Linda Degman
About Linda
Linda Degman brings extensive practical, industry experience in construction, public contracting, design, and land use. Before joining Miller Nash, Linda was with Portland Community College for nearly 20 years, including serving as the bond program director and the director of planning & capital construction, where she oversaw improvements, planning, construction, and real estate acquisition for the college. Linda was responsible for college-wide planning and development, which included leading the college’s affordable housing strategy and negotiations. Her work has been centered on enhancing equity and building diversity in the construction workforce.
Representative Experience
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Insurance Recovery Plus
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Major builder’s risk insurance recovery for new Oregon data center. Successful litigation and mediated resolution of a project owner’s $8 million claim against its builder’s risk insurance carriers following two explosions and fires during the construction of a 250,000 sq. ft. data center in Washington County, Oregon. The builder’s risk insurers’ untimely and unreasonable claims adjustment resulted in zero payment to the project owner prior to Miller Nash’s involvement. Litigation involved extensive discovery of electronically stored information and depositions, in addition to summary judgment briefing and other motions. With the assistance of a mediator, the vast majority of the owner’s losses were recovered.
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Construction Disputes Plus
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Defective construction of new, large in-patient behavioral health hospital. Guided healthcare system through forensic research, repair contracting, preservation of evidence, forensic expert reports, negotiations, and arbitration proceedings for damage claims against the general contractor and subcontractors that improperly performed exterior envelope, plumbing, electrical, and roof work to construct a new hospital for behavioral health patients and required specialty facilities. The entire exterior envelope had to be removed and replaced, together with removal and re-installation of all windows, while the hospital was occupied. After repairs were complete, we prepared, documented, and asserted claims to recover the owner’s damages. Following extensive discovery, depositions, arbitration proceedings, and mediation, we achieved a successful, multimillion dollar recovery of a substantial majority of the owner’s losses.
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Activities
- Multnomah Bar Association, Member
- Oregon State Bar, Member
- Client Security Fund Committee, Member
- Society of College and Urban Planners, Member
- Coos Bay Oregon Law Center/Central Oregon Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO), Miller Nash Expungement Clinic Pro Bono Attorney, 2022-present
- Beaverton School District, Board Member, 2012-2017
Recognition
- National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Award, 2022
- Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon, Women of Vision Award, 2018
Insights from Linda
- “Retainage, Back Charges, and Withholdings—Law and Best Practices in Oregon & Washington,” Miller Nash, Construction Webinar Series (Oct. 2023)
- “Annual Construction Case Law Update,” Oregon State Bar, Empowering Diversity and Enhancing Justice in the Construction Industry CLE (Oct. 2023)
- “When Ignorance Isn’t Bliss…,” The Seminar Group, 28th Annual Oregon Construction Law CLE (Sept. 2023)
- “The Dos and Don’ts of Public Contracting in 2023—Procurement Processes,” Miller Nash, Construction Webinar Series (Feb. 2023)
Outside the Office
Linda enjoys spending time with her children and grandsons, listening to podcasts on health and nutrition, exercising, gardening, and reading.