ICTSI Oregon, the former operator of the Port of Portland’s container terminal, has rejected a judge’s reduced $19 million award of damages against the longshore workers union, seeking instead to go back to trial solely to determine an appropriate amount.

“In so doing, ICTSI Oregon Inc. preserves all rights, claims and defenses,’’ one of its attorneys, Michael Garone, wrote to the court.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has asked U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon to put the matter on hold as it challenges the jury verdict that it was both liable for damages and should pay any damage amount to the former terminal operator.

A federal jury in November found that the union sabotaged shipping traffic and caused productivity to plummet through years of labor slowdowns and stoppages. The union’s workers were pressuring ICTSI Oregon to give them the dockside jobs of plugging in, unplugging and monitoring refrigerated containers, taking the so-called “reefer’’ jobs away from an electricians union.

The Philippine-owned ICTSI Oregon, which signed a 25-year lease in 2010 to operate Terminal 6, left the port in March 2017, idled by the labor strife it says the national longshore union and the local chapter encouraged. The company argued at trial that the union engaged in unlawful labor practices over nearly five years and caused tens of millions of dollars in losses to its business.

The jury awarded $93.6 million in damages to ICTSI Oregon. But last month, Simon lowered the jury award to $19,061,248, finding the evidence at trial didn’t support the jury’s larger award that the union argued was excessive and would lead to its bankruptcy.

The judge then gave ICTSI Oregon two weeks to either accept the lower amount or he said a new trial would be held solely on the damages amount.

Dan Jackson, attorney for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and its Local 8 chapter, had argued that the jury’s award was based on serious flaws in the damage calculations offered by an expert hired by ICTSI Oregon. The judge agreed.

In rejecting the judge’s reduced damages amount, ICTSI Oregon’s lawyers reminded the judge of his ruling that he “will not disturb the jury’s thoughtful and well supported findings on liability and causation.”

The union, though, has asked Simon to either amend his ruling and allow a new trial on the question of its liability or allow an immediate appeal to proceed.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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