Jim learned the practice of personal injury law from his father in Kent, Washington, where together they represented clients from all walks of life. During those years Jim gained respect for the problems and issues his clients faced, and learned how to best counsel and represent them while achieving justice for their cause.
Jim’s practice eventually brought him to New York City, where he became trial counsel for various firms who sent their difficult cases to him when they knew the case was going to be tried to a jury. There, Jim successfully tried 75+ personal injury jury cases, bringing his clients millions of dollars and redemption from those who had injured them.
In 2007, Jim returned to the Pacific Northwest with his wife and three children and joined GLP Attorneys with the Seattle personal injury attorney team. Since 2010, Jim has been a partner with the firm.
Jim is currently an active member of the Washington State Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. He is a member of Trial Lawyers Care (a group that contributed pro bono time to World Trade Center victims after September 11th), a member of the WSAJ Disaster Relief Program (a group that contributed pro bono time to victims of the E. Washington wildfires) and is a frequent Moot Court Judge. He was a member of the Ethics Committee of the NY County Lawyers Association until 2007, and has served on the Washington State Bar Association Court Rules Committee. Jim is one of only a handful of attorneys in the Northwest who is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, a distinction which requires verifiable trial results, and a review process including testimonials by Judges and attorneys who have opposed him at trial. He is also an Associate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Jim was voted “Washington State Super Lawyer” from 2012 – 2021 and was named Top 100 “Washington State Super Lawyer” in 2018 and 2021. He has achieved “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” distinction from 2012 – 2021.
Jim takes a personal interest in every client he represents. A case is not a number or a name, but is an injury that could have happened to any of us, and his clients are treated personally and with respect each one individually deserves.
Successful Cases:
$5 million recovery for the wife and children of an employee who died after falling down a manlift shaft at the Avis parking garage in Seattle, WA.
$3.5 million settlement for 97 year old nursing home resident whose genitalia fell off due to untreated penile cancer. This is the largest reported nursing home settlement ever in the State of Washington.
$3 million settlement for a diver working on the 520 bridge project who sustained a permanent back injury.
$2.7 million verdict for woman who was hit by a dolly at Fred Meyer, resulting in CRPS. This is the largest reported CRPS result in the State of Washington.
$2.25 million recovery for a man who was involved in an explosion at a scrap yard, sustaining a brain injury to his pituitary gland.
$1.65 million settlement for a 54 year old woman who was rear-ended, causing cervical herniations and the need for a three-level cervical fusion. This is the largest reported cervical fusion settlement ever in the State of Washington.
$1.5 million settlement for an elderly nursing home resident who was given the wrong medication (morphine), killing her. The nursing home hid their $1M and $500K insurance policies for over four years before finally being forced to pay.
$1.4 million for a man who was sprayed by hot concrete during a hose-whip incident on a job site injuring his back and knee.
$1.25 million settlement for woman who was hit on her bike by an SUV, fracturing her ankle. This is the largest reported ankle fracture settlement ever in the State of Washington.
$1 million maritime settlement for a seaman who fell into an open fish hold, injuring his neck, back, wrist, and shoulder, requiring surgery.
$1 million settlement for the wrongful death of a seaman (confidential facts).
$1 million policy limits settlement for the wrongful death of a 38 year old man who had a wife and seven children. For five years, the insurance company refused to pay a cent more than $25,000 (which a former attorney told the wife she should take) because they claimed there was no coverage for an employee. Two months before trial, the insurance company finally tendered the insurance policy limits.
$1 million policy limits settlement for a truck driver/passenger whose arm got crushed when the co-driver took a turn too fast, rolling the truck over onto the passenger side.
$886,000 verdict for a woman who was in a car collision which caused dermatomyositis (an autoimmune disease). Defendant State Farm’s offer was zero all the way through trial.
$870,000 verdict to a man who slipped on grease in the stairwell of his workplace, due to inadequate lighting, requiring surgery to his knee.
Past Results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Publications:
How to Win at Trial When Your Plaintiff is a Smoker, WSAJ Trial News, April 2020. Article Here
A New Civil Cause of Action for Mandatory Reporters Who Fail to Report Suspected Neglect and Abuse, WSAJ Trial News, October 2016. Co-authored with Alex French - Article PDF
Finding seven-figure coverage in the “no-coverage” case, WSAJ Trial News, February 2014. Co-authored with Scott F. Lundberg - Article PDF
Discovery in Nursing Home Cases, Washington State Association for Justice - 2013 Nursing Home Deskbook. Co-authored with Matthew Boller.
Punitive Damages in Nursing Home (and other) Cases, WSAJ Trial News, March 2013. Co-authored with Alex French - Article PDF
Age Doesn't Matter: the Vulnerable Adult Statute in Practice, WSAJ Trial News, February 2011. Co-authored with Scott F. Lundberg - Article PDF
Turning the Tables: Forcing the Defendant to Submit to a Physical Exam and Reveal Other Relevant Medical Records, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, "Bill of Particulars" cover story, Winter 2005
Capitation as a Free-Standing Cause of Action in Medical Malpractice, ATLA Professional Negligence Reporter, Summer 2004, Vol. 11, No. 4. Co-authored with Mark R. Bower
Speaking Engagements:
“Voir Dire”, Washington State Bar Association Trial Advocacy Program, 2015 - 2020
"Top 10 Trial Tips", Bridging the Gap, 2016
"Fear during Voir Dire-Pitfalls and Pointers", University of Washington Law School, 2008
Honors:
Top 100 Jury Verdicts, TopVerdict.com - 2020
American Board of Trial Advocates - inducted 2020
Washington State Top 100 Super Lawyer - 2018 and 2021
Washington State Super Lawyer, 2012 - 2021
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2012 - 2020
Highest rating by Avvo.com - 10.0
Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in civil trial practice since 2007
Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Plaintiff's opening statement and closing argument from Phillips v. Bush Realty trial included in Winning Openings and Closings, Washington State Association for Justice, 2009
