Reed McClure has been named in the 2017 edition of "Best Law Firms," a U.S. News-Best Lawyers publication, for Appellate Practice, Insurance Law, and Construction Litigation.

Reed McClure presented its Fourteenth Insurance Law Seminar at the Cedarbrook Lodge on October 6, 2016.  The seminar featured lively, informative presentations on a wide range of insurance topics.

Bill Hickman has been listed in the 23rd Edition of Best Lawyers in America.  He was selected by his peers for Appellate Practice.

In July, 2016, Mike Rogers won a federal court trial involving underinsured motorist benefits.  The insured was hit by a car while riding a bicycle.  The jury concluded the claim exceeded the policy limit, but the insured breached her duty to cooperate in the insurer's investigation.  The jury found Mike's client did not commit bad faith, breach the contract, or violate the Consumer Protection Act or Insurance Fair Conduct Act.

We are very proud to announce that Bill Hickman, Jack Rankin, Pam Okano, & Marilee Erickson have all been included in Thomson Reuters’ 2016 Washington Super Lawyers list and that Jason Vacha was named to Thomson Reuters’ 2016 Rising Star list.

On June 2, 2016, Jason Vacha presented and taught two sections at the annual “Mastering the Deposition” program in Seattle, presenting on the handling of exhibits during discovery depositions and on objections and preserving the record during depositions.  The program was put on by Pincus Professional Education.

Two Reed McClure attorneys participated in the 2016 Annual Insurance Law Update seminar sponsored by WDTL.  Jason Vacha, Chair of WDTL Insurance Section, chaired the seminar.  Marilee Erickson provided an update on Washington's Insurance Fair Conduct Act.  The seminar took place on April 29, 2016.

On April 15, Mike Rogers won summary judgment on behalf of an insurer.  The federal court ruled that our client had no duty to defend an insured who allegedly engaged in a campaign of defamation to publicly embarrass, humiliate, and destroy a woman she believed had a romantic relationship with her husband.

Pam Okano successfully handled a federal court collapse coverage appeal. The insured claimed its condominium had suffered “collapse” no later than 1998, the last time the carrier was on the risk. There was no indication that the buildings or any part of them had tipped, leaned, dropped, or sagged at that time or since. Nevertheless, the insured’s engineering expert claimed there had been substantial impairment of structural integrity, on the ground that the buildings’ lateral force (wind, earthquake) resisting components had been severely damaged. Although the Washington Supreme Court adopted the “substantial impairment of structural integrity standard” for collapse, that court further specified that the building or part of a building must be unfit for its function or unsafe, i.e., that there must be an impairment so severe as to materially impair a building’s ability to remain upright.

In an unpublished decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to accept that all an insured need do to recover on a collapse claim is have an expert say there was “substantial impairment of structural integrity.” It affirmed summary judgment for the insurer, saying that no reasonable jury could find that the condominium or parts thereof had “collapsed” over 17 years ago, given that the buildings remained standing years later. The court said it was simply implausible that some walls of the condominiums could have become “unfit for [their] function or unsafe” during or before 1998.

Queen Anne Park HOA v. State Farm, 633 Fed. Appx. 415 (9th Cir. Feb. 3, 2016).  (Memorandum Decision)

Division III of the Court of Appeals issued a published opinion holding that a contractor working at defendants’ house is not a “then resident therein” for purposes of substitute service of process.  Marilee Erickson successfully represented the defendants on appeal.  (Published Opinion)

In July, 2015, Mike Rogers tried an insurance coverage case in which the policyholder contended a landslide on his property was caused by an earthquake that occurred four days earlier. The court ruled that the earthquake did not cause the slide, and therefore an earthquake endorsement did not apply.

Congratulations to Pam Okano, Jack Rankin, and Bill Hickman. Each made the list of 2016 Best Lawyers for the Pacific Northwest. Pam was named for Appellate Practice and Insurance Law. Jack was named for Construction Practice and Insurance Law. Bill was named for Appellate Practice.

Congratulations to Bill Hickman.  Bill has been listed in the 22nd Edition of Best Lawyers in America. He was selected by his peers for Appellate Practice.

On June 30, 2015, Marilee Erickson presented at the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance ("CLM") Educational Conference in Seattle.  Marilee participated in the "Institutional Bad Faith: Are You Insulated?" discussion.

