In memoriam: John Patrick Cook, 1934-2001

John Patrick Cook died November 22, 2001, Thanksgiving Day, after a brave struggle with cancer. At the time of his passing he was surrounded by family and loved ones. He was 67.

From 1972 until his death, Pat was a mainstay of Lee Smart, P.S., Inc. When Tom Lee and Fred Smart retired in 1984, Pat became the firm’s senior shareholder. In 2000, he became of counsel to the firm.

A renowned Seattle trial lawyer, Pat was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, and the Phi Delta Phi law fraternity. In March 2001, the American Board of Trial Advocates bestowed on Pat its Lifetime Achievement Award. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Pat was born on a homestead in Wolf Point, Montana – a fact he never failed to mention to juries. He moved with his family to Seattle at age 6. He attended Seattle Preparatory School and the University of Washington and earned his law degree in 1958. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1956. Pat continued to serve his country in the Army Reserves and retired as a full Colonel.

Pat began his law career as a sole practitioner, in a one-room office where he practiced law with a manual typewriter and no secretary. He later co-founded the law firm of Cook & Dunlap. In 1973, Pat and his partner Dick Dunlap merged their firm with the Lee Smart firm. Lee Smart became Lee, Smart, Cook, Dunlap & Biehl, and later Lee Smart, P.S., Inc.

Over his long career, Pat tried more cases than he could remember. They ranged from the simplest rear-ender to the most complex medical-malpractice or product-liability case. He appeared before state and federal appellate courts in several dozen cases. His name appears as counsel of record in many major Washington appellate decisions.

Pat usually defended civil litigation, but he also represented plaintiffs. Over his long career, he earned a well-deserved reputation for fairness and honesty. He also collected close friendships with prominent lawyers who were his adversaries in the courtroom.

Pat is survived by Dorothy, his best friend and wife of 45 years. Pat also is survived by five grown children, one brother, and 12 grandchildren.

A December 2000 profile of Pat in the King County Bar Bulletin aptly noted, "Pat Cook is the trial lawyer we should all become."