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Phone:
206.621.3474 Toll Free:
877.624.7990 Fax:
206.624.5944 Eml:
jw@leesmart.com
Joel E. Wright is a 1974 graduate of the Ohio State
University. He was awarded his J.D. magna cum laude from the
Gonzaga University Law School in 1978. Mr. Wright has been
in the practice of law for over 25 years as a litigator. He
is an "AV" rated lawyer from Martindale Hubbell
and listed in Best Lawyers in America.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, Washington
State Bar Association, Washington Defense Counsel Association
and the Defense Research Institute.
Mr. Wright’s practice is the defense of professional
liability tort claims with emphasis in the areas of legal
malpractice, medical malpractice and the defense of other
professionals, accountants, real estate agents. Mr. Wright
also handles director and officer liability claims and suits
stemming from wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, libel,
slander and defamation claims.
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Representative Cases
- DGHI Enterprises
v. Pacific Cities, Inc. - Trial – Defense of
realtor arising out of claims of fraud and usurping corporate
opportunities. Directed verdict and award of $125,000 in
legal fees for our client. [91 Wn. App. 109] reversed [137
Wn.2d 933 (1999)]
- Edgar v. City
of Tacoma – Wrongful death involving Cushman
Dam electrocution. Case involving employer and general contractor
liability and alleged immunity from suit under Title 51.
This case clarified the allocation of fault to an immune
party issue in the State of Washington. The right to jury
trial includes the right to have a jury determine the allocation
of fault to all non-immune entities. A jury is not permitted
to allocate fault to the plaintiff’s employer. Supreme
Court decision interpreting the Tort Reform Act. [129 Wn.2d
621 (1996)]
- Ingersoll v.
Tacoma Mall – Defense of mall operator arising
out of premises liability claims. Re-established the notice
requirement for premises claims in the State of Washington.
[123 Wn.2d 649 (1994)]
- Kauzlarich v.
Yarbrough – Defense of lawyer sued by non-clients
for defamation and slander. Dismissed on summary judgment.
[105 Wn. App. 632]
- Knott v. RSR
Liberty Guns – Defense of gun distributor;
successfully defeated application of Saturday Night Special
law. [50 Wn. App. 267, 748 P.2d 661 (1988)]
- Harrington v.
Pailthorp – Defense of lawyer in malpractice
suit arising out of claim by non-client. [67 Wn. App. 901
(1992)]
- McKasson v.
Dodd, Coney – Defense of lawyers sued by thirty
named plaintiffs in malpractice suit arising out of alleged
securities violations. [55 Wn. App. 18, 776 P.2d 971 (1989)]
- Mirotznick v.
Sensney, Davis – Legal malpractice defense
for alleged misrepresentations in public bond offerings
arising out of WPPSS default. Represented multiple city
lawyers who allegedly made misrepresentations. [658 F. Supp.
92 (1986)]
- King v. Swedish
Hospital – Defense of cardiothoracic surgeons
claimed for anti-trust activity, defamation and slander.
Dismissal of Sherman Act antitrust claims.
- Smith v. Simonarson
– Defense of lawyer regarding alleged failure
to record judgment following automatic stay of proceedings
after judgment. [56 Wn. App. 157, 84 P.2d 552 (1990)]
- Filler v. Hallett
– Defense of tax lawyer dismissed on summary
judgment. Alleged failure to assert installment sales treatment
for real estate transaction. $1 million damages claimed.
Affirmed on appeal. (unpublished)
- Walstad v. Lindsey
– Defense of whistle blowing director and former president
from slander, liable defamation claims involving majority
shareholder. The liable/slander claims were dismissed on
summary judgment. Multi-million dollar allegations of damage.
- Westbrook v.
Cascade West Forest Products – Defense of lawyer
arising from closely held corporation and escrow. Case dismissed
on summary judgment upheld on appeal, in an unpublished
opinion.
- Kinder v. Sisters
of Providence – Defense of hospital against
claims of antitrust and monopolization of paramedic ambulance
services in Lewis County. Dismissed by summary judgment.
- Baker v. Kruse
- Trial – Successful defense of domestic relations
lawyer sued for improper handling of divorce, including
emotion distress claims and alienation of children.
- Hallet v. Battery
Power Systems – Defense of employment discrimination
claims for retaliation fining. Dismissed on summary judgment.
- Travel Concepts
v. Ultimate Travel – Defense of trademark and
copyright claims.
- Berry v. Fleury
– Defense of lawyer sued for negligence in
handling of dissolution matter. Claims relating to alienation
of children, loss of visitation, emotional distress &
CPA claim dismissed on summary judgment. Unpublished opinion.
- Cedik v. Home
Realty - Trial – Defense of realtor accused
of fraud, misrepresentation and negligence. Claimed $400,000
damage. Directed judgment and award of all legal costs.
- Fodor v. Jeffers
Danielson, et al.- Defense of law firm in suit by
client relating to denial of coverage by insurer for damage
caused by fire intentionally started by claimant’s
husband. Motion for summary judgment granted.
