OHSU Paid Former General Counsel $1.8 Million
The Portland health institution finalized a severance agreement with Alice Cuprill Comas on August 7, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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OHSU paid approximately $1.8 million to former general counsel Alice Cuprill Comas as part of a severance and release agreement finalized on August 7, 2026. The departure deal also included an additional $20,250 and $15,000 for attorney fees.
Why it matters
The severance agreement requires Cuprill Comas to waive all potential legal claims against the health system. OHSU also committed to providing positive characterizations of her work to any future prospective employers.
The total financial package includes a primary payment of $1,791,990.36, plus $20,250 in additional compensation and $15,000 for legal costs. OHSU is required to pay the full sum in two distinct installments.
The players
OHSU
OHSU is a major public university and academic health center based in Portland.
Alice Cuprill Comas
Alice Cuprill Comas is the former general counsel for OHSU who retired in 2026.
The details
The agreement, which was signed on August 7, 2026, forces the institution to restrict public and internal messaging regarding the exit to specific, pre-approved language. Cuprill Comas had served as the institution's general counsel since 2017 after joining the legal office in 2012.
Timeline
Alice Cuprill Comas joined the OHSU legal office in 2012.
Cuprill Comas began her role as general counsel in 2017.
OHSU announced the retirement and signed the agreement on August 7, 2026.
The deadline for the first severance payment installment was August 17, 2026.
OHSU is scheduled to pay the second installment on January 5, 2027.
Market Landscape
This agreement follows a pattern set by regional academic institutions in managing high-level executive departures through comprehensive mutual releases. Such settlements help large health systems stabilize leadership transitions while mitigating the risk of future litigation.
The agreement dictates that OHSU must maintain a controlled, positive narrative regarding the former general counsel's tenure. This ensures that the institution avoids public friction, though it requires long-term budgetary allocation for the multi-installment payout.
The takeaway
Large institutions often utilize significant severance packages to ensure a clean exit and formal legal waivers from departing executives. This strategy prioritizes institutional reputation and legal finality over immediate fiscal savings.
What happens next
OHSU is scheduled to pay the final installment of the severance agreement to Alice Cuprill Comas on January 5, 2027.
Further reading
For broader trends regarding employment and organizational changes in the medical sector, explore Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Willamette Week.
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