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Meet Keith Kessler
A fervent advocate for injured people, Keith Kessler handles each case with compassion and persistence.

Brain injury cases have become an area of specialty for Keith. He presents a strong case for his plaintiff clients, supported by a network of trusted experts that includes treating physicians, forensic experts, neuropsychologists, vocational rehabilitation professionals and life care planners. Several of Keith’s brain injury cases have each ended in awards of more than $5 million to the plaintiffs.

Keith’s sensitivity toward his clients also comes through in his many cases involving spinal cord injuries and amputation injuries. These become significant decisions because of the huge emotional component and the high level of lifetime care needed.

Keith’s cases take him to the air and to the road – he has extensive experience with both aircraft crashes and highway design cases. One highway design case stands as the largest verdict ever in Thurston County and is among the top five wrongful death verdicts in Washington state history.

Keith is a frequent seminar presenter for local, national and international audiences. He also has held leadership roles with many legal organizations. His practice is based in the firm’s Hoquiam office.

Practice Areas
Plaintiff's personal injury law; aircraft crashes; incidents resulting in brain injuries and spinal cord injuries; highway design; product liability

Examples from Keith’s Case Files
Automobile Collision

Jones v. Yellow Cab of Seattle

$5.6 million verdict

A 20-year-old student approached a north Seattle intersection on his motorcycle when a Yellow Cab suddenly entered the intersection from a side street. The motorcyclist swerved but couldn’t avoid being hit. Keith and the legal team filed suit against the taxi company and its driver, as well as against the City of Seattle for failing to trim shrubs blocking a driver’s view of the intersection. The verdict amount was to cover lifetime care needs for the student, who was in a coma for two months and has since passed away.

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Aviation Incidents

Doe v. Helicopter Company

$5 million settlement

Fog rolled in as the search and rescue team awaited a helicopter ride back to the city. The pilot briefly waited, and then took off in dense fog. The tail rotor struck the side of a mountain and the helicopter crashed, tumbling down the mountainside. When the aircraft stopped moving, the 24-year-old plaintiff, a field biologist, was left hanging upside down, held in by her seatbelt. She suffered a fractured spine, incomplete paraplegia, and bowel and bladder injuries. Keith drew from his experience with aircraft crashes and presented a thorough case against the helicopter company, securing justice for the young woman.

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Product Liability

Richard & Pamela Glubrecht v. Insurance Auto Auctions & CB Equipment

$1.2 million settlement

Richard Glubrecht drove his flatbed tow truck to the defendant’s wrecking yard to unload a vehicle. He brought a forklift into position, set the parking brake and, started to remove chains holding the wrecked car in place. The forklift had a faulty parking brake and rolled, injuring Richard. With Keith’s effective and intense case preparation, Richard won a favorable settlement.

Case Archive

Memberships
• Washington State Bar Association
• Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (president, 1990-91)
• Washington Trial Attorneys Political Forum (chair, 1993-95)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Washington Chapter (executive committee, 1995 to present)

Invitational Legal Memberships
• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2004
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Washington Chapter (president, 1997)
• Damage Attorneys Round Table (president, 2002)
• Washington State Supreme Court’s Pattern Jury Instruction Committee

Awards & Achievements
• Outstanding Plaintiff Trial Lawyer, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, 2002
• Trial Lawyer of the Year, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, 1994
• Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” for several years
• Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell

Education
University of Washington, J.D., 1972
University of Washington, B.A., Philosophy, 1969

Outside the Office
Keith tries to include time for soaking up new cities on business trips. Among his favorite places are the Italian cities of Venice and Amalfi. In the little free time he has, Keith is a fan of Formula One racing and enjoys playing the piano.