Casualty Defense

Trial Counsel for:

Owner and director of chemical dependency unit against an opiate-dependent patient who left the unit and caused a multi-vehicle collision, resulting in catastrophic injuries to herself and the driver of one of the other vehicles. Eleven day jury trial: Defense verdict. Schuster v. Providence Everett Medical Center, Snohomish County Superior Court, Washington

Cleaning company against a claim that plaintiff suffered multiple chemical sensitivity due to alleged exposure to cleaning chemicals. We demonstrated through the plaintiff’s life history of medical treatment that her chemical sensitivity resulted from somatoform disorder. After three week trial: Defense verdict. Kadey v. Alpine Cleaning & Restoration, King County Superior Court, Washington

Dairy farmer against a neighbor’s claim that the use of fertilizers, extensive noise and dust constituted a nuisance and a trespass onto plaintiff’s property. Plaintiff demanded $225,000 to settle. Defense verdict. Suit v. Bajema, Whatcom County Superior Court, Washington

Client who admitted liability with respect to a car accident. Plaintiff had a history of arthritis. After the accident he had a two-level cervical fusion with significant time loss from work and the probability of another surgery. The jury concluded the pre-existing arthritis, not the accident, caused the need for the surgery. Stock v. Harlow, Mason County Superior Court, Washington

Client against two insurers who had paid over $300,000 for flood related damage to the insured’s house. Plaintiffs claimed the flooding occurred due to the negligent installation of a washing machine hose that broke and caused the flooding. Defense verdict. Farmers v. A & F Transportation, King County Superior Court, Washington