (Utah 1995) (wrongful termination suit;
represented defendant county)
• Warner v. Grand County, 57 F.3d 962 (10th Cir. 1995) (strip search; represented
defendant county)
• Salt Lake Child and Family Therapy Clinic v. Frederick, 890 P.2d 1017 (Utah 1995)
(marital therapist privilege; represented defendant)
• Joos v. Intermountain Health Care, 25 F.3d 915 (10th Cir. 1994) (ERISA preemption;
represented plaintiff)
• Allen v. Minnstar, Inc., 8 F.3d 1470 (10th Cir. 1994) (product liability - design defect;
represented defendant manufacturer)
• Smith v. Weber County School District, 877 P.2d 1276 (Utah App. 1994) (bus stop
liability; represented defendant school district)
• Cottrell v. Kaysville City, 994 F.2d 730 (10th Cir. 1993) (strip search; represented
defendant city)
• Muir v. W. H. Burt Explosives, Inc., 851 P.2d 645 (Utah 1993) (service of process;
represented defendant manufacturer)
• Nielsen v. O’Reilly, 848 P.2d 664 (Utah 1992) (insurance coverage; represented
plaintiff)
• Hansen v. Sea Ray Boats, Inc., 830 P.2d 236 (Utah 1992) (negligent infliction of
emotional distress; represented defendant manufacturer)
EDUCATION
University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J. D. 1987
Kansas State University, B.A. 1985, journalism, summa cum laude
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
• Admitted to practice in all Utah state and federal courts, United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court
• Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure (1994 - present)
• Utah Defense Lawyers Association (President-elect, 2001-02; Vice President 2000-01)
• Third District Court Small Claims Court Judge Pro Tem (1992-1997)
• Editorial Board, Voir Dire Magazine (1997-99)
SELECT LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS
“Killer Cases and the Lawyers Who Brought them” (2005)
“Hot Bad Faith Cases 2005” (2005)
“Understanding the Legal Aspects of Professional Basketball” (2001) (moderator)
“Reporters and Lawyers: Can’t We All Just Get Along?” (2001) (moderator)
“Personnel Law Update” (2001)
“The Use of Paralegals in the Changing World of Employment Law” (2001)
“Recent Developments in Gender-based Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Law” (2001)
“Common Employment Practices that Lead to Liability” (2000)
“Preventing the New Wave of Backlash Lawsuits: Avoiding Liability When the Wrongdoer Sues You” (1999)
“COBRA: Becoming Y2K Compliant” (1999)
“Fundamental Issues in Utah Human Resources Law” (1998)
“Employment Practices Liability” (1998)
“An Overview of the Americans With Disabilities Act” (1997)
“Employment Issues for Governmental Entities” (1997)
“Employee Leave Rights Under State and Federal Law: What Every Utah Employer Needs to Know” (1997)
“Current Developments in Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act” (1997)
“Nonprofits and Employment Law: Developments in Age Discrimination, Harassment, Disabilities, Staff & Volunteer Liability, and the Common Law” (1996)
“Subrogation: Handling Medicaid, ERISA and Other Liens” (1996)
“Employment Practices and Director and Officers Liability” (1996) |
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