KITSAP COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
ELECT
Qualifications
BA from Wichita State University 1979; JD from the University of Kansas in 1984. Before college I had various jobs in manufacturing, retail, and farming. I worked to support myself through school and completed my undergraduate and law degrees in less time than the average student. I was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1984. After I passed the bar, I went to work for a small downtown Seattle law firm which emphasized probate, civil litigation, dissolution, family law, and criminal defense cases. I wanted to work for a small law firm to be actively involved in court trying my own cases. Two years later I formed a small law partnership. My practice remained essentially the same but with the addition of bankruptcy and real property practice. In 1996 I dissolved the partnership and continued my law career as a solo practitioner dealing mainly in civil litigation.
I have spent over 26 years representing a large number of individuals and companies in assorted legal matters throughout the Washington Court system. The majority of my experience has been in the Superior Courts, but I have tried or handled cases in local District Courts as well as Federal Courts. Each case has been different and so have the challenges. I have extensive arbitration experience. I believe I have been selected as an arbitrator in well over 40 cases. It is my belief that I am selected with such frequency because the lawyers who make those selections know that they will have a fair and reasoned decision. As an arbitrator I insist upon keeping the matters before me to the legal and factual issues. I do not like, nor tolerate, wasteful or bad faith litigation tactics. I will bring knowledge of the law and the strength of character to maintain firm control of the courtroom necessary to avoid lengthy and costly trials.