As discussed in our prior entry, Negligent Transmission of STIs in Washington State, there are civil remedies available for people who unknowingly contracted STD/STIs due to another individual’s negligence. Still, these are difficult cases with lots of things to consider going in. Here are a few things to keep in mind when pursuing a negligent transmission of STD/STI claim.
1. Does...Read More
Mandatory arbitration applies to cases where either (1) the damages sought are under $100,000.00 or (2) the damages sought are in excess of $100,000.00, but in order to resolve the case more quickly and with less expense you are willing to accept $100,000.00 or less. When my office files a lawsuit that is going to be placed in Civil Arbitration, this fact is disclosed in the initial Complaint...Read More
If your case goes to a jury trial, these are the generally steps involved:
Motions in limine and other pre-trial motions. Usually before the trial starts the judge will rule on pre-trial motions made by both parties that set forth some ground rules and addresses some evidentiary issues.
Selecting Jury. In a jury case, the first step is to question prospective jurors to determine whether they...Read More
There are two main methods of resolving legal claims: settlement and litigation. Settlement involves all parties coming to a mutually acceptable agreement. Settlement is a voluntary process that requires everyone’s participation and agreement. Litigation does not require participation or agreement. Instead each party has an opportunity to present their side of the story through witnesses and...Read More
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, the law still requires that you take reasonable steps to mitigate your damages. This requires you to take reasonable steps to minimize your damages. The key to understanding this is that you must act reasonably. Here are some examples:
If you take reasonable steps to minimize your losses, the odds that you will be satisfied...Read More
If the other driver was uninsured or had less liability insurance than your total damages, then you can make a first party claim for Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) under your own policy. All policies in Washington have UIM coverage unless your insurance company obtained a written, signed waiver of coverage. UIM coverage extends to named insureds on the policy, minors residing in the...Read More
