Keith
Kessler
Senior Partner

 Keith Kessler
About Keith Kessler

Eighth Grade.  Cars.  Rock & roll.  Movies.  TV.   Perry Mason.

And a debate in class over the American Revolutionary War — the Colonies’ right to separate and self-govern versus compliance with British Rule.  Teams of three students against three.  Assuming the likely  pro-American bias of the class, I volunteered to take up the British cause.  I worked with my team to prepare, thoughtfully developing our strategy.  When the time came, I rose to my feet.  I argued well.  And we won. 

The in-class disruptive humor of that 13-year-old boy made teaching difficult over the course of that year.  But at the end of class that day of the debate, Mr. Ritch pulled me aside. His words pushed me over the top. “Have you thought about being a lawyer?”

I never looked back.

Learning the Rules in Real Time.  Fresh out of my first year of law school, I was hired by the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s  Office.   End of my second year – still just a law student – I was actually trying cases in court as a Rule 9 Legal Intern.  There I learned courtroom procedure and the Rules of Evidence the hard way – on my feet with real people, taking on real lawyers.  I loved court.

Supreme Court Clerk.  Justice Robert Corpening Finley was a giant as a progressive jurist, whose remarkable opinions reflected deep thought and a good heart.  I first met Justice Finley at the Meany Hotel in Seattle.  I had applied for a job as his Law Clerk – very presumptuous on my part.  Nevertheless, right there at the Meany, he offered me a clerkship.  One of nine Supreme Court Clerks in the State of Washington.  I walked home on air.

Fresh out of law school, I researched every case, statute and rule across the country that was at all relevant to Justice Finley’s analysis on every one of his decisions on behalf of the court.  That’s how you really learn to research. 

One case – State v. Spence – involved an act of First Amendment speech by a Viet Nam War protester.  Eight of the nine Supreme Court Justices upheld his conviction for improperly displaying the flag.  Justice Finley was the lone dissenter.  When the United States Supreme Court unanimously reversed the conviction, the two of us went straight to the Brown Derby down the street from the Temple of Justice in Olympia, had ice cream (seriously), and cheered. 

The Soviet Union and Stritmatter.  After the excitement of serving as a Supreme Court Law Clerk, I practiced criminal defense trial work in Seattle, securing dismissals of charges in drug cases because police officers failed to “knock and announce”, or because they conducted searches and seizures without a warrant.  Holding the government accountable.  In spite of a 100% success rate, I grew tired of this field of practice, and looked for something more.   

It happened. 1979.  Moscow Bar Exchange.  After arriving in Russia, I learned that nothing operated on schedule.  Effectively abandoned at the Moscow Airport, I stuffed a bag with whatever I could find and … Voila!  Football on the tarmac.  The opposing quarterback vigorously threw passes that stalled in the oncoming wind.  Undeterred, he passed with increasing force until his abused rotator cuff put an end to his blind ambition.

Over the course of the next several days, through his pain and drug-induced haze, he and I talked of victories in the courtroom and the key to winning – extraordinary preparation.

Three months later I joined Paul Stritmatter and his father Lester in Hoquiam – a far-off land on the Washington Coast.  March 10, 1980 proved to the be the launch of a legal juggernaut that would, over time, not only come to the aid of people who’d been injured by the negligence of others, but would challenge state and local governments to address and correct hazardous road conditions – from superior courts to the Washington Supreme Court to the Supreme Court of the United States.  

The Family.  What can be more rewarding than loving what you do?  Answer: Practicing law with your brilliant son and daughter.  Side by side with Jamie working with me to build the case.  Brad next to me in the courtroom presenting our injured client’s critical needs.  While I address responsibility for the traumatic brain injury, spinal cord quadriplegia or wrongful death. 

I’m incredibly proud of the intelligence and winning attitude of our team, and our victories over the years. 

Making a Difference.  Fundamental to all of my work is the drive to change negligent attitudes and eliminate transportation hazards facing the public, whether highways, bicycle routes, railroad crossings, or airline and helicopter operations.

I love what I get to do.

Every day.

Note: Like every person, each case is unique. Prior case results should not create expectations of an outcome in any individual case.