- Morris v. Clearwater
Properties – Defense of real estate agent accused
of fraud and misrepresentations relating to diversion of
a water stream. Motion for summary judgment granted and
awarded $11,000 in legal fees to our client.
- King Western
v. Gentium Realty – Defense of real estate
agent and brokers accused of fraud and misrepresentation.
Alleged malpractice relating to disclosure of tenant improvements
during the purchase by realtor’s client of the National
Building in Seattle for $9.5 million. Case was successfully
settled with contribution from the purchaser’s lawyer.
- Ekstrom v. Gallagher
– Arbitration resulting in a defense award. Defense
of real estate agent accused of the unauthorized practice
of law and drafting preclosing lease agreements. The court
granted summary judgment on the claims of fraud and negligent
misrepresentation leaving the issue of unauthorized practice
of law for the arbitration.
- Stanley v. Donald
B. Murphy Contractor - Trial – Defense of contractor
in highway construction accident case; $750,000 demand;
defense verdict.
- Iachetta v.
Westours, Inc. - Trial – Defense of river rafting
company as a result of rafting accident. $500,000 demand;
settled during second week of trial for $25,000.
- Harmer v. DeBartolo
Corporation - Trial – Defense of premises liability
claim; directed verdict.
- Smith v. Bronco
Construction - Defense of contractor; suit by minor
for injuries sustained on bicycle; defense verdict.
- Stokes v. Stanley
Smith – Defense of security company accused
of wrongful discharge and sexual harassment.
- Baker v. Kruse
- Trial – Defense of legal malpractice claim arising
out of dissolution proceeding; judgment for defense.
- Fischer v. Tobiska
– Defense of lawyer arising out of alleged failure
to properly prepare lease option agreement relating to purchase
of sod farm, adverse judgment. Judgment $250,000.
- Corp v. Kinnear
- Trial – Defense of lawyer for failure to
file Robinson Patmon Act claims and franchising claims against
ARCO. Damages claimed $3 million. After multiple motions
of summary judgment, the case was dismissed. Affirmed on
appeal, unpublished opinion.
- Hagga v. Klein
– Trial for sexual improprieties arising from lawyer’s
representation of divorced client. Settled after trial started
for nuisance value.
- Martin v. Clayton
– Successful mediation of legal malpractice claim.
Lawyer alleged failure to adequately secure multiple purchase
and sales contracts for apple packing company resulted in
a $14 million adverse verdict against client. Amount confidential.
- Grandchamp v.
Kastel – Defense of lawyer for claims arising
from fraud and negligence. Dismissed by summary judgment.
Unpublished appellate decision upheld CR-11 sanctions against
the plaintiff’s lawyer.
- Hasson v. Baker
– Trial. Defense of lawyer arising out of claims
of alleged impropriety in settling the client’s case
without permission. Judgment in favor of the lawyer on counterclaim
for fees.
- Seattle First
National Bank v. Aetna – Successful defense
of Aetna, Continental, and Chubb Insurance companies on
bond claim arising from bank’s wrongful negotiation
of fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks. Claimed loss in excess
of $10 million.
- Barrett v. Alexiou
– Defense of legal malpractice claim for alleged negligence
in representation of defendant in a suit for legal fees.
Motion for summary judgment granted.
- Skywood v. Slothower
– Defense of lawyer in claims arising from
closing of business sales transaction. Motion for summary
judgment granted.
- Meek v. Executive
Real Estate – Defense of real estate agent
accused of failing to notify condominium owners of the amount
of an increase in maintenance fees. Motion for summary judgment
granted.
- Pritchett v.
Whitaker – Defense of lawyer sued for handling
representation of husband in dissolution proceedings involving
alleged meretricious relationship. Dismissed on summary
judgment.
- Christensen v. Walker – Defense of who acted as an intermediary in a dissolution. Summary judgment was granted and then reversed by the Court of Appeals under cause no. 29234-3-11. Case is pending a motion for reconsideration in the Court of Appeals.
- Mullen & Campbell v. Zylstra – Defense of a lawyer who defended Dr. Zylstra in a medical malpractice case. The verdict reached was in excess of the doctor's policy limits. The doctor assigned his bad faith claim and malpractice claims to Mullen. This case has been dismissed on Summary Judgment.
- Goldberg v. Preszler, __ Wn. App. __ (2006) was a suit by a separate property estate that was required to repay money to the community estate that the deceased had wrongfully diverted to his separate property accounts. The court found that the separate property estate could not suffer damages by being required to repay money it had no right to in the first place. The accountant, who had advised the deceased over the matter some thirty years before, could not be liable, because the estate had no loss. The court also denied attorney fees of a half million dollars, because the decision to defend was made with knowledge of all the relevant facts.
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Toxic Tort
Regional counsel
for formaldehyde litigation involving multiple class actions.
Counsel for Washington Natural Gas and Sears, Roebuck &
Co. in formaldehyde litigation. Lead counsel in over 125 lawsuits
and seven jury trials. Regional counsel for Beadex Manufacturing
Company - defense of asbestos related claims. Hill Brothers
Chemical Company - defense of asbestos related claims.
Other trial and legal experience available upon request.
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