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On December 31, 2020, the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the Oregon Court of Appeals’ decision in
Mathis v. St. Helens Auto Center, Inc. and concluded that the “reasonable” attorney fee award permitted under ORS 652.200 cannot be categorically limited where a defendant’s offer of judgment exceeds plaintiff’s ultimate recovery at trial. Practically speaking, therefore, employers should remain on high alert (perhaps more than ever) for notices of unpaid wages and take appropriate steps to resolve such claims within 12 days of receiving the notice, in order to curb exponentially-growing attorney fee exposure.