Senior Managing Partner
Three and a half years after a jury awarded $44.7 Million in a Stritmatter Law motorcycle collision trial, the Washington State Supreme Court ended the appeal of B.S. v. Holguin by denying the defendant’s petition to review.
The plaintiff, a young man in his 20s, was an EMT and aspiring firefighter. He was critically and permanently injured when an SUV driver insured by Allstate made a left turn against oncoming traffic. Following a month-long trial in October 2022, the jury sided fully with the plaintiff and awarded the largest collectible motorcycle verdict in the country. S. v. Holguin – Stritmatter Law
Predictably, Allstate appealed. Several years passed before the Court of Appeals Division I in Seattle, upheld the verdict in June 2025. The good news arrived on January 7 when a unanimous panel of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Stephens, agreed with the COA and upheld the trial court’s rulings and the jury verdict.
I will always remember how pleased the jury was after they gave that big verdict. They were so proud of their work. And had all made plans to have a barbecue at one of their houses that very weekend. I believe, that their joy and belief in our client, followed this case through the entire appeal process. Finally – their justice given out three and a half years ago – will now be done.
The case was handled by Karen Koehler, lead attorney. Second chair at trial – Lisa Benedetti. Trial briefing – Shannon Kilpatrick. Andrew Ackley – team member. Lisa and Shannon handled the appeal in-house. David Zimmer assisted with the Discretionary Review briefing to the Supreme Court. Kristin Michaud, lead paralegal, with assistance from Anne Roberson. It took a village. And a wonderful client.