Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Coluccio

From Zula and Ted:

Karen's effort and endeavor in our (premises liability) dispute was above and beyond our expectations of any attorney's performance. We were comfortable and happy to be in her company each time our presence was required.

From Jack:

"A driver distracted by his cell phone ran into my motorcycle. Another lawyer referred me to SKWC because of the respect and the admiration they've earned from their peers. Ray, Karen and team never gave up on me during a very emotional journey. In the end, they made sure that I could provide for my medical needs and security for my family’s future."

From Sharla:

"After I was run down in the crosswalk, Kevin and his staff were there for me. They stepped right in and did an amazing job finding witnesses and the evidence that proved my case. They left nothing to chance and worked endlessly. They made a difference in my life."

From Annie:

"As a victim of crime, I felt frustrated and angry when those who contributed to the tragic events failed to take responsibility. Paul Stritmatter and Kevin Coluccio quickly became my power and my voice, demanding accountability. There is no way to express how grateful I have been to have this formidable team in my corner, fighting to secure an outcome that has brought closure and healing for me and my children. I will always be grateful for their kindness, compassion and amazing dedication."

From Marc:

"After being run over by a truck I had multiple permanent injuries, each needing specific attention by a lawyer. Karen thoroughly investigated, researched and planned a strategy that would work in court. By making my wife and I comfortable with the process, we were able to confidently hand the reins to Karen. We knew that her diligence and personal care were values that would enable this case to have as positive an outcome as possible. And we were not disappointed. Karen's strong yet quiet approach served to calm our anxiety and present to the jury an informed, assured presentation without an overly dramatic approach. Karen's power is in her combination of intelligence, subtle power and deeply felt humanity."

From Cindy:

"Karen was both professional and compassionate. She helped us and more through every step of our lawsuit. If it wasn't for her and her associates help, we would not be where we are now. She even keeps in touch now to see how we are. I would recommend her to anyone."

SKWC is busier than ever, winning personal injury and wrongful death cases worth at least $1 million for our clients. We invite you to look at this list that includes SKWC cases prior to 2009.

Monster Truck Case

In Aug. 2009, Stritmatter Kessler attorneys helped Sebastian’s family and his Estate to reach a confidential settlement with the owner/manufacturer of the Monster Truck and the promoter who put on the event.

Magana v. Hyundai Motor Corp

$8 million default judgment rendered by the Washington State Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision: "Trial courts need not tolerate deliberate and willful discovery abuse. Given the unique facts and circumstances of this case, we hold that the trial court appropriately diagnosed Hyundai's willful efforts to frustrate and undermine truthful pretrial discovery efforts..." (emphasis added)

Ethel Adams v. Farmers Insurance Co.

Michael Testa rammed his girlfriend’s truck as he chased her down Aurora Avenue.  The truck crossed the centerline where it flipped upside down ontop of and head on into Ethel Adams almost killing her.  Ethel’s insurance company, Farmers decided not to pay the claim because road rage was not an “accident”.

The public became outraged as media covered the lawsuit.  The Insurance Commissioner threatened to shut Farmers down in Washington at which point it changed its mind and paid on the policy.  Ethel then sued Farmers for bad faith.  One year after Ethel was hurt, the Governor signed the Ethel Adams bill into law – when innocent person is injured in a car accident, the insurance company can no longer play the same word games.

How the case of Ethel Adams changed the law

Dussault v. Midcentury Insurance Co.

($2.825 million settlement)  In one of the largest insurance bad faith cases in Washington state, our legal team facilitated a settlement arising from an auto collision that resulted in a severe closed-head injury.

Sanderson v. Evergreen Rehabilitation Bremerton

$851,000 judgment awarded to a 36-year-old, highly dependent brain injury patient, who suffered repeated neglect and abuse over the course of a one-year stay at a skilled nursing facility.

Schneider v. Major Car Manufacturer

A young woman suffered profound injuries as the result of a car crash. The other driver testified that Ms. Schneider did nothing wrong. SKWC brought justice against the car manufacturer of Marissa's car, for faulty design. A confidential settlement was obtained for Marissa and her family.

McCallum v. Allstate

A bad faith insurance case against Allstate received support from Court of Appeals Div. II, which upheld the trial judge's ruling that reversed entry of a protective order for Allstate's CCPR and other claim manuals. Allstate was ordered to produce the documents without a protective order--an important ruling for consumers.

Stanton v. LeMay

$2.7 million settlement for the deaths of two minor children who were passengers in a vehicle that rear-ended a recycling truck without proper under-ride protection guard that had stopped in the roadway.

Clauson v. Ashland, Inc.

Confidential settlement for a diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma for a housewife as a result of being contaminated by asbestos fibers at home because of the work exposure of her ex-husband.