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.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
  • Seattle Area Best Lawyers’ Personal Injury Litigator, 2011
  • Awarded Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers (Top 1% of Trial Attorneys in the United States), 2004
  • Outstanding Plaintiff Trial Lawyer, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, 2002
  • Trial Lawyer of the Year, Washington State Association for Justice, 1994
  • Named as Top 100 Super Lawyer in Washington State, Super Lawyers, 2004, 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2015
  • Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America”, Best Lawyers, 1995-present
  • Rated AV (highest available rating), Martindale-Hubbell
MEMBERSHIPS & LEADERSHIP
  • Evergreen State College: Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor of Washington State, 2008 – present
  • American Board of Trial Advocates: President of Washington Chapter, 1997
  • Damage Attorneys Roundtable: President, 2002
  • Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ): President
  • Washington State Supreme Court: “Appointed to the Jury Instructions committee by the Washington State Supreme Court, 2000 – present, Clerk for Justice Robert C. Finley,
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ)
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Lawyers-Pilots Bar Association
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
  • Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Failure to Mitigate Damages as a Component of Contributory Fault” (DART Convention, Los Cabos – April 2009)
  • Speaker, Cutting Edge of Tort Law — “Accessing Public Records to Hold Government Accountable for Bad Roads” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – October 2008)
  • Chair and Speaker, Planes, Trains & Automobiles – “Beyond the Crash: The Thundering Behemoth: Locomotive v. Human” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – September 2008)
  • “Three Keys to Success in Aquatic Injury Cases: Recreational Immunity, Alcohol and Venue in Hell” (DART Convention, LaQuinta – April 2008)
  • Speaker, “Beyond the Crash: Focusing on Other Responsible Tortfeasors” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – April 2008)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Traumatic Brain Injuries – The Incredible Journey” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – June 2007)
  • “Fighting To Disgorge Public Records – The Determined Motion to Compel Discovery” (DART Convention, Mallorca Spain – May 2007)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Auto Crash Cases – Winning With Cutting Edge Technology” (Washington State Bar Seminar – August 2006)
    • “The Visual Trial: PowerPoint/Video/Computer-Created Exhibits” (DART Convention, Maui, Hawaii — April 2006)
  • “Accessing Government Documents – Special Issues” WSP & DOT Records (Not Above the Law; The Government as the Defendant, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – April 2006)
  • “It’s Not My Fault and I Don’t Have To” — Highway Design and Maintenance (Auto Case; Just the Facts, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – March 2006)
  • “Scary Machines – Scissor Lifts, Cranes, Forklifts and Riding Mowers” (Winning Your Product Liability Case, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – October 2005)
  • “Advanced Settlement Presentation Techniques” (Advanced Settlement Issues Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – October 2005)
  • “Interviewing Witnesses for Maximum Impact in Settlement Videos/DVDs” (Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Convention, Toronto – July 2005)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Careful Use of the Juror Questionnaire” (Dealing with Tort Reform, DART Convention — June 2005)
  • “Successful Use of Experts” (Auto Cases Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — March 2005)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Anatomy of a Automobile Accidents – From Investigation to Courthouse Steps” (Washington State Bar Association – September 2004)
  • “Bench Trial Strategies” (DART Convention, Sardinia, Italy – April 2004)
  • “Setting the Stage for a Sharp Presentation” (The Power of Negotiation & Mediation, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – November 2003)
  • “From Opening Statement to Jury Deliberation” – Masters in Trial Program (American Board of Trial Advocates – October 2003)
  • “Leveling the Playing Field: How to Beat Basic Problems During Jury Selection” (Motions Practice Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – September 2003)
  • “Ethical Considerations” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – March 2003)
  • “Government Secrecy – From ‘Homeland Security’ to Simple Raw Data About Car Accidents” (DART Convention, Costa Rica — February 2003)
  • “The Nuts and Bolts of Jury Instructions” (Trial Stars, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – December 2002)
  • Panel of Attorneys/Judge: “What Do Attorneys and Judges Expect from Reporters?” (Washington Court Reporters Convention, Ocean Shores, WA – October 2002)
