Contact Ann E. Trivett

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Ann E. Trivett

Shareholder

Ann Trivett is a shareholder with Keating, Bucklin & McCormack.  She handles a variety of cases including civil rights defense, municipal liability defense, premises liability, road design, employment, professional liability defense, and catastrophic injury cases.  She is a hard-working, well-organized, and persuasive advocate, with excellent communication and writing skills and passion for her work. 

Ann has served as the first and second chair in numerous trials in both state and federal court and presented oral argument at the trial level and in both the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit.  She has significant experience with mock trial work, jury selection, and trial presentation strategies.  She is also a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (“FDCC”), a peer-selected organization dedicated to promoting knowledge, fellowship, and professionalism within the legal defense community.  She currently serves as the Seattle FDCC Ladder Down Liaison, the Chair of the FDCC Trial Tactics, Practice and Procedure Section, and a Vice Chair of the Civil Rights and Public Entity Liability Section.   

Ann lives in Edmonds with her husband, two daughters, and two Labrador retrievers.

   

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Representative Cases

  • Reno v. City of Yakima: Defended the City of Yakima in a federal court cases involving a claim of excessive force arising from a K-9 bite.
  • Justad, et al. v. Morrow Equipment Co., et al.: Defended Northwest Tower Crane Service, Inc. in consolidated wrongful death cases following the April 27, 2019, tower crane collapse.  Second chaired trial in King County Superior Court. 
  • Vandivere v. Vertical World, Inc. and C3 Manufacturing: Defended Vertical World, Inc. in premises liability lawsuit involving injuries related to a fall from an indoor climbing wall.  Case resolved via settlement. 
  • Rice v. City of Roy, et al.: Defended the City of Roy and individually named officer defendants in federal civil rights case.  First chaired trial in United Stated District Court Western District of Washington.
  • Fischer v. City of Yakima: Defended the City of Yakima in wrongful death action involving drunk driver and claims related to roadside vegetation.  Argued case at Court of Appeals related to proximate cause issues.  Case resolved via settlement.
  • Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County at al. v. City of Seattle: Defended City of Seattle in litigation related to police response to protest activity. 
  • Hunter v. City of Federal way, et al.: Defended the City of Federal Way and individually named officer defendants in federal civil rights case.  First chaired trial in United States District Court Western District of Washington. 
  • Schulte v. City of Seattle: Defended the City of Seattle in a state law wrongful death claim involving drunk driver on municipal court probation.  Case resolved via settlement.
  • Graham v. City of Federal way, et al.: Defended the City of Federal Way and individually named officer defendants in federal civil rights case.  First chaired trial in United States District Court Western District of Washington. 
  • Wingate v. City of Seattle, et al: Defended individually named officer in federal false arrest and racial discrimination case.  Second chaired trial in United States District Court Western District of Washington.
  • Bonivert v. City of Clarkston and Asotin County: Defended Asotin County in case involving unlawful entry claim and excessive force.  Argued case at Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Case resolved via settlement.
  • Micciche v. City of Federal way, et al.: Defended the City of Federal Way and individually named officer defendants in federal civil rights case.  Second chaired trial in United States District Court Western District of Washington. 
  • Defended attorney in state law malpractice lawsuit in King Couty Superior Court.  Second chaired case at trial.
  • Hernandez v. City of Vancouver: Defended the City of Vancouver in employment discrimination and hostile work environment lawsuit.  Third chaired trial in United States District Court Western District of Washington. 
  • Defended dentist in state law medical malpractice lawsuit in King County Superior Court.  Second chaired case at trial.

Ann represents cities, counties, and school districts, as well as individual law enforcement officer defendants across Washington state.  She has successfully obtained dismissal of numerous cases at the initial pleading stage, at summary judgment, and on appeal.  She has also worked as monitoring counsel for excess insurers at trial, and she represents health care providers in response to Department of Health complaints.  Her cases often involve complex factual and legal issues, requiring a sophisticated approach to obtaining case resolution. 

Presentations

  • “Posturing Your Case to Win on Appeal” – FDCC Panel Presentation 2024
  • “Trials and Tribulations from the Judicial Perspective” – DRI Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar 2024
  • “Federal and State Legal Update” – Claims Department Training 2023
  • “2022 Policing: Legislative & Qualified Immunity Update” – Claims Department Training 2022
  • Moderated Panel Presentation: Women Leaders in the Law - 2020
  • “Washington Law Updates” – Claims Department Training 2019
  • Social Media and its Impact on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases – FDCC Presentation 2019
  • “Introducing Evidence at Trial: Style, Approach, Purpose and Technique” – WSBA CLE 2018
  • “Washington Law Updates” – Claims Department Training 2017
  • “Municipal Liability in Civil Rights Cases” – FBI National Academy Association 2015 Annual Training
  • “K-9 Liability Issues” – Police Officer Training 2014
  • “K-9 Liability Issues” – Police Officer Training 2012

Education, Recognition, and Honors

  • B.A.: Sociology, Philosophy, and Criminology, Villanova University (cum laude) 2004 
  • J.D.: Seattle University School of Law (magna cum laude) 2007 
  • Washington Law & Politics Rising Star 2014, 2017-2022 
  • Washington Law & Politics Super Lawyer 2023
  • Recognized as a “Best Lawyer in America” in the areas of Civil Rights Law and Municipal Law

Professional and Community Activities

  • Washington State Bar Association, since 2007 
  • Oregon State Bar Association, since 2016 
  • Muckleshoot Tribal Bar, since 2018 
  • Federal Bar Association 
  • Defense Research Institute 
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers 
  • Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle (MAMAS)
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, since 2017 
  • MAMAS/FDCC Seattle Ladder Down Program

“Sure is fun to walk in to a courtroom with an attorney you know isn't likely to lose a case.”

Kent Police officer after shooting trial,