January 2002

Changing Venues

Chief Administrative Law Judge Art C. Wang has received the 2001 Professional Excellence Award from the National Association of Asian American Professionals. Judge Wang heads the Office of Administrative Hearings, a state agency that handles about 50,000 cases per year on unemployment benefits, public assistance, child support, licensing and other issues.

Vanessa S. Power has been elected president of the Northwest Women's Law Center board of directors. Prior to her election, she sat on the board for three years, having begun her involvement with the organization while in law school. Ms. Power is an associate in the Seattle office of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

Roy A. Umlauf, immediate past-president of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, has been selected as the Washington representative to the Defense Research Institute (DRI). DRI is a national organization for defense insurance and corporate counsel. Mr. Umlauf is a shareholder in the Seattle firm Forsberg & Umlauf.

Catherine A. Drews has been elected to the board of the Washington section of the American Water Resources Association, a coalition of more than 2,800 professionals dedicated to fostering and sharing information related to water resource issues. Ms. Drews is an associate in the Seattle office of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP.

William H. Gates has received the A.K. Guy Award for outstanding community leadership from the YMCA of Greater Seattle. Mr. Gates was recognized for his service to such groups as United Way, Seattle Foundation, Planned Parenthood Foundation, and the University of Washington Board of Regents.

Linda E. Frischmeyer has received the 2001 Athena Award for her community service and leadership. The award is presented annually by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and Women in Action, a Vancouver, Washington, advocacy organization.

Walla Walla County Prosecuting Attorney James L. Nagle has been appointed to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission by Governor Locke. The commission evaluates sentencing policy for adult and juvenile justice systems.

Tri-City attorney Jim Watts has been elected chairman of the Hanford Reach National Monument advisory committee. The committee is helping create a comprehensive plan for managing the 200,000-acre monument.

Seattle lawyer O. Yale Lewis Jr. has been appointed to the Seattle Board of Parks Commissioners. The board makes recommendations regarding the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department's policies for the planning, development and use of Seattle park and recreation facilities.

Mary F. Louis has been appointed to the Seattle Human Rights Commission. The commission counsels the mayor, city council, Seattle Office of Civil Rights, and other city departments on matters affecting human rights.

Vancouver lawyer Laura L. Takasumi has been selected as an American Bar Association Section of Business Law fellow for 2001-2003. Ms. Takasumi is an associate at Miller Nash LLP.

King County Superior Court Judge Douglass A. North has completed a general jurisdiction course as part of the National Judicial College. The course emphasized the law to be applied in court, and the practical techniques for maintaining an orderly and efficient courtroom.

Seattle lawyer Michael E. Blue recently completed the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii with a time of 10:04:56, finishing 116th out of nearly 1,500 participants, and placing third in the men's 40-44 division.

Former King County Superior Court Judge Ann Schindler has been appointed to the Washington State Court of Appeals. She replaces Judge Walter E. Webster, who is retiring after 17 years.

Robert K. Brown, Britt M. Ericson, Thomas S. James Jr., Don S. Kunze, Klio A. Moore, Paul Robeznieks (a member of the California and Oregon state bars), and Howard D. Stambor have joined Summit Law Group in Seattle, forming a retail leasing group.

Erin A. Brower and Sandra B. Fowler have joined Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP as associates. Ms. Brower focuses on environmental and energy law in the firm's Spokane office. Ms. Fowler practices in the firm's Tri-Cities office, concentrating on technology and intellectual property, energy and natural resources, environmental law, commercial and complex litigation, and bankruptcy.

John C. Siegel and Doug T. Weinmaster have joined the Law Office of Ron Perey in Seattle. Mr. Siegel and Mr. Weinmaster represent injured plaintiffs in medical malpractice and personal-injury lawsuits.

Daphne M. Barry and Shawn M. Yates have joined the Seattle office of Bullivant Houser Bailey PC. Ms. Barry is a member of the firm's commercial litigation, and construction and development practice groups. Ms. Yates is a member of the firm's insurance practice group, and concentrates on insurance coverage, insurance defense and commercial litigation.

John W. Ellis has rejoined Perkins Coie LLP as of counsel in the Bellevue office. He practiced in the firm's Seattle office from 1953 to 1970.

Kendall H. Moore has joined the Seattle firm Short Cressman & Burgess PLLC as of counsel. She is a member of the firm's construction industry practice section, concentrating on contract issues, construction-project management and litigation, as well as municipal law. Patricia E. Baugher and Thane D. Somerville have joined the firm as associates. Ms. Baugher is a member of the firm's employment practice section and focuses on employment and family law issues. Mr. Somerville is a member of the firm's real estate practice section, concentrating on real estate transactions and litigation, and environmental law.

Thomas L. Disser and Peter G. Scott have joined the Spokane office of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP. Mr. Disser, of counsel, focuses on general corporate issues, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Scott, an associate practicing environmental law and litigation, focuses on energy and water-related matters.

Ronda D. Larson and David L. Young have joined the Seattle office of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP as associates. Ms. Larson concentrates on taxation and real estate law. Mr. Young focuses on complex commercial litigation.

