I have been practicing law in Washington since 1996, when I graduated from the University of Michigan Law School. I have broad civil-litigation experience as a law clerk to Judge Carolyn R. Dimmick of the federal district court, a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and in private practice at several of Seattleís most highly regarded law firms. My experience covers all aspects of litigation and dispute-resolution, including trial and appellate work in Washington state and federal courts, administrative appeals, arbitration, and mediation. Substantively, my experience covers a wide range of areas, including:
- Business and other contracts
- Commercial sales, such as claims for breach of warranty
- Business torts, such as fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duties
- Real estate, such as title and recording disputes, inspections and disclosures, agency commissions, and quiet title
- Business valuation
- Disputes among shareholders in closely-held entities
- Product liability
- Insurance coverage
- Will contests and other estate/probate disputes
- Employment discrimination
- Misappropriation of trade secrets
- Claims for failure to pay overtime or minimum wage
- Consumer protection
- Claims under ERISA for breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful denial of benefits
- Class actions
- Family law, including child-custody disputes
- Negligence and personal injury
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Business/Commercial & Real Estate
- Worked as member of team defending major oil company against claims for over $450 million in business-interruption damages arising out of pipeline failure.
- Defended two cases against major national banks alleging breach of fiduciary duty: one in connection with the bankís management of investment accounts; the other arising out of the bankís administration of a testamentary trust.
- Represented owner of commercial fishing vessel in arbitration in Paris, before the International Chamber of Commerce asserting claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, and negligence against French manufacturer and U.S. seller of engines.
- Represented Italian yacht-builder in claim for breach of contract against supplier of soot-removal systems installed in the exhaust system of a yacht.
- Defended major insurance company against claims by auto-body-repair shop for tortious interference with business expectancy and violation of Consumer Protection Act for alleged steering of customers away from plaintiffís shop.
- Represented company in case against terminated sales agent for breach of non-competition agreement and violation of Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
- Represented shareholder of closely-held corporation asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference against co-shareholder for operating a competing company.
- Defended company in class action by employees asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA for alleged mismanagement of employee-benefit plan.
- Represented owner of shopping center in quiet-title litigation against neighboring business.
- Defended building inspector in arbitration of claims for negligent inspection of residential property.
- Represented King County in adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court over priority of liens on debtorís real property.
- Defended bicycle manufacturer against product-liability claims of negligent design and failure to warn.
- Represented plaintiffs and defendants in various lawsuits and negotiations to collect on contracts, notes, or other debts.
- Defended the King County Assessorís Office in hearings before the Board of Tax Appeals contesting appraised values of residential and commercial properties, including the Roche-Meridian (ìNiketownî) Building.
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- Defended estate of entrepreneur in complex litigation with one of his former corporations involving contract, corporate-control, business-valuation, trademark, and real-property issues.
- Defense of various will contests involving claims of incompetence and undue influence.
- Defended estate against meretricious-relationship claim by former domestic partner of deceased.
- Represented beneficiaries, personal representatives, and other interested parties in various disputes involving administration of estates.
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- Represented defendants in numerous employment-discrimination cases under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
- Defended operator of parking lots against class action by valets for unpaid overtime under the FLSA.
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- Represented purchaser of private aircraft asserting claims for breach of contract and breach of warranty of title against seller.
- Represented purchaser of $1.8 million yacht in litigation against French builder for breach of warranty.
- Represented purchaser of prize jumping horse against European seller for breach of warranty.
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- Represented prisoner through trial in federal court asserting civil-rights claims against the State of Washington based on assault by prison guard.
- Represented homeowner asserting negligence claims against general contractor and architect based on water-leakage problems.
- Defended King County Family Court Services against negligence claims arising out of parenting evaluation at trial-court level and on appeal.
- Represented various injured person in settlement negotiations and litigation with insurance companies for damages arising out of automobile accidents.
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