Experience

Trial Experience

• In The Matter Of Coordinated Care. Representation of carrier in administrative hearing successfully challenging denial of approval of health plans for inclusion in the Washington Health Exchange.
• Adams v. United States et al. Representation of DuPont in a large products liability case involving over 100 individual plaintiffs.
• Weyerhaeuser v. Accurate. Representation of forest products company in a federal jury trial in a commercial dispute.
• Secured dismissal with prejudice for car manufacturer midway through trial in products liability action occurring in a joint and several state. Plaintiffs sought over $48 million in damages.
• Representation of United States in immigration, employment, civil rights, and tort actions, including significant experience in medical malpractice defense.
• Representation of telecommunications company in a challenge to local regulations under the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act.
• Representation of pro bono clients, including a custodian in a non-parental custody trial and public housing tenants in administrative grievance hearings.

Environmental Litigation

• Represent municipal ports and commercial clients in multi-party Superfund cost recovery actions under CERCLA and MTCA, in state and federal courts and through allocation and mediation processes.
• Representation of petroleum company in a challenge to NPDES permit before the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
• Representation of landowner in a multi-party MTCA contribution action involving perchloroethylene releases.
• Advises clients on pre-litigation risks associated with various environmental statutes, including MTCA, CERCLA, and RCRA.

Health Care

• In The Matter of Washington Counties Insurance Fund, In the Matter of Moda Health Plan, Inc., and In the Matters of Cambia Health Solutions. Representation of association health plan and carriers in successful challenges of state insurance commissioner’s denial of rate filings.
• E.S., by and through her parents, R.S., and J.S., and Jodi Sternoff, both on their own behalf, and on behalf of all similarly situated individuals, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Regence BlueShield; and Cambia Health Solutions, Inc., f/k/a The Regence Group, Defendants-Appellees. Represent carrier in defense of putative class action challenging plan design under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.
• In The Matter Of Coordinated Care. Representation of carrier in administrative hearing successfully challenging denial of approval of health plans for inclusion in the Washington Health Exchange.
• Representation of providers and health plans in connection with Department of Health, Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and Attorney General investigations and complaints.

Tax Litigation

• Representation of a telecommunications company in actions for the refund of utility taxes.
• Representation of a large industrial entity in a property tax challenge before the Board of Tax Appeals.
• Representation of taxpayers in a challenge to the constitutionality of the imposition of a new tax.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

• Named by Best Lawyers^® as Litigation—Health Care “Lawyer of the Year,” Seattle, 2023
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Commercial Litigation, Litigation—Health Care), 2019–2023
• Listed in Washington Super Lawyers^®, (Civil Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Health Care, General Litigation), 2019–2021
• Listed among Rising Stars (Civil Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Health Care, General Litigation), Washington Super Lawyers^®, 2008–2009, 2013–2017
• Outstanding Advocate, Shoreline PTA Council, 2017
• Community Leadership Award, Washington Association of School Administrators, King County Region, 2014
• Volunteer of the Year, King County Bar Association, Kinship Care Solutions Project, 2006
• Irving Stenn, Jr. Award, University of Michigan Law School, 2004
• Ford Motor Company Leadership Award, 2003
• Book Award Recipient, Legal Practice Program, 2002
• J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, Stanford Alumni Association, 1999

Civic Activities

• Past President, Shoreline Public Schools Foundation, 2016–2018
• Chair, Citizens for Shoreline Schools, 2013–2014, 2016–present
• Trustee, Shoreline Public Schools Foundation, 2012–present
• Student Council Advisor, Meridian Park Elementary School, 2017–present
• Vice President, Shoreline School Board, 2007–2011
• Board Member, Stanford Club of Washington, 1999–2001, 2004–2015
• Class Agent, University of Michigan Law School, 2004–present
• Board Member, Washington State History Day, 2008–present
• Pro Bono General Counsel, Historylink.org, 2011–2016
• Judge, Washington State History Day, 1999–2001, 2004–2016

Insights & Presentations

• “Slicing Up the Potentially Expanding Pie: Allocation Considerations at Sediment Sites,” WSBA ELUL Mid-Year Meeting, June 2015
• “Case Study: MTCA Implementation of the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW),” Model Toxics Control Act: New Developments in Implementation, Litigation and Legislation, Law Seminars International, September 2013
• “Building Your Client Base,” Advising the New Tech Startup, New Business Lawyer Summit, WSBA, April 2013

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