Eli Stutsman is an appeals attorney with broad experience. He has, for example, defended on appeal the following types of cases:

  • the State’s police power to regulate the practice of medicine by passing the Oregon Death with Dignity Act;
  • an asset forfeiture amendment to the State constitution;
  • the rights of psychological parents (grandparents) in a child custody dispute; and
  • the rights of a small child to obtain testing to establish her paternity.

Asset Forfeiture: Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team v. Kitzhaber

In the case of Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team v. Kitzhaber, decided October 19, 2006, the Oregon Supreme Court unanimously reversed the Oregon Court of Appeals in favor of Mr. Stutsman’s clients, who had successfully campaigned and passed a state constitutional amendment. This was the only constitutional amendment from the 2000 election cycle that remained in effect after legal challenges. It was also one of the very few constitutional amendments to survive a separate-vote challenge in recent Oregon history.

Grandparent custody: O’Donnell-Lamont & Lamont

In the case of O’Donnell-Lamont & Lamont, decided June 10, 2004, the Oregon Supreme Court unanimously reversed the Oregon Court of Appeals in favor of Mr. Stutsman’s clients, an important victory for children throughout Oregon because it established the legal standard ‚Äî the best interests of the child ‚Äî to be applied in future third-party child custody disputes.

Paternity testing: Lillian Jane DiAmico v. Robert Ellinwood, III

In the case of Lillian Jane DiAmico v. Robert Ellinwood, III, decided December 13, 2006, the Oregon Court of Appeals unanimously reversed the trial court, in favor of Mr. Stutsman’s client, a seven-year-old child. This was an important victory because it preserved the statutory process established by the Legislative Assembly to establish the child’s paternity.

Call upon an experienced Oregon appeals attorney

If you need an appeals attorney, Eli Stutsman may be able to help. Call 503.274.4048 to learn more about his practice.