October 2001

Changing Venues

TeamChild and TeamChild Executive Director Elizabeth M. Calvin have been awarded Senator Patty Murray's 2001 Golden Tennis Shoe in recognition of their efforts to give young people in trouble opportunities to succeed. Team-Child is a unique collaboration between civil legal services and public defenders, working closely with juvenile justice professionals.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Bryan, of Tacoma, has been elected president of the 9th Circuit District Judges Association. Judge Bryan has served on the federal bench since 1986. He previously served as a Washington superior court judge for 17 years.

Randy J. Aliment has been appointed chair of the business torts committee of the American Bar Association tort and insurance practice section.

Thomas M. Nickel has been appointed to the editorial board of The Federal Lawyer, a monthly publication of the Federal Bar Association. Mr. Nickel is a sole practitioner in Bellevue, focusing on business law and intellectual property.

Roger A. Felice, of Spokane, has been selected to serve as president-elect of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (WSTLA). One of his goals will be to continue educating the public on the power and value of legal rights. Kennewick lawyer William J. Flynn Jr. was awarded WSTLA's Trial Lawyer of the Year Award for his work on behalf of injured clients. Tacoma lawyer Terry S. Barnett received the Public Justice Award for his efforts on behalf of injured workers involved in L&I disputes. Randolph I. Gordon received the Professionalism Award for his extensive work in public legal education. New WSTLA President Steven G. Toole received the association's President's Award from Past-President Maria S. Diamond. The award was presented in appreciation of Mr. Toole's involvement in WSTLA's legislative and judicial-relations programs.

Irvin W. Sandman, a shareholder in the Seattle firm Graham & Dunn, has been appointed co-chair of the American Bar Association's Hotels, Resorts and Tourism Committee. The committee reviews matters relevant to the acquisition, development, financing, operation and disposition of hotels and resorts.

Washington Defense Trial Lawyers have elected the following officers: Bradley A. Maxa, president; Karen R. Bertram, vice president; Jim S. Berg, secretary; Joanne T. Blackburn, treasurer.

The following lawyers in the Seattle office of Foster Pepper Shefelman were named "Super Lawyers" by Washington Law and Politics: Thomas F. Ahearne, Christopher M. Alston, Brad J. Berg, Jack J. Cullen, Robert J. Diercks, Stephen DiJulio, Peter S. Erlichman, Timothy J. Filer, Gary E. Fluhrer, Camden M. Hall, Allen D. Israel, Dillon E. Jackson, Stellman Keehnel, Mike D. Kuntz, Marco J. Magnano, Roger D. Mellem, Chuck P. Nomellini, Judy M. Runstad, Hugh Spitzer, V. Rafael Stone, Mike K. Vaska, Thomas M. Walsh, J. Tayloe Washburn and Joe P. Whitford.

June Shin has joined the Olympia firm Owens Davies as an associate. Her focus is on litigation and tax issues.

Jonathan R. Flora and Christina A. Gerrish have joined the Seattle firm Short Cressman & Burgess PLLC as associates. Mr. Flora works in the business and taxation section, concentrating on federal and state tax planning for businesses. Ms. Gerrish is part of the real estate litigation group, and she focuses on the litigation and arbitration of claims related to real estate, land use and construction.

Dana D. Delue, Christian J. Morgan and Knute A. Rife have joined the Seattle firm Ferring Nelson LLP as associates. Mr. Delue focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on construction law. Mr. Morgan concentrates on construction law, commercial transactions and insurance-related litigation. Mr. Rife is an experienced trial and transactional lawyer who has practiced real estate, construction, land use and environmental law in Washington and Utah.

Judith A. Endejan has joined Graham & Dunn as a shareholder. She is part of the firm's technology and emerging companies and communications teams. Ellen L. Szymanski has joined the firm as an associate on the real estate team.

W. Scott Railton has joined Chang & Boos in Bellingham. He practices U.S. immigration law with an emphasis on immigration benefits for business executives and other professionals. He also deals with the litigation of constitutional aspects of immigration matters.

Tom Barnett (a member of the California and New York state bars) has been appointed vice president and general counsel of Electronic Evidence Discovery Inc., the world's largest provider of electronic discovery services to law firms. Prior to joining the company, he practiced with a high-tech law firm in Silicon Valley.

Robert K. Costello has been appointed deputy attorney general, and will serve as a member of the state attorney general's executive team. The 10-member executive team oversees the operations of the Office of the Attorney General.

Sue E. Crystal, administrator of the state Health Care Authority, passed away August 25 after a long struggle with cancer. She was 48. Ms. Crystal served as Governor Locke's executive policy, deputy policy and health policy director. She also served as health policy director to former Governor Mike Lowry. Before moving to the executive branch, Ms. Crystal served as policy director for the Democratic Policy Office in the state House of Representatives and legal counsel to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. Memorials may be made to cancer research organizations or the Nisqually River Basin Land Trust.

Former King County District Court Judge Gilbert L. Duckworth Jr. died June 5 at age 80. He earned a law degree at the University of Washington in 1950, and practiced law for 13 years prior to his election to the district court. He retired from the bench in 1987. Judge Duckworth served as an Army sergeant in World War II, and remained in the Army Reserve until 1981, retiring as colonel. He was an active member of the King County Bar Association, Renton School Board, Renton Jaycees and Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Robert C. Keating passed away August 10 at age 86. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1939 and began a nearly 60-year career in law and insurance. Mr. Keating served in the Army in World War II, rising to the rank of captain in the Counter Intelligence Corps. In 1951, he helped found Western Pacific Insurance Company and served as executive vice president and general counsel. He was an active member of Seattle Claims Adjustors, Pacific Claims Executives and Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, and served on Insurance Commissioner Dick Marquardt's Insurance Tort Reform Committee. Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Mercer Island.

Robert A. Purdue, long-time managing partner of the Seattle firm Montgomery Purdue Blankinship & Austin, died August 3 at age 84 from congestive heart failure. Mr. Purdue graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1942. Following service in World War II as a Navy intelligence officer, he joined the firm then known as Montgomery & Montgomery. He practiced law until his retirement in 1995, and continued to serve as a mentor to younger lawyers in his firm after retiring.

Former San Juan County Prosecutor Michael Redman died August 19 at age 59, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. After graduating from Seattle's Franklin High School in 1959, he attended Yale University and served in the Army during the Vietnam War. When he returned, he attended the University of Washington School of Law and joined the firm then known as Foster Pepper Riviera. In 1974, Mr. Redman was elected San Juan County prosecutor. He served as executive secretary of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys from 1977 to 1994, and then served as executive director of the Washington Council on Crime and Delinquency. Memorials may be made to Compassion in Dying of Washington.

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