Recent Blog Posts
WHO IS ATTICUS FINCH?
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is perhaps my favorite book—it certainly holds a place among my top three novels. Authored in 1960 by Harper Lee, it tells the fictional story of Atticus Finch, his six-year old daughter Jean Louise Finch—nicknamed Scout, and her older brother Jeremy—nicknamed Jem. Atticus is a middle-aged lawyer appointed to defend… Read More »
VALENTINE’S DAY REMINDER
With Valentine’s Day approaching fast, I thought it would be wise to remind all of our Washington-driver lovebirds out there about the legal requirement that they save their affections for non-driving situations. Brad Thayer touched on this a while back here as part of his review of interesting statutes. RCW 46.61.665 prohibits “embracing another while driving”…. Read More »
THE “RIGHT” TO PRIVACY: AN ELUSIVE AND EVOLVING CONCEPT
In our business as trial attorneys representing victims of car, truck, motorcycle and bicycle crashes, dog bites, construction site injuries, and families stricken by the wrongful death of a loved one, we are often asked in the discovery part of the litigation process by opposing parties and their attorneys to have our clients disclose… Read More »
ANNOUNCING BEN MELNICK AS NEWEST PARTNER
We are pleased to announce that, as of January 1, 2020, Ben Melnick has been made a partner. He joined the firm in 2018, and he has proven himself to be a stellar advocate for injured people. We are excited for the future Ben has to offer for the firm, and we are proud… Read More »
DISABILITY AS A NONECONOMIC DAMAGE ELEMENT IN WASHINGTON STATE
When a person is physically injured and seeking compensation, most folks think primarily about economic damages—or special damages that come with a monetary value already attached to them. Things there is a receipt or other documentation for, such as medical bills, wage loss, prescription costs, etc. Other forms of damages are commonly suffered when bodily injury occurs,… Read More »
COMMON MEDICAL BILLING ISSUES IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES
I frequently speak with people after an injury, and they tell me they are going to get medical treatment, and that “the other side is going to cover it.” Although that is the way we hope our clients’ cases work, the reality is that, with rare exceptions, injured persons bear the up-front cost of… Read More »
ON USING YOUR TURN SIGNAL
To close out 2019, Washington’s Supreme Court weighed in on a topic some might consider trivial, but which impacts something many of us do dozens of times each day: using our turn signals while driving. This appellate case stemmed from a 2015 DUI arrest in Kennewick. While officers were following him, Brown pulled into… Read More »
ACCESS TO JUSTICE UPDATE – WASHINGTON STATE
In an article entitled “Justice Compromised: Immigration Arrests at Washington State Courthouses”, published by the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights on October 16, 2019, https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2019/10/16/ice-cbp-courthouse-arrests/, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ espoused justifications for targeting courthouses in rounding up undocumented immigrants are both recounted and challenged. The article suggests that ICE has… Read More »
CAN I AFFORD A LAWYER?
How much is this going to cost me? Do you offer free legal consultations? I don’t have any money for a retainer, will you still represent me? These are questions I am frequently asked during an initial consultation with a potential client. During these meetings those who come to meet with me are first… Read More »
ACCESS TO JUSTICE UPDATE – OREGON
There have been at least two significant developments in Oregon over the last year, endeavoring to enhance the opportunity for equal access to justice for immigrants, and actually for all persons who may have any business in Oregon courts (remember that courts cannot function effectively unless not only the parties to an action, but… Read More »
