When serious doubts arise regarding a party’s competency, the appointment of a guardian ad litem may be a necessary means of protecting their interests.  This article discusses the nuances of competency and GAL appointments in family law settings. 

November prompts reflection on both personal and professional gratitude, marking the onset of the festive season. It’s a period of celebrating achievements, reconnecting with friends and family, cherishing the past year’s milestones, and eagerly anticipating future accomplishments in the coming year.

When I chose Seattle as my home more than 23 years ago I did so for many reasons. Among others, the city reminded me of San Francisco where my dream to become an attorney was formed. When I arrived here the hills and older neighborhoods felt like home. I had no idea then the history of this beautifully diverse city: of Profanity Hill, of the expulsion of the Duwamish, the violence and attempted expulsion of Chinese laborers, or of the King County Bar Association.

Next year, 40 years will have passed since Sal Mungia first started practicing law. Almost four decades later, he still loves being a lawyer. He still loves his firm, Gordon Thomas Honeywell. He still loves the competition and the collaboration that comes with building and maintaining a wildly successful practice. And he still loves the idea that another chapter in his career is yet to be written, because in the fall of 2024, Sal will run for Justice Susan Owens’s seat on the Washington State Supreme Court.

DeSean v. Sanger, No. 101330-2 (Oct. 5, 2023). At issue: whether a reasonable belief in capacity to consent is a viable affirmative defense to a sexual assault protection order. Washington’s Supreme Court held no such defense exists.

While traveling out of state to visit a friend, Petitioner met Respondent, her friend’s roommate. During her visit, the three drank “heavily” one evening.¹ Petitioner’s third adult beverage contained tequila and vodka; as she consumed it, Respondent chanted, “chug, chug, chug.”² Respondent also observed, “you’re going to feel that.”³ Petitioner became noticeably intoxicated, the manifestations of which included throwing up and an inability to speak coherently.

Many successful leaders share a similar trait: perseverance in the face of adversity.  This month, we invite you to find wisdom and inspiration in Mr. Lawrence’s thoughtful article.

A single family office is a private company formed to provide a cost-effective approach to servicing a family’s wealth and long-term planning goals. A family office can assist with complex wealth, investment, transactional, and trust structuring matters, and also provide centralized management for a family’s financial and personal needs.

KCBA Pro Bono Services is celebrating its newest program finishing up a year of providing legal services to kinship caregivers. Legal Advice and Referral for Kinship Care (LAARK) is a new statewide program funded by the state of Washington and housed within the King County Bar Association.

Mediation of civil litigation matters is often approached as a transaction. For example, I will pay you “X” dollars in exchange for dismissing your lawsuit against me.

For 40 straight minutes, Mari, Heather, and Jonathan were the loudest voices in the mock jury deliberation room. From the start, they dominated the discussion and were confident in what they had to say.