$130M. That was the average damage award across the three mock jury panels we used to test liability and exposure for our client who was the defendant in a wrongful death case.

Generally speaking, there are two ways a case ends up in the Court of Appeals. First, when a superior court enters a final judgment or something like it, that decision is appealable as a matter of right under RAP 2.2.1 Second, under RAP 2.3, the Court of Appeals may accept discretionary review of any other decision that is not appealable as a matter of right.2

We’ve been very fortunate to be part of the dedicated free Neighborhood Legal Clinics volunteer pro bono legal team, provided by the King County Neighborhood Legal Clinics, for over two decades.

As we quickly approach the holiday season, we can’t believe how quickly our Neighborhood Legal Clinics 50th anniversary year has sped by. Here are some of the highlights:

The King County Bar Association hosted another Swearing-In Ceremony for those who passed the July Summer Bar Exam. More than 150 new attorneys were sworn-in by King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Ketu Shah at two ceremonies on October 9.

Yes, we have impressive fall foliage here in Washington. But everyone (from the North East) talks about how good the autumn leaves are in New England and New York’s Hudson Valley, upstate (or at least up river) from New York City (“the City”). So we decided to check it out. In the process, found a few places for you to try next time you head upstate in New York (and new England).
 

Practicing gratitude can enhance relationships and reduce stress, and rather than emphasizing competition and individualism, gratitude can remind us of the interdependence we share in our personal and professional lives. Listing even one or two things that I am grateful for every day helps me focus on the important things in life and sets a better tone for that day. I might be grateful for a great interaction with a client, a kind act from a family member, or a client’s smile at pro bono clinic. Opportunities for cultivating gratitude abound everywhere.

As we are in the midst of harvest season, and giving thanks for all that we have, I want to thank the Bar Association for being partners with the Court to improve accessibility to courts, for championing the rule of law, and for ensuring we work toward a more civil society.

The following are highlights from the KCBA Board of Trustees meeting held on September 18, convened by KCBA President Erin Overbey.

Workarounds can be effective in the construction world. Unfortunately, they do not work in a court of law, especially when it involves control of assets for companies operating under a receivership. Having just prevailed in two landmark cases that went all the way to the door of the Washington State Supreme Court, the intersection of contract law and receivership law in contractor pay disputes has been clarified.