$5.5 million Largest jury verdict in Skagit County history.
$3,500,000 Pedestrian struck by train.
$2,500,000 Wrongful death of teenage boy in jet ski collision.
$2,304,142 Largest Wrongful death jury verdict in Skagit County history at the time.
$2,023,000 Largest arbitration award in San Juan County history.
$1,750,000 Closed head injury in rollover.
$1,000,000 Wrongful death of teenage pedestrian hit by truck.
$800,000 Largest wrongful death jury verdict in Kittitas County history.
$733,785 Largest wrongful death jury verdict for minor in Whatcom County history.
$640,000 Sexual Harassment.
$555,000 Fractured hip caused by auto collision.
$500,000 Foot fractures from head on collision.
$490,000 Pedestrian suffered a fractured leg.
$485,873 Knee and shoulder injuries caused by car crash.
$175,000 Fractured ankle from fall on ice on a motel sidewalk.
$650,000 Wrongful Death from a Defective Highway Design.
$1,400,000 Largest Single Eye Injury Settlement in Washington.
$130,000 Multiple Injuries Caused by Drunk Driver.
$180,000 Fractured Arm Requiring Surgery due to High Driver.
$450,000 Pedestrian Endures Multiple Fractures.
$234,466 Passenger Suffers Serious Neck Injury.
$200,000 Broken Leg due to Motorcycle v. Van Collision.
$545,000 Multiple Injuries from Head-On Collision.
$115,000 Shoulder Injured by Unsecured Patio Umbrella.
Past results are not a guarantee of future success.

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Table of Contents

About your type of claim

About your type of injury

About Brett & Coats

About Major Personal Injury, Auto Accident and Wrongful Death Claims

Washington Auto Accident News

Drunk, High, "Texting" Teen Kills Bellingham Pedestrian

Four Killed in Worst Drunk Driving Crash in Snohomish County in 14 Years

Driver Charged With DUI After Chuckanut Crash

Two Injured in Bellingham Accident

Three Injured in Cle Elum Collision

Fatalities Involving Teen Drivers

The Dangers of High Speed Police Chases

Brett & Coats, PLLC's Facebook Page

Our Attorneys

Dean Brett
Bill Coats
Rand Jack
David Brown

DEAN BRETT

Dean Brett I help people resolve insurance claims - primarily automobile accident, personal injury and wrongful death claims.

e-mail: dbrett@brettlaw.com

Education:

Whitman College (B.A., 1968)
Stanford University (J.D., 1972)

Practice Areas:

Serious Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Claims
Insurance Law
Mediation

Litigation Experience:

French v. Parker, State of Washington, and Whatcom County Probation Department, $5.5 million jury verdict, the largest in Skagit County history
Maxson v. WATCO, $3.5 million mediation of railroad negligence claim with substantial issues of contributory negligence
Wilson v. DNR, $2.3 million verdict in landslide/flood damage claim
Syre v. Tarte, $2.1 million arbitration award for lost profits for breach of contract to purchase Roche Harbor Resort
Holz v. Burlington National Railroad, $752,600 verdict for death of motorcyclist who hit the side of a parked train.
Dosanjh v. Bhatte, $800,000 for wrongful death of Canadian long-haul truck driver killed in Eastern Washington.

Admitted to Practice:

Washington State Supreme Court, 1972
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 1972
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 1997
Oregon State Bar, 2009

Professional Associations:

U.S. Magistrate Judge (Part-time), Western District of Washington (2005 to Present)
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Whatcom County Bar Association (President, 1985)
Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, now known as Washington State Association for Justice (Member, Board of Governors, 1982-1985)
Washington State Bar Association (Local District Counsel to Disciplinary Committee, 1980 to Present)
American Association for Justice
"Superlawyer" 2000 to Present, Washington Law and Politics

Community Service:

Bellingham - Whatcom Public Facilities District (Board of Directors, 2004 to Present)
Whatcom Museum of History and Art (Board of Directors, 1990-1994)
Northern Sound Public Radio (Chairman, Board of Directors, 1994-1996)
Whatcom County Youth Soccer (Coach, 1984-1992)

BILL COATS

e-mail:bill@brettlaw.com

Education:

Tulane University School of Law, New Orleans (J.D., cum laude, 1994)
University of Washington, Seattle (B.A. 1991)

Practice Areas:

Admitted to Practice:

Washington State, 1994
U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington, 2000
U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Washington, 2008
Oregon State Bar, 2009

Professional Associations:

Washington Association for Justice, Board of Directors
American Trial Lawyers Association
Washington State Association for Justice, Eagle Member

RAND JACK

Rand Jack

Education:

Princeton University ( B.A., summa cum laude, 1963)
Yale University (J.D., 1968). Phi Beta Kappa

Practice Areas:

Constitutional Law

Litigation Experience:

Yousoufian V. Sims, 165 Wn.2d 439, 200 P.2d 232 (2009). Leading case supporting significant penalties against local governments for failing to comply with citizen requests for information under the Public Records Act.
Weden V. San Juan County, 135 Wn.2d 678, 958 P.2d 273 (1998). First State Supreme Court decision in the United States upholding the right of the government to restrict the use of jet skis in local waters.
Holz V. Burlington Northern, 58 Wn.App 704, 794 P.2d 1304 (1990). Upheld record verdict against Burlington Northern by estate of motorcycle rider despite the fact that he had only an instruction permit as opposed to a motorcycle endorsement and had not completed a traffic safety education course.

Admitted to Practice:

Washington State Supreme Court, 1969
U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington, 1977

Publications:

Moral Visions and Professional Decisions: The Changing Values of Women and Men Lawyers
Conflicts of Interest in Business Transactions: Guidelines for the Business Lawyer - Washington State Bar Association 1990

Associations: