Calling Out Institutional Racism Isn’t Disqualifying Bias for a Judge Under the Code for Judicial Conduct
On January 2, 2026, the Court of Appeals Division III took the intriguing step of elevating a letter ruling, on which parties outside that litigation generally cannot rely, to the status of an unpublished opinion. An unpublished opinion, while not binding on any court, can be cited by anyone for persuasive...
Landmark $44.7 Million Jury Verdict in Motorcycle Injury Case Upheld by State Supreme Court
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...
UPEPA Meets #MeToo: The Washington Court of Appeals’ Blunt Message to Lawsuits Aimed at Silencing Survivors
(Content Warning: discussion of sexual assault and grooming behavior)
On December 30, 2025, the Washington Court of Appeals dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a pastor against his employee and parishioner after she referred to a sexual encounter between them as “rape.” While the outcome is notable, what I...
Justice Mary Yu Retires: Celebrating a Trailblazing Career on Washington’s Supreme Court
At the end of 2025, Washington will say goodbye to a remarkable jurist. Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu is retiring after 25 years on the bench. For many of us in the legal community, the news felt like a real loss. But it is also an opportunity to look back...
14 Stritmatter Attorneys Selected to 2025 Super Lawyers
We are proud to announce that 14 Stritmatter Law attorneys have been named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists for 2025. Karen Koehler once again earned a spot on the Top 50 Women and Top 100 Overall lists, an honor reserved for the very best in the profession.
When Fun Turns Into Trauma: Understanding Recreational Injuries and the Law in Washington
When you set out for a day of fun—whether it's boating on Lake Washington, snowboarding at Stevens Pass, swimming at a park, or riding an ATV in the woods—the last thing you expect is for your life to be turned upside down by a serious injury. Unfortunately, recreational accidents happen more often...
About Shannon
Today, I felt inspired to write a haiku about my colleague Shannon Kilpatrick, whose partnership and expertise helped us secure over $80,000 in attorneys' fee sanctions for discovery violations against Amazon.
Yin and Yang
Bulldog’s fierce pursuit,
Wisdom’s calm shapes every move—
Balance wins the case.
Let Amazon be Amazon, Let the Others Be Themselves
Let the run bring you to your knees
Let the Sun dry your eyes
Let the dew mix your cries
Let the drop sink it all
Let the wind carry your call
Let them whisper in the shade
Let them brew their lemonade
Let the Blatherskites be Twattle-baskets
...
Summer Taylor Found Fault Free in $6M Verdict
Seattle, WA — After two and a half-week trial, a jury has found Summer Taylor, a peaceful protester tragically killed on Interstate 5 during a Black Lives Matter protest on July 4, 2020, was not at fault. The jury determined that Taylor was not engaged in any illegal activity, violation of law,...
Celebrating Excellence: Thirteen Stritmatter Attorneys Selected to the 2024 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
We are thrilled to announce that thirteen of our outstanding attorneys have been selected to the prestigious 2024 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list! This accolade is a testament to their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to justice.
2024...