Alayna Nicholes is Of Counsel in the Seattle office of Betts Patterson & Mines, P.S. Ms. Nicholes’ practice focuses on a variety of complex civil matters with a focus on insurance defense litigation. Alayna’s cases have involved the defense of insurance companies in disputes involving claims for breach of contract and bad faith, arising out of property loss and personal injury, defense of motor vehicle drivers against a full range of personal injury claims, including brain injury and permanent disability and defense of landowners in a wide variety of premises liability cases. Alayna has represented insurance companies in declaratory judgment actions involving claims for defamation, assault, exposure to mold and toxins, and sexual assault.

In the course of her practice, she has litigated cases in a number of counties in Washington State including Benton, Cowlitz, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Skagit, Spokane, Thurston, and Yakima, as well as counties in Oregon State including Clackamas, Clatsop, Jackson, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington. Her practice has included extensive motion practice in all levels of the state court system, as well as experience in federal court and appellate practice in Washington and Oregon.

Representative Cases

Jury Trials Include:

• Defense of insurance company in underinsured motorist case involving a claim that the chiropractic manipulation of the Plaintiff’s cervical spine caused a vertebral artery dissection. Finding no causal link, the jury awarded damages in an amount substantially less than the limits of the at-fault tortfeasor’s policy for a defense verdict. The case was tried in Clark County Superior Court.
• Defense of motorist in personal injury case involving a low speed, rear end accident with plaintiffs claiming permanent injuries. The jury returned a defense verdict in appoximately one-half hour. The case was tried in Clatsop County Superior Court.

Additional Cases

Appeals

• Lenning v. Seale – Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals reversed trial court order granting new trial and affirmed judgment for Defendant.