Experience
Product Liability
International Arbitration in Montreal
Represented helicopter engine manufacturer in Montreal arbitration. Obtained judgment for client on product defect claims and indemnity and insurance provisions of contract.
Jett8 v. Boeing
Represented aircraft manufacturer in 747 hull loss claim. Obtained dismissal of claims under Singapore economic loss rule.
Basile & Varosi v. Precision Airmotive LLC
State Court of Florida
Represented fuel control manufacturer in wrongful death case in Gainesville, FL. Obtained summary judgment under the General Aviation Revitalization Act.
Little v. Precision Airmotive LLC
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Represented fuel control manufacturer in wrongful death case in Los Angeles, CA.
Hansen v. General Motors Company
Arbitration in Seattle
Represented transmission manufacturer in claim of defective motor home and obtained judgment for client following trial.
Von Ditter v. Allison Transmission Inc.
Arbitration in Seattle
Represented transmission manufacturer in claim of defective motor home and obtained judgment for client following trial.
ERA Helicopters LLC v. Turbomeca
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Obtained dismissal of hull suit based on economic loss rule. Dismissal affirmed on appeal. 536 F.3d 351 (5th Cir. 2008).
British Airways Plc v. ASI, et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Summary judgment for manufacturer in Colorado; indemnity claim arising from product fire and wrongful death.
Cockrill & Voelker v. Various Defendants
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Represented aviation manufacturer in suit claiming kidney disease was caused by exposure to cadmium in aviation products. Obtained favorable settlement.
Imes and Ochandarena v. Cequent
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Obtained summary judgment for manufacturer in separate lawsuits claiming injury from winch.
Litigation
State of Alaska Right-of-Way Litigation
Represented lessor of large commercial property in challenge to State of Alaska’s attempt to impose fees for encroachment permit on State right-of-way. Obtained summary judgment in Superior Court holding imposition of fees unconstitutional. Obtained judgment for client following trial on the State’s denial of encroachment permit.
King County Special Deputy Prosecutor
Served as Special Deputy Prosecutor in King County and tried several felony cases to jury verdict.
Stack Ash Discharge Arbitration
Represented car manufacturer in arbitration involving damage to approximately 8,000 vehicles stored at port caused by acidic stack discharge from passing ship. Following trial, the arbitrator adopted client’s interpretation of liability terms of the contract but held that force majeure clause applied.
Kauffman v. Terex
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Represented company and employee in negligence action. Obtained defense verdict following jury trial.
Copple v. General Motors Company
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Represented car manufacturer in breach of warranty trial. Obtained unanimous defense verdict following jury trial.
Walston v. Boeing
Obtained an important decision from the Washington Supreme Court on workers’ compensation immunity. The plaintiff claimed that his former employer deliberately intended to injure him through exposure to asbestos. The Supreme Court held that Washington’s workers’ compensation exclusivity rule barred the claims because exposure to asbestos was not certain to cause injury to any employee. The decision is reported at 334 P.3d 519 (Wash. 2014).
Appellate
Stiner v. Amazon.com, Inc.
Ohio Supreme Court
Argued and obtained a 7-0 ruling on behalf of Amazon.com, Inc. regarding the cutting-edge issue of liability for third-party sellers on websites.
Amazon.com, Inc., Appellant, v. Morgan McMillan, Individually and as Next Friend of E.G., a Minor, Appellee
Texas Supreme Court
Obtained favorable ruling for Amazon.com, Inc. in a matter involving the third-party seller issue. The Texas Supreme Court issued a 5-2 ruling, holding that Amazon is not liable as a seller of products sold by a third party.
Corbitt v. Experimental Aircraft Association
State Court of Appeals of Washington
Appellate counsel for one of two defendants who had $10.5 million joint and several judgment entered against them in lawsuit arising from airplane crash at Arlington air show. Briefed and argued the appeal and obtained judgment as matter of law for client. 2008 Westlaw 4542871 (October 13, 2008).
Crow v. Boeing
State Court of Appeals of Washington
Represented Boeing in claim of workplace injury. Obtained summary judgment under Washington’s workers’ compensation exclusivity statute. Briefed and argued the appeal and judgment for Boeing was affirmed. 118 P.3d 894 (August 1, 2005).
Bennett v. Southwest Airlines Company
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Represented Boeing in Seventh Circuit appeal on issue of federal jurisdiction over claims arising from runway overrun. 484 F.3d 907 (7th Cir 2007)
Blanton v. Precision Airmotive LLC
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Briefed new trial motion and appeal following adverse verdict in Pennsylvania state court. The case settled for substantially less than the verdict amount before argument.
Schine v. Precision Airmotive LLC
Court of Appeals of California
Briefed appeal following defense verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court. The court of appeals affirmed the defense verdict.
CPSC
Represented manufacturers, importers, and sellers in CPSC proceedings and recalls.