Practice Highlights
- Victory for insurance policy holders in the Washington Supreme Court - American Best Food, Inc. dba Café Arizona v. Alea London, LTD which further defined and expanded the scope of a liability insurer's duty to defend its insured
- Participated in filing of an Amicus Brief on behalf of the Washington State Medical Association and other physician groups in a case decided by the Washington Supreme Court, Columbia Physical Therapy, Inc., P.S., v. Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates, P.L.L.C.; et.al. which clarified corporate practice of medicine and corporate/professional licensing rules governing relationship between orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists
- Assisted successors to business owners being sued in multiple lawsuits by adjacent current property owners for pollution caused by insured business for decades ending in the late 1980's damaging their properties located on the Duwamish and Ballard Ship Canal waterways. Analyzed and pursued claims against insurers for business in 1970's through end of 1980's (both primary and excess liability insurers). Our team led negotiations between adjacent property claimants, mediator, defense counsel for clients assigned by insurers and coverage counsel for each of the multiple insurers, resulting in settlements utilizing insurer funds for two of the the three law suits and release of clients from any personal liability for the third litigation
- Assisted engineering firm which contracted with city to provide design engineering and oversight for public riverfront sea wall project. City, general contractor and client engineering firm all were sued by claimant alleging vibrations from pile driving by general contractor, overseen by client engineering company caused significant damage to claimant's refrigerated building located on riverfront. With defense counsel assigned by insurers to defend client, I led negotiation with claimants and multiple insurers, resulting in release of client by claimant funded by insurers.
- Assisted long term client which acted as general contractor on $25 Million + single family waterfront residence. Client general contractor was sued by owner as result of alleged defective work by window and glass door subcontractors. After extended arbitration involving three successive mediations, I led negotiations with insurance coverage counsel for owner, litigation counsel for all parties and insurance coverage counsel for client's liability insurer and insurance coverage counsel for multiple subcontractors to an eventual settlement and release of client from owner's claims, funded by client general contractor's liability carrier, with such carrier's agreement to undertake pursuit of subcontractors and their insurers for reimbursement.
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Professional Recognition and Awards
Superb Attorney Rating – Avvo
Top Rated Insurance Recovery and Coverage Attorney in Seattle and Super Lawyer 2001-2020 – Super Lawyers
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Education
Stanford Law School – Stanford, CA
Juris Doctor, 1974University of Washington – Seattle, WA
Economics/Honors program, Magna Cum Laude, 1971
Phi Beta Kappa
Rhodes Scholarship Regional Finalist -
Professional and Community Associations
Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
American Bar Association