  • “Guillen/Whitmer v. Pierce County, et al.: How to Get Public Documents through Discovery” (Torts in Transition, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – September 2002)
  • “Maintaining Professionalism and Advocacy in Civil Litigation” (Professionalism in Civil Litigation, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Seminar, Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada – July 2002)
  • “Personal Injury Legislation: Return to Sovereign Immunity” (DART Convention, Sedona, Arizona – March 2002)
  • “Settlement Videos – The Next Generation” (The Paris Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Paris, France – September 2001)
  • “Product Liability – Proving Causation through Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) Photography” (Luvera Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention – August 2001)
  • “The Impact of Cell Phone Use on Driver Attention” (DART Convention, Maui, Hawaii — May 2001)
  • “Professionalism/Creed of Professionalism” (Young Lawyers Division Mid-Year Convention, Washington State Bar Association – April 2001)
  • “Demonstrative Evidence and the Introduction of Exhibits” (Automobile Accident Litigation, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association – September 2000)
  • “Challenges to Plaintiff’s Vocational Expert’s Analysis: The Daubert Tentacles Continue to Extend” (DART Convention, Sicily — May 2000)
  • “Effectively Presenting Brain Injury Through Demonstrative Exhibits” (Understanding Brain Injury Cases, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — May 1999)
  • “Thinking Outside the Box” (Techniques of Persuasion and Other Topics) DART Convention, Corrib at Cong, County Mayo, Ireland – May 1999)
  • “Use of Exhibits During Jury Selection” (Lawyers Are From Mars, Jurors Are From Venus, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — June 1998)
  • “Direct Examination of Plaintiff” – Masters in Trial Program (American Board of Trial Advocates — May 1998))
  • “Using the Computer for Briefs, Brochures and Exhibits” (DART Convention, Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii – April 1998)
  • “Forensic Graphic Communications” (Seattle Forensic Institute of Washington — March 1998)
  • Chair, “Trial Masters at Work” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — December 1997)
  • “Telling Your Story: The Goals and Strategies for Opening Statements and Closing Arguments” (How To handle and Win Your First Trials, Washington State Bar Association — January 1997)
  • “Successes and Problems With Computer-Generated Animations” (DART Convention, St. Lucia — April 1997)
  • “Tort Claims Against the State and Counties” (Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Convention — September 1997)
  • Co-Chair, The Trial – EVIDENCE (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — November 1996)
  • “Jury Selection: Embracing the Struck Jury Method” (Best of WSTLA Series: Voir Dire, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — October 1996)
  • “Computer-Generated Demonstrative Trial Exhibits” (Corning’s Kernels of Wisdom, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention — July 1996)
  • “Excluding Evidence of Employer Fault” (DART Convention, Corfu, Greece — April 1996)
  • “Roadway Liability Cases” (Suing the Government, Washington State Bar Association — January 1996)
  • Chair, Trial By The Masters (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — November 1995)
  • “Highway Design: Duty to Maintain Safe Roads Exists Independent of Alleged Budgetary Constraints” (Tort Law Update: Unabridged and Unplugged, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — October 1995)
  • “Settlement as Malpractice: Converting Tortfeasors Into ‘Empty Chair’ Entities at the Expense of the Fault-Free Plaintiff” (Hot Topics, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — May 1995)
  • “Alcohol: The Drunk Driver Defendant; the Drinking Plaintiff; Dram Shop Cases; Liability of Person Supplying Alcohol to Drivers” (Auto Cases – Winning Is No Accident, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — April 1995)
  • “Computer-Generated Simulations/Animations” (A Paperless Trial, Washington State Attorney General Paralegal/Investigator Seminar — December 1994)
  • “Cutting Edge Courtroom Technology: Laser Discs and Computer-Generated Animation and Simulations” (DART Convention, Maui, Hawaii — February 1994)
  • “Highway Design – Limited Funds for Repairs” (Luvera Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — July 1993)
  • “Mediation: How to Use It Effectively” (Mediation, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — June 1993)
  • “Closing Argument in the Traumatic Brain Injury Case” (Traumatic Brain Injury: Rocognizing, Documenting and Proving the Brain Injury Case, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — May 1993)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, Experts: When, Why & How? (“Dealing with High Cost and Avoiding Problems”, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — October 1992)