Reed McClure is proud to announce that Bill Hickman, Jack Rankin, and Pam Okano were again named to Thomson Reuters' 2015 Washington Super Lawyers list and that Jason Vacha was named to Thomson Reuters' 2015 Rising Star list.

Pam Okano presented a Washington coverage update at the Puget Sound Claim Managers Council on May 13.

Pam Okano spoke at WDTL's Insurance Law Seminar in Seattle on April 24, 2015 and presented her annual Insurance Law Update.  Jason Vacha, Chair of the Insurance Practice Section of WDTL, chaired the seminar.

On April 24, 2015, Mike Rogers' client won summary judgment dismissing IFCA, bad faith, and Consumer Protection Act claims in a dispute over PIP coverage.  The court agreed that the claims should be dismissed both on the merits and based on statutes of limitations.

On April 13 2015, Mike Rogers' client won a summary judgment motion dismissing a lawsuit in Washington federal court.  The court rejected the plaintiff's attempt to bring a theft claim under a policy that had been cancelled.

Reed McClure presented its Thirteenth Insurance Law Seminar at the Cedarbrook Lodge on October 10, 2014.  The seminar featured lively, informative presentations on a wide range of insurance topics.

Congratulations to Pam Okano, Jack Rankin, and Bill Hickman.  Each made the list of 2015 Best Lawyers in Seattle.  Pam and Jack were named for Insurance Law.  Bill was named for Appellate Practice.

Jason Vacha recently spoke on handling documents and exhibits at depositions and deposition objections at the Pincus Professional Education CLE: "Depos: Mastering the Deposition: a Critical Skills Workshop."

Marilee Erickson recently spoke on Tips for Writing Memorable and Influential Appellate Briefs at the WSBA Litigation Section CLE--The Convincing Litigator: Persuasive Techniques to Influence Case Outcomes.

On June 26, Mike Rogers and Marilee Erickson spoke at a Northwest Insurance Coverage Association panel presentation on the recent Miller v. Kenney & Safeco decision, which addressed, among other things, the effect of covenant judgments on damages in bad faith claims.  Mike served as moderator and Marilee spoke as a member of the panel.

Reed McClure is proud to announce that Bill Hickman, Jack Rankin, Pam Okano, and Marilee Erickson were again named to Thomson Reuters' 2014 Washington Super Lawyers list and that Jason Vacha was named to Thomson Reuters' 2014 Rising Stars list.

On June 2, Division I of the Court of Appeals issued a published decision holding that State Farm owed no duty to defend a property owner who is voluntarily remediating a polluted gas station site. Mike Rogers represented State Farm. (Published Opinion) Bill Hickman presented an update on Washington insurance case law developments at the May 15, 2014, annual Education Day seminar held by the Northwest Chapter of the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals. Pam Okano and Mike Rogers spoke at WDTL's Insurance Law seminar in Seattle on May 2, 2014. Jason Vacha, Chair of the Insurance Practice Section of WDTL, chaired the seminar.  Pam presented her annual Insurance Law Update.  Mike discussed the Cedell case which limits the attorney-client privilege for insurance companies. Bill Hickman presented an update on Washington insurance case law developments at the February 6, 2014, Pacific Northwest Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter Society Chapter meeting. Best Lawyers has recognized Reed McClure's stellar appellate practice, selecting the firm as a 2014 "Best Law Firm" for appellate work. Jason Vacha successfully defended another automobile personal injury lawsuit in a jury trial in King County Superior Court in late October of 2013.  Mr. Vacha's client admitted liability at the outset and admitted damages of $6,899.  The jury was asked to determine additional damages.  Plaintiff asked for more than $230,000 in additional damages, while Mr. Vacha suggested an award of $3,000 additional.  The jury took Mr. Vacha's recommendation and awarded $3,000 in additional damages, beyond the agreed amount.  The matter was not appealed. On September 27, Mike Rogers spoke at the Northwest Insurance Coverage Association meeting concerning Cedell v. Farmers Insurance Company, which addressed whether an insurer may assert an attorney-client privilege in a bad faith suit. William Fuld and Caroline Ketchley spoke at the National Business Institute's Personal Injury 101 seminar on September 25, 2013. Pam Okano was recently named to the 2014 Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Coverage list.