Rodrick J. Dembowski, Jennifer L. Droz, Robert Kunold Jr. and Kevin R. Wallace have joined the Seattle office of Foster Pepper & Shefelman. Mr. Dembowski's litigation practice emphasizes insurance coverage, and municipal and election law. Ms. Droz focuses on tax and real estate law. Mr. Kunold's transaction practice emphasizes business acquisitions and dispositions, venture-capital financings, pension-fund investments, and general corporate representation. Mr. Wallace focuses on real estate law, representing clients in the acquisition, sale, development, financing, leasing and managing of real property.

Tom St. Germain has joined the Seattle firm Crocker Kuno, where he focuses on commercial litigation and consumer bankruptcy.

Judge John A. Rossmeissl has been reappointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington. His new term will expire in 2015. Judge Rossmeissl maintains his chambers in Yakima.

Mary E. Crego, Jerry N. Evans and Amy W. Meyer have joined the Seattle firm Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson as associates. Ms. Crego focuses on commercial litigation. Mr. Evans concentrates on commercial litigation. Ms. Meyer's practice emphasizes land use and business matters.

Richard (Dick) A. Acarregui died November 4 at age 59, after a 12-year battle with cancer. Mr. Acarregui began his career in the state attorney general's office. He then joined the firm Casey and Pruzan where he worked for over 30 years, becoming a partner and focusing on business and real estate law. During the last few years of his career, Mr. Acarregui was of counsel to the Seattle firm Lasher, Holzapfel, Sperry and Ebberson. He was an active member of the Washington Athletic Club, Broadmoor Golf Club, and Northwest Senior Golf Association. Remembrances may be made to the Memorial Fund for Dick Acarregui at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (1100 Fairview Ave., Seattle, WA 98109).

Leo A. Anderson died October 31 at age 80. Mr. Anderson spent 35 years as a trial lawyer and counsel for Safeco Corporation in Seattle. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Anderson skippered a patrol torpedo boat in the Pacific during World War II. Remembrances may be made to Mercer Island United Methodist Church (7070 SE 24th St., Mercer Island, WA 98040) or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Former Clark County Prosecutor James E. (Jim) Carty died October 24 at age 80, following a brief illness. In addition to his legal career, Mr. Carty was a cattleman, historian, author, and co-founder of U-Haul. He was active in the Democratic party, serving as Cowlitz County and Clark County Democratic chairman. In 1962, as a defense lawyer, he convinced FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to transfer Alvin Karpis — then public-enemy number one — from Alcatraz to McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary. In 1972, he unsuccessfully attempted to integrate the then female-only League of Women Voters. Mr. Carty practiced law in Clark County for more than 50 years.

John Patrick (Pat) Cook died November 22 at age 67, following a three-year battle with throat cancer. A senior partner at the Seattle firm Lee, Smart, Cook, Martin and Patterson, Mr. Cook was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the American Board of Trial Lawyers. During his career, he primarily defended medical malpractice cases. Mr. Cook was a past president of the Magnolia Community Club, where he worked to preserve Discovery Park and the Ballard Locks. Remembrances may be made to the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province (PO Box 4408, Portland, OR 97208) or the Association of Catholic Childhood (100 23rd Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144).

Patrick McCabe died October 22 at age 88. Judge McCabe practiced law in Pomeroy for 31 years before he was elected to the superior court for Asotin, Columbia and Garfield counties. He retired from the bench in 1983. After that, he served as court commissioner and judge pro tem for superior and district courts, and judge pro tem for the Washington Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Judge McCabe was a president of the Washington State Prosecuting Attorneys Association, served as a Scout master, and participated in several community-service projects and groups. Memorials may be made to the long-term care unit at Garfield County Memorial Hospital (PO Box 880, Pomeroy, WA 99347).

Lee Rhodes McNair died October 15 at age 71. Mr McNair practiced law in Seattle for more than 30 years. Prior to attending law school, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. McNair was a graduate of Colgate University and was an active alumni until his death. An avid golfer, he enjoyed many hours on the course in Sequim and in Naples, Florida, where he resided since 1993.

Alfred L. Newbould died September 30 at age 74. Mr. Newbould worked for the City of Seattle for 21 years as a law clerk, assistant corporation counsel, and corporation counsel. He also served as president of the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers. In 1974, he left the city to be an auxiliary captain in the Salvation Army, serving appointments in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and California. Mr. Newbould was a lifelong Salvation Army Band enthusiast and served as a bandsman and bandmaster in several corps. In 1977, he opened a private practice in Seattle, where he worked until his retirement in 1983.

Paul Edward Sinnit died November 11 at age 81. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Mr. Sinnit graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law. He was a prosecuting attorney in Kitsap County, and then became chief counsel for the highway department. Precedent established by Mr. Sinnit helped form the current state of eminent domain in Washington. During his 50-year legal career, he authored law-review articles, wrote sections of the Washington Real Property Deskbook, was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and received numerous awards.

Stanley C. Soderland died November 28 at age 84 of complications from Parkinson's disease. In his 40-year career, Judge Soderland served as a law clerk under U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, worked as a personal-injury lawyer, and served as a King County Superior Court judge for 15 years. He was instrumental in rewriting jury instructions during his term on the bench. Memorials may be made to the University of Washington School of Law (Office of Development & Community Relations, UW School of Law, 1100 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98105-6617).