The Puget Sound Business Journal announced on August 27, 2010 that Preg O'Donnell & Gillett is one of the Top 50 Law Firms in Western Washington. This success is the result of the firm's core values of Service, Passion, and, Excellence as well as the legal talent and resources of the firm. In the last year the firm has solidified its presence and reputation in the Washington and Oregon legal community. The firm has also broadened its practice by adding talent and experience in school law and a broadening of legal, accounting, and, professional services liability defense. Preg O'Donnell & Gillett is grateful to its clients for the opportunity to provide legal services and is committed to providing service and excellence to its private clients, insurers, and, insureds in the full spectrum of a civil defense litigation practice.

John Butler will be presenting at the National Business Institute’s Seminar, “Construction Defect Litigation: From A To Z.” The Seminar will be held at the Washington State Convention Center on November 19, 2010, and begins at 8:30 a.m. John will be presenting the first segment of the Seminar, entitled Anatomy of a Defect: What It Is and the Rules That Apply. For more information, contact John via email at jbutler@pregodonnell.com, or call 206-287-1775.

Preg O'Donnell and Gillett is pleased to announce that Steffanie M. Moxon has joined the firm as an Associate. Steffanie graduated cum laude from Seattle University Law School in 2010. Steffanie was a King County Bar Foundation Scholar from 2007-2009 and was a judicial extern for Judge James Cayce at the King County Superior Court in 2010.

Rachel Tallon Reynolds of Preg O’Donnell & Gillett obtained a dismissal for the client, a commercial shopping center in Bellevue, Washington. The case was heard in King County. The plaintiff claimed damages resulting from negligent maintenance of the property. The judge dismissed the case at the close of plaintiff’s case.

Preg O'Donnell & Gillett is pleased to announce that Earl Sutherland will begin as "of counsel" to the firm on August 1, 2010.  Please see his attached biography

http://www.pregodonnell.com/attorneys/seattle/earl-sutherland/

Preg O'Donnell & Gillett is pleased to announce that Krista S. Mirhoseini has joined the firm as a new associate.  Please see her attached biography http://www.pregodonnell.com/attorneys/seattle/krista-s-mirhoseini-2/

Last month, Rachel Reynolds, Associate at Preg O’Donnell & Gillett, was appointed by the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Young Lawyers Committee as the State and Local Defense Organization Representative for Washington State.  DRI is the international organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation.

Excerpts of Rachel Tallon Reynolds' article, The Robin Hood Taking and the Court of Standards, have been selected for inclusion in Fundamentals of Modern Property Law, 6th ed. (Foundation Press, forthcoming 2011) authored by Edward H. Rabin, Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, Jeffrey L. Kwall, and Craig Anthony Arnold.

After a 6 day trial in Federal District Court (Tacoma), an 8-person jury returned a defense verdict for partner Lori O'Tool. Lori was defending a high end window manufacturer against UCC-based warranty claims brought by a general contractor concerning 7 vacation homes built on the Washington coast. The general contractor asserted a 6-figure claim associated with repairs and consequential damages from alleged leaking windows. The window manufacturer testified that through its sales and service technicians it had fully addressed all of the general contractor's warranty claims. Additionally, its expert testified that the windows and surrounding building envelope components were not installed correctly and were the source of any leaks into the vacation homes. After deliberating for approximately 1/2 a day, the jury answered "No" to the question of whether the window manufacturer had breached its warranty to the general contractor and did not award any damages to the general contractor.

David Antal of Preg O’Donnell & Gillett obtained a directed verdict for the client, a restaurant and bar in Fife. The case was tried in April in Pierce County. The plaintiff claimed that management had over-served another customer who later assaulted her. Via an earlier filed summary judgment, the liquor liability claim was dismissed and the case proceeded to trial on a negligent supervision theory. The plaintiff had no evidence that the assailant had a history of assaultive conduct that was known to the defendant. Nor could she show that the client's establishment was prone to assaultive behavior. Under cross examination, the plaintiff repeatedly contradicted her direct testimony and ultimately admitted that her then boyfriend initiated the confrontation with the customer who then assaulted her when she attempted to stop the assailant as he was leaving the client's premises. The trial judge dismissed the case and directed a verdict in favor of the defendant at the close of plaintiff’s case.