COMPLEX LITIGATION

Primary areas of focus for the Complex Litigation practice area include:

Commercial Litigation

Commercial litigation, from routine litigation to the most complex litigation, is a cornerstone of the legal services offered by the firm. Our lawyers are involved in the full spectrum of commercial litigation and represent a wide variety of individuals and businesses in the myriad disputes that arise in today's business world.

Betts Patterson & Mines' litigators have been involved in a variety of complex litigation, including antitrust, RICO, securities fraud, copyright and trademark and trade name infringement, contract disputes, tax cases, and real estate disputes. We represent participants in construction projects, ranging from owners to architects and contractors, as well as sureties and title insurers.

Commercial litigation requires specialized training and experience. When necessary, our commercial litigators work closely with other attorneys in the taxation, bankruptcy, real estate, banking, business, insurance, and international practice areas to achieve the best result for our clients.

Defense Litigation

Betts, Patterson & Mines has long been recognized as a preeminent Seattle defense litigation firm, excelling in the practice of insurance defense law.. Defense Litigation focuses on the representation of insureds, self-insureds, insurers, and others involved in the risk industry. We routinely defend product manufacturers in a variety of industries; claims for toxic or environmental exposures; construction site injury and construction defect claims, including mold claims; claims against nursing homes, accountants, attorneys, and other non-M.D. professionals; and general liability claims large and small.

Our attorneys are active in the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers. The firm is also a member of the Harmonie Group, an association of independent law firms that provide legal services to the risk and claim service industries. The Harmonie Group's mission is to provide a forum for discussion between member representatives and the risk and claim service industries and to improve the legal services provided by member firms through the sharing of expertise and the use of technology.

Insurance Coverage and Extra Contractual Litigation

The Insurance Coverage Litigation Practice focuses on the representation of primary, excess, surplus and umbrella insurers in a wide variety of disputes involving commercial general liability and professional liability coverages. The firm specializes in handling disputes involving long-term environmental contamination claims, construction defect claims, bad faith and related extra contractual liability claims, and various property damage and bodily injury claims. We have significant experience representing insurers in disputes involving personal lines policies, employment practices liability policies and cargo/freight forwarder policies.

Class Action

Whether representing plaintiff classes or defendants faced with class action claims, we offer decades of trial experience, depth of staffing, organizational skills and technology tools to vigorously prosecute or defend large-scale litigation. Our reputation as one of the top litigation firms in the Pacific Northwest makes us ideally suited to handle such complex litigation. We have litigated against some of the largest and most sophisticated law firms in the country with highly successful results.