Kimberly J. Waldbaum
Senior Associate
Kim has been with Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, Inc., P.S., since 2001, after working as a law clerk at the firm while still in law school. Her practice includes assisting public entities in responding to Public Records Act requests, as well as handling land use matters, civil rights litigation, and personal injury defense. Kim has defended governmental entities in a number of cases that have gone to trial, including earning a complete defense verdict, along with Andy Cooley and Stew Estes, in what is believed to be the largest civil rights class action case to go to verdict is U.S. history. Over 160 plaintiffs sought damages of over $30 million, plus punitive damages, and compensatory damages for the hundreds of class members as well. The jury rejected all claims.
Representative Cases
- Successfully defended the City of Edmonds on tort claims in a construction contract case
- Successfully defended the City of Bellevue with Andy Cooley in a jury trial in a police excessive force case
- Successfully defended the City of Auburn in a landslide matter
- Successfully defended the City of Oak Harbor in land use matter
- Successfully defended the City of Auburn in breach of contract case
- Successfully defended the City of Bothell in two Growth Management Hearings Board matters
- Successfully defended the City of Kent in a breach of contract case
- Successfully defended the Town of LaConner in a land use matter before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which included one of the largest attorney fee awards ever in the Ninth Circuit in favor of our client
- Successfully defended the Washington State Youth Soccer Association in an appeal to Division I Court of Appeals in a breach of contract matter
- Successfully defended the City of Kent in a $50 million civil rights lawsuit
- Successfully defended the City of Lake Forest Park in an appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in a false arrest and malicious prosecution case
Presentations
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, Current Issues in Risk Management for Government Entities, December 13, 2012, spoke as to Public Records Act case law trends/how government agencies can avoid PRA violations.
Education, Recognition, and Honors
Education:
Kim graduated with a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in International Relations. She received her law degree from Seattle University in 2001, graduating cum laude. In law school, Kim was the Research & Technical Editor of the Seattle University Law Review.
Professional and Community Activities
Outside of work, Kim is a mom of three, and serves as a Vice President on the board of the Stroum Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattle.