The Washington Supreme Court in a March 18, 2010 decision (5-4, majority opinion authored by Justice Tom Chambers) ruled that commercial liability carrier Alea London Ltd, in refusing to defend its insured American Best Foods, Inc. dba Café Arizona (“Insured”)…
Read MoreThe Washington Supreme Court recently handed down a unanimous decision in favor of the legal arguments advocated in my, amicus curie brief submitted on behalf of the American Medical Association, the Washington State Medical Association, and approximately twenty other medical…
Read MoreScott Easter began representing American Best Foods after they lost their Superior Court case involving insurance coverage. Mr. Easter secured a reversal at Division I of the Court of Appeals. The insurer appealed to the Supreme Court who reaffirmed the…
Read MoreJonathan Moore, a recent addition to the associate attorney staff at MPBA, has been elected as a member of the Order of the Coif by virtue of graduating in the top 10% of his class at the University of Washington…
Read MoreThe magazine Washington State Law & Politics announced its Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2009. The following MPBA attorneys were named as Super Lawyers for 2009: Scott Easter Bill Goodwin Lynn Hurst Alan Montgomery Camille Ralston The following MPBA…
Read MoreGround Leases in General: At its most basic, a ground lease is a lease of bare, unimproved land. The essential characteristics of a ground lease are that the tenant constructs a building and other improvements on the property and all…
Read MoreEach year the Washington State Bar Association recognizes outstanding attorneys for their professionalism, community service efforts, and impact upon the legal community. These select lawyers are celebrated at the WSBA Annual Awards Dinner. This year the WSBA created a new…
Read MoreCharitable remainder unitrusts and annuity trusts (collectively, “CRTs”) are effectively barred from investing in for-profit enterprises holding “debt-financed” assets, under Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 664(c). Under that provision, a CRT forfeits its exemption from federal income tax for any…
Read MoreThe South Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABA) held their annual event at the W Hotel in downtown Seattle. SABA is committed to advocating issues important to the South Asian community and sponsors several grants and scholarships. This year's keynote…
Read MoreJust as things seemed to be quieting down after the Pension Protection Act of 2006, along came the latest challenge to the peace of the estate-planning world: tax patents. In early 2006, an infringement suit was filed over the first…
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