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Seeking Counsel for a Landmark Constitutional Case
Seeking Counsel for a Landmark Constitutional Case
A Constitutional Crisis: Oregon Has Formally Denied Its Fiduciary Duty to Schools.
A Constitutional Crisis: Oregon Has Formally Denied Its Fiduciary Duty to Schools.
The State of Oregon has officially disavowed its sacred 166-year-old compact with schoolchildren. In a formal court filing, it argued it "does not owe Plaintiffs the duties alleged" regarding the Common School Fund. This is a betrayal that jeopardizes billions in school funding.
This landmark case now moves to the merits, and the first task is to determine what legal standards and duties should apply to Oregon's Common School Lands. We are seeking a trial and appellate team to finish the job.
Laura Cooper, OSB# 863589 Ms. Cooper serves on the Oregon Advocates for School Trust Lands Board of Directors. She was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.
COUNSEL'S PERSPECTIVE
COUNSEL'S PERSPECTIVE
As an attorney, you rarely see a constitutional question this clean and ready for adjudication. The State has formally denied a 150-year-old compact, creating a perfect storm for a sharp litigator. We have the research and the strategy, and we have overcome the procedural barriers; we just need the right partner to stand up in court and bring it home.
— Laura Cooper, OSB# 863589
The Opportunity: Our Case Has Established Viability
The Opportunity: Our Case Has Established Viability
This Is a Landmark Case. The Court Has Cleared the Path.
This Is a Landmark Case. The Court Has Cleared the Path.
This is not a theoretical lawsuit. We have successfully navigated the procedural gauntlet. The preliminary legal battles have been won. The remaining fight is on pure trust law, constitutional interpretation, and remedies—the part where top-flight counsel becomes decisive.
Key Judicial Rulings:
Standing is Established: The court affirmed standing for school districts, students, and parents to proceed (March 6, 2025 Letter Opinion, p. 4-5).
Case is Viable: The court denied the State's motion to dismiss claims related to 2024 breaches of trust (March 6, 2025 Letter Opinion, p. 3-4).
Authority to Sue Affirmed: The court rejected the State's argument that only the Attorney General can bring these claims (September 5, 2025 Letter Opinion, p. 1-2).
Immunity Arguments Denied: The court has denied the State's arguments for sovereign and discretionary immunity on the core claims (September 5, 2025 Letter Opinion, p. 3).
Core Legal Challenge: Systemic, Billion-Dollar Breach
Core Legal Challenge: Systemic, Billion-Dollar Breach
Legal Foundation
Legal Foundation
At statehood, Oregon accepted 3.8 million acres in a binding, irrevocable trust for the exclusive benefit of public schools (First Amended Complaint, p. 4). The Constitution and Admissions Act impose a clear fiduciary duty. (First Amended Complaint, ¶26).
The Fiduciary Breach: The State has inverted this sacred trust.
The Fiduciary Breach: The State has inverted this sacred trust.
Breach of Prudence: The trust is now operating at a net loss (First Amended Complaint, ¶23). Mismanagement of the Elliott State Forest and other lands has cost the Common School Fund over $1 billion (Case for Support, p. 1-3).
Breach of Loyalty: The State Land Board has prioritized political agendas over its sole duty to schoolchildren, transferring trust land without fair appraisals (First Amended Complaint, ¶22) and approving budgets that knowingly produce negative revenue (First Amended Complaint, ¶23).
The "Smoking Gun" – The State's Formal Denial
The "Smoking Gun" – The State's Formal Denial
"In its formal Answer filed October 24, 2025, the State explicitly argued it 'does not owe Plaintiffs the duties alleged'. This denies the very existence of an enforceable trust and is the central crisis that must be litigated."
The Client: A Unified, Credible Plaintiff Group
The Client: A Unified, Credible Plaintiff Group
You Will Represent a Serious, Organized Coalition
You Will Represent a Serious, Organized Coalition
Expert-Led Advocates: OASTL and the national ASTL are 501(c)(3) organizations led by national experts in school trust law.
Directly Harmed Beneficiaries: Siuslaw School District 97J, Powers School District #31, and Oakland School District are direct financial beneficiaries being actively harmed by this breach.
Current & Future Generations: Parents and Students who represent the generations of Oregon children whose educational birthright has been depleted.
The Evidence Locker: Review the Key Documents
The Evidence Locker: Review the Key Documents
The "Smoking Gun": State's "No Duty" Defense (Oct 2025)
Summary: The State's formal Answer explicitly denying all fiduciary duties.
The First Amended Complaint (Apr 2025)
Summary: The full complaint detailing the breaches of fiduciary duty, constitutional claims, and plaintiffs.
The Full Case: Oregon's Constitutional Duties to Schools
Summary: A comprehensive background book on the legal and historical foundation of the Common School Fund.
Court Order Affirming Plaintiff Standing (Mar 2025)
Summary: The court's initial opinion affirming standing for schools and students and allowing 2024 claims to proceed.
Court Order Denying State's MTD (Sept 2025)
Summary: Judge Combs's opinion affirming plaintiffs' authority to sue and denying the State's immunity arguments.
FAQ
FAQ
Key Questions Answered
Key Questions Answered
What is the current posture?
The State's motions to dismiss have been largely denied. The case is moving past procedure and onto the merits of the constitutional trust law claims. The Coos County Circuit Court has placed the case on hold until December 31st while we recruit new counsel.
Has the court ruled on standing?
Yes. On March 6, 2025, the court affirmed standing for school districts, students, and parents.
Is sovereign immunity still an issue?
No for the 2024 claims. The court has denied the State's motions to dismiss on these grounds for the core claims moving forward.
What relief is being sought?
Declaratory judgment, restitution for the $1B+ in losses, voiding improper transfers, a full accounting, and injunctive relief to enforce the trust's duties.
Counsel's Closing Thoughts
Counsel's Closing Thoughts
We are looking for a procedural strategist to partner with us in Coos County. You don't need to be a historian to win this case—we have that covered. We’ve built the legal foundation and secured the funding. It’s a rare chance to argue a landmark case without having to carry the entire burden alone.
This isn't just a contract dispute; it’s a fight for a billion-dollar endowment that belongs to Oregon’s kids. We are looking for an attorney who wants to make a generational impact. If you want to be the lawyer who helped protect the Common School Fund, we want to talk to you.
I’ve spent my career fighting for civil rights and holding institutions accountable. This lawsuit is the ultimate fight for Oregon’s future. The State is arguing it has no duty to our schoolchildren, and that cannot stand. We need an advocate who isn't afraid to remind the government who it works for.
Uphold the Constitution: Join Us
Uphold the Constitution: Join Us
We are actively recruiting an attorney to lead this landmark case and are holding individual confidential discussions at the convenience of prospective counsel.
We invite you to a private briefing to discuss our strategy and the favorable rulings we have already secured. We are prepared to move quickly and are assembling the resources necessary to win.
To express your interest and receive a complete litigation packet, please contact:
To express your interest and receive a complete litigation packet, please contact:
Dr. Dave Sullivan, President, Oregon Advocates for School Trust Lands (OASTL)
Email: drdavesullivan@gmail.com Phone: 541-791-6470
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