PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

• Joined Lukins & Annis, P.S. in 1980, and became a Principal in the firm in 1984.
• United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, 1991-1993.
• Rejoined Lukins & Annis, P.S. in 1993, and is a Principal in the firm in its Litigation Department.

AREAS OF EMPHASIS

• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Construction law and claims
• Commercial and complex litigation
• Government Relations
• Regularly presents cases in both the trial courts and through arbitration
• Serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

• State courts in Washington and Idaho
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, and District of Idaho
• Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Supreme Court

EDUCATION

• Washington State University, B.A., 1973
• University of Washington, Masters of Public Administration, 1977
• Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., 1980

HONORS, PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• 2006 Washington State Bar Association President’s Award
• Lawyer Representative, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.
• President, Federal Bar Association of the Eastern District of Washington
• Trustee, Legal Foundation of Washington
• Past member, Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association
• Past President, Spokane County Bar Association
• Co-chair, Washington State Bar Association Committee on Public Defense
• Past member, Washington Supreme Court Task Force on Equal Justice Funding
• Associated Builders & Contractors, Secretary and Director; Past Chair of Legal Rights & Strategies Committee
• Associated General Contractors, Inland Northwest Chapter, Member and Past Director
• Past President, Washington State University Alumni Association
• 2002 Washington State University Alumni Achievement Award
• 2001 Washington State University President’s Award for Leadership and Service
• Past Co-chair of Citizens for Spokane’s Schools and successful bond issue campaigns to construct new schools.
• Past Co-Chair of successful community campaign for construction of Spokane’s new Veteran’s Memorial Arena.
• Former Assistant Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chair, Boy Scouts of America
• Board member, Morning Star Boys’ Ranch
• President, Morning Star Boys’ Ranch Foundation
• Member, Rotary Club of Spokane

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS, ACTIONS AND MATTERS

The following is a sample of the nature of the clients and cases handled on a regular basis:

• Represent over 190 independent retail pharmacies in nationwide antitrust actions filed in U.S. District Court, transferred to a multi-district complex litigation action in Chicago, Illinois, and later transferred to New York for trial
• Regularly represent owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, and sureties on construction project claims and contract disputes, including the following:
  • Construction supplier in state court litigation involving over 120 parties and construction lien claims in excess of $1 million
  • Subcontractor in multiple performance, lien and payment disputes with contractor on multiple public works projects occurring at same time
  • Construction defect claims on high school project
  • Subcontractor on assessment and penalties for environmental pollution claims
  • Contractor in trial on performance claims against subcontractor on community college project
  • Contractor in arbitration brought by subcontractor over contract extra work claims
  • Surety on bond claims at trial court and Court of Appeals
  • Contractor in arbitration on owner claims of construction defects of restaurant
  • Architect on suit by former architect terminated on international project
  • Architect on owner claims of malpractice on design and budgeting on construction project
  • Owner in trial on construction defect claims and defending against contractor’s claim of lien
  • Contractor in bid dispute with School District and another contractor
• Represented national petroleum company in federal court in a commercial dispute regarding termination of petroleum distributorship.
• Represented producer in $6 million claim against agricultural marketing firm in the Superior Court, State Court of Appeals, Washington State Supreme Court, and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.
• Represent seller of patented technology in federal court litigation over contract performance, payment, and security claims.
• Represent airline in federal court litigation with petroleum supplier and bank over payment and security claims.
• Represented national software supplier in federal court litigation with credit union over contract performance and assignment claims.