Cases

Representative Cases

Over many years, clients have asked us to help them on many different types of problems. In each example that you can read here, there are people and families who have fought hard with us as their counselors, advocates, and guides. They were interested in justice, and fairness, and wanted to change a faulty system when they could, and so did we.

Auto collision resulting in multiple injuries
A driver failed to yield and crashed into a moving car, causing spinal injuries that were only diagnosed after multiple healthcare referrals. Litigation was required because the employer corporation of the negligent driver was denying the claim and the severity of the injury, our client authorized litigation to obtain and exhaust multiple layers of insurance coverage.

$2.2 Million Verdict
An unsafe overhead crane scale that weighed several hundred pounds suspended with wire rope components but no safety chains fell on a worker. This resulted in severe post concussion syndrome and spinal injuries. After other law firms rejected the claim saying that it lacked merit, our firm obtained a multi-million dollar jury verdict in Snohomish County, and the award eventually was paid after the defendant’s appeal.

$1 Million Settlement at Mediation
A used vehicle with a defective transmission sold by a dealer “as is” caused paralysis to the new owner when the transmission spontaneously jumped from park to reverse. The litigation resulted in a policy limits settlement in the amount of $1 million.

Food Borne Illness
The Washington State Department of Health investigated and confirmed that over fifty workers were infected with E. Coli from eating contaminated food served to them at a conference center buffet. Various severities of injury occurred depending on the health and stamina of the conference attendees. Extended litigation produced a collective six figure settlement, despite the defense requirement for a non-disclosure agreement from any injured worker who accepted their offer.

Chemical plant explosion
An Eastern Washington chemical plant operated under clear federal and state safety violations by omitting mechanical integrity and maintenance services. A resulting release of toxic chemicals caused multiple deaths and injuries to workers, and created a cloud of destructive gases on the countryside. In an effort to hold the parent and subsidiary corporations liable as well as to persuade the State of Washington to adequately regulate and enforce state safety standards, our firm filed three lawsuits - two in state court and one in Federal Court. Our firm continues to work on this case for the affected families who seek fairness and justice, and that their efforts might contribute to better industrial safety.

Work-related injury conflicts with State
The State of Washington informed an injured worker that his Worker’s Compensation benefits were suspended until he spent enough of his own money on his workplace injury related treatment. Our firm challenged the State’s right to impair or take this benefit, which was his property. We worked to clarify and alter the law as it affects injured workers and their families.

Motorcycle/gravel truck collision
A motorcycle rider passed uphill across a double yellow line, but the gravel truck on his right was making a left turn without signaling. The truck struck the motorcycle rider and caused his paralysis. A substantial, but undisclosed settlement was awarded after litigation.

Interference with physician-patient relationship
A case manager made defamatory comments about the attending surgeon and his attempts to aggressively direct the treatment and care for an injured worker. Our firm sued the case manager on behalf of the physician as well as the patient and reached an undisclosed settlement, which resulted in the case manager’s termination of services and improved protection for the other workers.

Testimonials

"Jerry and Michele helped me through a fight for compensation when I had been poisoned by food at a conference in Seattle. It took a long time, but they kept on working and learning. My co-workers and I finally accepted a settlement, but without Michele, in particular, I don’t know what would have happened."

Nancy F., Columbia Falls, MT

"I was badly injured and when I started to work with Jerry, I found that he knew legally what had to happen, but he also really tried to lift my spirits, encourage me over a long course of treatments, and I greatly appreciated his professionalism and kindnesses."

Barry C., Seattle, WA

"I liked that The Pearson Law Firm was family owned and run, it made me feel better, probably because I have my own family and it was nice to know they helped one another. I called the law firm because I tried to work things out with the insurance company for three years. I was badly hurt in a rear end car crash, that was not my fault. If I had known right after the accident that it would be so hard, I would have called the Pearsons right away."

Angie H., Puyallup, WA

"I talked to other firms, but when I met Michele, and talked to Heather, I knew I had the right team, finally. They have done everything they promised, and they are very professional."

Shawnee A., Kirkland, WA

"Jerry worked with me all the way up and through a long trial, which was successful because the jury realized that a defective product could have been made so it wouldn’t fail. I don’t know how we could have found a better lawyer, someone who is our lawyer for life."

John M., Everett, WA

"Michele was recommended to me just as she was finishing law school, and she and Jerry did a wonderful job on a case for my husband who became increasingly ill during the litigation, and then eventually died. That was many years ago, and I still recommend Michele and Jerry to anyone I know who needs legal help."

Betty H., now living in PA.

"My husband and I and the rest of our whole family thank you all for your professionalism, expertise, and all of the generous time you devoted to my case. A special thanks to Jerry who started this process, and allowed his staff to work far beyond what we expected. We will be indebted to you all forever."

Nita W., Seattle, WA