Senior Partner
The Spokane Journal of Business published a story on March 26 about Stritmatter Law and Layman Law joining forces as top Spokane personal injury lawyers. Karina Elias interviewed Andrew Ackley and John Layman about the history of the firms and their combined resources to represent personal injury victims across Washington state.
Two Legacy Personal Injury Firms Join Forces Across Washington
Stritmatter Law and Layman Law both originated with father-son legal teams. Lester Stritmatter started the firm 80 years ago in Hoquiam, Washington along the western coast of the state. His son Paul joined the firm in 1970. Paul soon partnered with Keith Kessler, followed by Keith’s stepson Brad Moore in 1992. The firm expanded to a large Seattle office in 1997 and continued its path to becoming a legal powerhouse in western Washington.
John G. “Jerry” Layman started Layman Law Firm 70 years ago in Spokane along our state’s eastern border with Idaho. John Layman joined his dad in 1983 and soon took a special interest in helping people with brain injuries. A former employer had turned to him when an undiagnosed brain injury from a car accident made it difficult for him to run his business. That experience inspired John about the impact serious injuries can have on the remainder of his clients’ lives. It set him on a path to turn Layman Law firm into an eastern Washington force for injury victims.
Now extending from Hoquiam to Seattle to Spokane, the personal injury firms combine for 150 years of legacy deeply rooted in the communities they serve.
Representing Personal Injury Victims in Hoquiam, Seattle, and Spokane
By joining forces, Stritmatter and Layman combine a foothold in eastern Washington with the resources to take on any defendant. John Layman explains, “You take on larger defendants, they throw every resource they can at you, … so you got to have the resources and the bench strike to take them, and Stritmatter has that.” Senior Partner Andrew Ackley emphasized Layman Law’s presence and reputation in eastern Washington.
Stritmatter and Layman began working together closely in 2019 with litigation involving Seattle Children’s Hospital. Ms. Elias summarizes, “The hospital had publicly acknowledged that failures in its air handling systems exposed patients to aspergillus, a dangerous mold that can cause serious infections or death. The investigation spanned six years and involved complex scientific investigation, multiple families, and extensive resources from both firms.”
Through six years of intense work together, the firms bonded over common values–fighting for their clients while also driving systemic change to protect the public.