Cases Litigated by the Law Offices of Michael Withey

Seattle injury attorney Mike Withey has experience and expertise in a full range of legal cases

Auto Accidents - Representation of people and their families injured in an automobile or other accident.

Public Interest - Cases involving human rights and government liability that impact the public.

Toxic Torts - Personal injury or property damage caused by chemical exposure or pollution.

Product Liability - Represent people injured by defective or dangerous products.

As a Seattle injury lawyer, Mike has a record of success in the courtroom and through mediation. Here are the highlights from some of his major cases and the results he's obtained for clients.

Kime v. City of Seattle

One of the worst decisions the City of Seattle ever made was to allow Pioneer Square to erupt into riots during Mardi Gras 2001. Kristopher Kime was bending over to help a young woman who had been beaten and knocked to the ground when he was violently attacked. His friends ran to the perimeter of the riot zone and begged police to help. They were told that the officers had been instructed not to render assistance. Kris was lifted off the street and carried to the police by friends and off-duty firefighters. But it was too late. He died of massive brain injuries. Mediation resulted in a significant sum of money paid to Kris's parents, but also: creation of a scholarship for the outstanding compassionate young person of the year; erection of a memorial plaque at the pergola in Pioneer Square; a meeting with the police chief; and invitation to attend public safety meetings. Kris' divorced parents worked closely and in complete agreement to make sure that justice was done. They donated his organs to save the lives of others and they remain involved in many community service efforts.

Jeffrey Cole v. Atlas Air

While researching an article for the Wall Street Journal, Seattle-based aviation reporter Jeffrey Cole accepted an invitation to ride in a two-seat Czechoslavakian military jet in Colorado. Shortly after takeoff the plane crashed and Jeffrey and the pilot were killed. Maria Cole, Jeffrey's wife, says she appreciated the thorough legal work and strategies of Mike and his partners - and their compassion for her situation.

Domingo/Viernes v. Marcos

Mike's legal work crossed international lines when he won a groundbreaking jury verdict against former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda in the murder of two anti-Marcos union activists in Seattle. At the time of the decision in 1989, this was the largest verdict ever in a personal injury suit in Washington state.

Lummi Nation v. Engineering Firm

Mike represented the Lummi Indian Nation in a lawsuit against an engineering firm that had uncovered human skeleton's in a construction site. The crew had found human remains at a known burial ground for the tribe but had not alerted the tribe and the government, as required. After Mike became involved in the case, he was able to negotiate a settlement that ensured that the ancestral remains were returned. His client received a settlement of $4.25 million, which was shared by more than 1,230 tribal members. With the help of these recovery funds, this once-sacred ground is gradually returning to a pristine condition.

Smith v. Behr Process Corporation

Michael Withey represented a class action in a case alleging that Behr Process sealant caused mildew damage to wooden homes and buildings. The class was awarded an amount not greater than $200 million, because the judge in the case ruled that Behr breached an implied warranty and violated the Consumer Protection Act.

Stepakoff v. State Department of Corrections

On January 14th of 2008, the Law Offices of Michael Withey successfully negotiated a landmark settlement in the case of Stepakoff et al vs. Washington Department of Corrections. Mike sued the Department of Corrections after it negligently classified and failed to supervise Buford Furrow, Jr, a member of the Aryan Nation, who had been committed to a mental institution, threatened to kill his ex-wife and was suicidal and liked firearms. Under the not very watchful eye of the DOC, Furrow assembled an arsenal of automatic weapons, drove to Los Angeles, and walked into the North Valley Jewish Community Center and opened fire, striking four- to six-year-olds, including Ben Kadish, Joshua Stepakoff and James Zidell and traumatizing Joshua Kadish and Nathan Powers. The settlement followed a heartfelt apology from officials at the DOC and led to the establishment of trust funds for the boys, who are now young adolescents.

Estate of Gloria Daquep v. State Department of Corrections

Gloria Daquep was a loving mother of two adult children and the wife of her devoted husband when she was run down and killed by a drunk driver in late April 2004. The driver, Charles Roberson, was under the supervision of the DOC because of his long criminal record, which included vehicular assault, firearms charges, drug possession and numerous assaults and DUIs. The DOC classified him at the lowest level of supervision requiring only that he place his hand into a kiosk machine once a month. He met with his community supervisor only once in the seven months he was on supervision. He was never given a drug or alcohol test. True to form, Roberson got drunk and plowed his car into Gloria Daquep's, resulting in her death. The Estate will receive $875,000 under the settlement reached by the Law Offices of Michael Withey.