RATING

Holds highest possible peer rating (AV - very high to preeminent in legal ability, very high ethical standards) from the Martindale-Hubbell national attorney directory. Rated Superb (10 out of 10) by Avvo.com. Rated a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyer Magazine.

PRACTICE

Currently emphasizes litigation of injury and insurance coverage cases, expert witnessing, bar ethics matters, and appeals, but also has included other types of civil litigation, including real estate disputes, probate disputes, breach of contract, allegations of trade secret violation, bankruptcy cases, limited partnership litigation, and partnership breakup/accounting cases.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (1979).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Juris Doctor, cum laude (1982).
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Member and Senior Editor, MICHIGAN JOURNAL OF LAW REFORM (1980-82).

COURTS

Admitted to Washington State Bar (1982); also admitted to practice before the Federal District Court for both the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

LEGAL TEACHING

“The Ethics of Mahler”, WSAJ Continuing Legal Education Seminar, in Spokane, Washington (2025).

“SGAL Training”, King County Superior Court, in Seattle, Washington (2015, 2017, 2021).

“Anatomy of the UIM/IFCA Case”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar, in Seattle, Washington (2010).

“Cutting Edge Trial Strategies”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar, in Seattle, Washington (2005).

“Planning Your Case”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar, in Seattle, Washington (2004).

“Making and Meeting Objections – a Demonstration” WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar, in Seattle, Washington (2002).

“Uninsured Motorist Bad Faith Litigation”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Insurance Law, in both Spokane and Seattle, Washington (2001).

“Tort Law Update”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Tort Law, in Seattle, Washington (1998).

“Excluding Bogus Expert Witnesses”, WSTLA Convention Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Automobiles, in Vancouver, BC (1997). Also chaired the seminar.

“Tort Law Update”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Tort Law, in both Spokane and in Seattle, Washington (1995).

“Jury Instructions in Soft Tissue Injury Cases”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Soft Tissue Injury Cases, in Seattle, Washington (1994). Also co-chaired the seminar.

“Update on ‘Three Strikes & You’re Out’”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar -- Chosen for Best of CLE 1994, in Seattle, Washington (1994).

“Motions in Limine”, WSBA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Civil Trials & Evidence, in Seattle, Washington (1994).

“The Fight to Survive – Legal Issues in ‘Three Strikes & You're Out’ Cases”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on New Developments in the Law, in Maui, Hawaii (1994).

“Jury Selection in Automobile Injury Cases”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Automobile Cases, in Seattle, Washington (1993).

“Free Speech, Freedom of Religion, and Search & Seizure in Public Schools”, WSTLA Teacher's Law School (1992, 1993).

“Motions in Limine”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Evidence, in Seattle, Washington (1992). Also co-chaired the seminar.

“Jurisdiction, Venue, and Service of Process”, WSTLA Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Civil Procedure, in Seattle, Washington (1988).

“Resurrecting the Deadman’s Statute”, WSTLA Annual Convention-Seminar, at Sun River, Oregon (1987).

“Paying for the Forum: Underinsured Motorist Arbitrations”, WSTLA Annual Convention- Seminar at Vancouver, British Columbia (1986).

PUBLICATIONS

WASHINGTON LAWYERS PRACTICE MANUAL, Chapter on Personal Injury Cases (2001-2006).

The Amistad – The Rest of the Story. Trial News, January, 1998.

A Dialogue Concerning Two Systems – DNA Evidence. Trial News, November, 1997.

Lawyer Bashing – Unjustified, Inevitable, Ignorable. Trial News, October, 1993.

Breach of Duty to Defend Costly. Trial News, July 1993.

Attorney’s Fees Awards in Restaurant Liability Cases. Trial News, April 1993.

Is Anybody There? Does Anybody Care? Trial News, January, 1993.

Why Civil Practitioners Should Practice Criminal Law. Trial News, December, 1992.

Warning – Nationwide v. Watson, Trap for the Unwary. Trial News, December, 1992.

The Gentle Art of Criminal Defense: An Airtight Case – or Was It? Trial News, October, 1992.

The Impossible Dream. Trial News, May, 1992.

The Modern Use of Res Ipsa Loquitur. Trial News, April, 1992.

The Silence of the Lambs – Dow, Breast Implants, and Washington’s “Right to Know” Law. Trial News, March, 1992.

Too Many Lawyers or Too Many Vice Presidents? Trial News, February, 1992.

Getting Back the Sheep – Olympic Steamship: A Revolution in First Party Insurance Litiga- tion. Trial News, January, 1992.

The Ancient Origins of Tort Law. Trial News, December, 1991.

The Significance of Written Jury Instructions. Trial News, November, 1991.

Governmental Civil Disobedience and the Rule of Law. Trial News, October, 1991.

Jury Confounds “Experts” and Decides Case Correctly. Trial News, September, 1991.

U.S. Supreme Court – Some Bests & Worsts. Trial News, May, 1991.

Statutory Construction & the Empty Chair. Trial News, April, 1991.

Quotes Without Comment – The Importance of Oaths. Trial News, March, 1991.

It’s Time to Raise the Price of Safety Violations. Trial News, February, 1991.

A Primer on the Sentencing Reform Act. Trial News, January, 1991.

Why Does America Have Capital Punishment? Trial News, December, 1990.

Multiple Accidents – A Crack in the Joint & Several Wall? Trial News, November, 1990.

Rendering Moral Advice. Trial News, October, 1990.

The Magna Charta. Trial News, September, 1990.

The Economic Value of Life. Trial News, September, 1989.

MEMBERSHIPS

Washington State Bar Association
   Board of Governors Representative from 9th Congressional District (2007-2010)
   Member of Trust Accounts & Retainers Task Force (2007)
   Member of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board (2005-2007)

Washington State Association for Justice (formerly Washington State Trial Lawyers Association)
   Member, Board of Directors (1990 -1997)
   Board of Directors Representative from 9th Congressional District (1993 - 1997)
   Secretary/Treasurer (1992 - 1993)
   Chair of Criminal Law Section (1992 - 1993)
   Trial News Editor-in-Chief (1990 - 92)
   Trial News Editorial Board (1984 - 90)