  • “Struck Jury System Coupled with Special Written Questionnaires” (The Struck Jury System: What is it? How does it work? Where does it fit?, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — April 1992)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, WSTLA’s Best Sellers of 1991 (“Using Demonstrative Evidence”, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — December 1991)
  • “Discovery Motions: Offensive and Defensive Strategies” (Effective Motions Practice: “How to Plan, Write, Argue and Win, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — November 1991)
  • “Highway Design and Roadside Hazards of Cities, Counties and States” (Suing the Government, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — May 1991)
  • “Use of Demonstrative Evidence to Prove Brain Injury” (All You Need to Know About Head Injury Cases, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — April 1991)
  • “Determining Liability” (Accident Law, Washington State Bar Association — February 1991)
  • Moderator and Speaker, “Developing Effective Demonstrative Evidence” (Computers and the Trial Lawyer, National College of Advocacy — October 1990)
  • “Coordinating Expert Witnesses and Using Demonstrative Evidence” (Handling the Traumatic Brain Injury Case, Washington State Head Injury Foundation — April 1990)
  • “Case Handling Strategies: Large Cases vs. Small Cases” (The Law as a Business Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — March 1990)
  • “Negotiating and Settlement Techniques” (Clark County Bar Association, Vancouver, WA — January 1990)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, Best of CLE Seminar “The Role of the Attorney in Video Production and Presentation” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — December 1989)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, Videotape/Computer Animation Seminar, “Cutting Edge of Technology” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — January 1989)
  • “Damages Potpourri: Business Torts, Consumer Protection Act, Civil Rights” (Damages and Settlements Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — April 1988)
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, Business Torts Update Seminar, “Civil Rule 11: Practice and Pitfalls” (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — May 1987)
  • “Use of Professional Drawings of Accident Scene” (Luvera Seminar, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — July 1985)
  • Co-Chair, Business Torts Seminar (“Cutting Edge of Business Torts”, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — February 1985)
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
  • Bicycle Litigation Strategy – Roadway Safety Cases (2014), (Keith’s presentation to various Bicycle Litigation groups)
  • Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Litigation Deskbook, © WSBA 2009, chapter author, “Post-Trial Motions”
  • “Open Government: Sure, we’ll give you public records – only of you agree in writing that you’ll never use them against us.”, TRIAL NEWS (Volume 43, Number 8, April 2008) (Keith provides insights from the Gendler case).
  • “Median Barriers: Earth Berms and Cable Rails – Cheap; Lives Lost – Priceless”, TRIAL NEWS (Volume 43, Number 1, September 2007)
  • “Pothole, Ruts and Deteriorated Pavement”, TRIAL NEWS (Vol. 41 Number 11, July/August 2006)
  • “Picture-perfect Settlement Videos”, TRIAL – (Association of Trial Lawyers of America — April 2006)
  • “Anti-icers: Is It Time for Courts to Recognize Municipalities’ Use of Anti-icers for Roadway Ice Control?”, BAR NEWS (Washington State Bar Association – February 2005)
  • “Government Secrecy – From ‘Homeland Security’ to Simple Raw Data About Car Accidents”, TRIAL NEWS (May 2003) (reprinted inAutomobile Accidents, Highway and Premises Liability Section, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Volume 9, Number 3, Summer 2003)
  • “CR 35 Does Not Authorize Testing by Defense Vocational Counselors” (October 2002) co-author: Ray W. Kahler
  • “Helicopter Pilot Error: Fundamental Fatal Mistake (April 2002)
  • Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook , © WSBA 2001, chapter author, ” Highway Design, Abutting Landowners and Public Utilities”
  • Chapter Author, AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT LITIGATION DESKBOOK (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — 2000)
  • “Roadway Edge Drop-Off Causes Deaths” (February 2000)
  • Editor, TRIAL EVIDENCE (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association — 1996)
  • “County’s Failure to Install $75 Stop Sign at Railroad Crossing Results in Huge Verdict” (May 1994)
  • “Employer’s UIM policy: On-Duty Motorcyclist” (January 1991) co-author: Jeffrey J. Donchez
  • Chapter Author, AUTOMOBILE LITIGATION DESKBOOK (Washington State Bar Association — 1990)
  • “Fraternity Cliff-Diving Rush Event Has Tragic Ending” (December 1990) co-author: Paul L. Stritmatter
EDUCATION
  • University of Washington, J.D., 1972
  • University of Washington, B.A., Philosophy, 1969

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