Andy Cooley was appointed to sit on the Washington Pattern Jury Instruction Sub-Committee on Highway Design Jury Instructions. This committee is appointed by Judges to develop civil jury instructions for use in the superior courts of the State of Washington.
In 2010 Jeremy Culumber was selected by Washington Law & Politics Magazine as a “Rising Star” in the area of federal civil rights litigation.
Jeremy Culumber obtained a summary judgment dismissal of a federal lawsuit alleging wrongdoing against the Fife Police Department and its Chief of Police.
Shannon Ragonesi obtained a complete dismissal of a lawsuit against the City of Medina and five individual defendants, including the Chief of Police and the former City Manager, alleging wrongful termination from the police department and defamation. Shannon also won an award of $50,000 in damages on behalf of the individual defendants for their counterclaim against the plaintiff under the Washington Anti-SLAPP statute for witness immunity.
Shannon Ragonesi won a complete dismissal of a lawsuit against the City of Edmonds and the Edmonds Police Department alleging negligence resulting in wrongful death during a health and welfare check.
Shannon Ragonesi and the City of Fife were granted complete summary judgment dismissal of a federal lawsuit filed against the Fife Police Department alleging false arrest, excessive force and negligence when arresting a level III sex offender on outstanding warrants during a residence check.
Shannon Ragonesi was selected by Washington Law & Politics Magazine as a 2010 “Rising Star” in civil litigation. This was Shannon’s second selection as a “Rising Star” by her peers.
Adam Rosenberg was selected by Washington Law & Politics Magazine as a 2010 “Rising Star” in civil litigation.
Adam Rosenberg obtained summary judgment in a hotly contested police conduct case, in which the Mayor, Chief of Police, and three officers were named as defendants. In dismissing the lawsuit, Judge Coughenour expressly found that the plaintiff-bar owners were unlike any other bar-owners in the area, and therefore not subject to disparate treatment
Adam Rosenberg secured substantial sanctions award against a local developer after demonstrating that the voluminous federal lawsuit—which named three individuals, including the Mayor, as defendants—was brought for improper purposes. The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their case soon after.
Adam Rosenberg persuaded the federal court to strike sham declarations and dismiss a multimillion dollar permit-delay lawsuit against the City of Auburn
Steve Thorsrud and Mary Ann McConaughy successfully defended a complex police shooting case of which extended over a four-year period including a Ninth Circuit interlocutory appeal. Following a three week trial, jurors returned a 12-0 defense verdict after less than a half day of deliberation clearing the officer in question of claims he violated plaintiff’s civil rights. The employer city was also exonerated on claims of municipal civil rights liability.
Michael Walter and Jeremy Culumber recently won a summary judgment dismissing a hotly contested land use lawsuit on behalf of the City of Bainbridge Island. The case was brought by owners of two waterfront properties that had their existing vehicular access blocked due to a series of landslides. The property owners sought millions of dollars in damages and compensation under theories of negligence, nuisance, trespass and Takings in violation of the State and Federal Constitutions. The case raised a number of unique theories of liability, and hotly contested facts and interpretations of law. The summary judgment was granted by Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jay Roof in August, 2007, and survived a motion for reconsideration by the Plaintiff property owners. The Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of the case, and the appeal is pending in Div. II of the State Court of Appeals. Fame Developers and Hulett v. City of Bainbridge Island, cause no. 05-2-01001-2.
Michael Walter was successful in having a land use damages case against the City of Bainbridge Island and an individually named City employee dismissed by the Plaintiffs after advising the Plaintiffs’ and their attorneys that a motion for summary judgment and a motion for sanctions were going to be filed if the case was not promptly dismissed. The damages case involved claims of State and Federal Constitutional violations, State statutory violations, and Federal civil rights claims based on code enforcement actions that the City took regarding allegedly unpermitted dock construction and other waterfront activities. A separate land use petition act case is proceeding in Kitsap County Superior Court. Morgan v. City of Bainbridge Island, U.S.D.C. cause no. 07-05663 BHS.
Mike Walter was nominated a “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics Magazine in 2009.
Mike Walter has been nominated again, in 2010, as a “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics Magazine.
Stew Estes:
• January 28, 2010, “Pre Trial Practice,” Office of the Attorney General
• December 2009, “Tort Law Update,” Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Shannon Ragonesi:
• Spring 2010, “Liability for Third Party Misconduct,” Puget Sound Claim Managers Council.
• Fall 2009, “Liability Issues in Law Enforcement Employment,” FBI National Academy.
Mike Walter:
• Will be presenting at a Continuing Legal Education seminar hosted by the University of Washington School of Law entitled “Land Use 2010: Earth, Wind & Fire (and Water).” The land use CLE takes place on January 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle. The CLE is accredited for 6.75 CLE credits, which includes 1.0 ethics credit. Mr. Walter will be speaking on land use litigation and damages from the defense perspective.
• Will be presenting a training seminar hosted by Washington Cities Insurance Authority (“WCIA”) entitled “Managing the Permit Counter Process,” on Wednesday, February 3 at 9:00 a.m. in the City of Snoqualmie, Washington. This is a regional training session sponsored by WCIA for member cities and, with permission, other government entities. For more information, contact Ms. Patty Crane at WCIA: (206) 575-6046.
• Will be presenting a training seminar hosted by Washington Cities Insurance Authority (“WCIA”) entitled “Managing the Permit Counter Process,” on Wednesday, February 17 at 9:00 a.m. in the City of Federal Way, Washington. This is a regional training session sponsored by WCIA for member cities and, with permission, other government entities. For more information, contact Ms. Patty Crane at WCIA: (206) 575-6046.
• Will be presenting a training seminar hosted by Washington Cities Insurance Authority (“WCIA”) entitled “Managing the Permit Counter Process,” on Wednesday, March 17, at 9:00 a.m. in the City of Longview, Washington. This is a regional training session sponsored by WCIA for member cities and, with permission, other government entities. For more information, contact Ms. Patty Crane at WCIA: (206) 575-6046.
• Will be presenting a training seminar hosted by Washington Cities Insurance Authority (“WCIA”) entitled “Managing the Permit Counter Process,” on Wednesday, April 7, at 9:00 a.m. in the City of Richland, Washington. This is a regional training session sponsored by WCIA for member cities and, with permission, other government entities. For more information, contact Ms. Patty Crane at WCIA: (206) 575-6046.
Cooley, Andrew and Steven Thorsrud, “Police Pursuits: the rest of the story”, Guest Editorial, The Seattle Times, September 21, 2006
Cooley, Andrew, and Brock Gavery. "Police Pursuits and High Speed Driving Lawsuits: Lessons Learned From Actual Litigation." The Police Chief (International Association of Chiefs of Police) October, 2006: 26 - 35.
