Practice

• ‍Medical Professional Liability Defense
• Licensing and Disciplinary Actions
• Medical Staff, Peer Review, Privileging/Credentialing Products Liability
• Civil/Business Litigation
• Healthcare Risk Management

Representative Cases

• Defense verdict for a radiologist in a malpractice lawsuit claiming failure to identify a suspicious finding on a chest CT resulting in a delay in diagnosing metastatic breast cancer.
• Defense verdict on behalf of an anesthesiologist in a lawsuit claiming negligent placement and management of an epidural catheter for postoperative pain control in a patient undergoing a large abdominal surgery for ovarian cancer.
• Defense verdict for family practice physician in wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligent failure to diagnose coronary artery disease.
• Defense verdict for family practice physician in medical negligence lawsuit alleging failure to assess signs of a pending myocardial infarction during a phone consultation.
• Defense verdict for anesthesiologist in medical malpractice lawsuit alleging negligent extubation resulting in permanent brain damage.
• Defense verdict for primary care physician in medical malpractice lawsuit alleging failure to diagnose rhabdomyolysis leading to acute renal failure.
• Defense verdict for hospital in medical malpractice lawsuit alleging emergency medicine physician, hospitalist and hospital were negligent for failing to diagnose lower Gl bleed leading to patient death.
• Defense verdict for urologist in medical malpractice lawsuit alleging urologist negligently performed ultrasound guided bladder biopsy resulting in serious infection.
• Defense verdict for neurosurgeon in medical malpractice lawsuit alleging physician failed to diagnose and treat brain aneurysm.

Education

• ‍University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1995
• Gonzaga University, B.A., 1992, magna cum laude, 1992
  - Student Body President

Admitted to Practice

• ‍Washington State
• Oregon State
• United States District Court - Western District of Washington and Eastern District of Washington
• ‍United States District Court – Oregon

Professional Experience

• ‍Fain Anderson VanDerhoef Rosendahl O’Halloran Spillane, Principal/Owner 2015 - Present
• Williams Kastner & Gibbs, Member 2004 - 2015
• Williams Kastner & Gibbs, Associate 2000 - 2003
• U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, CPT 1995 - 2000
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London, U.K., Intern 1994
• U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Speaker, Washington D.C., Intern 1992

Professional Memberships

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• American Bar Association, Healthcare Law and Litigation Section
• Hon. Robert J. Bryan Chapter of the American Inns of Court, Former Barrister
• Tacoma- Pierce County Bar Association, Past President, Young Lawyers Division
• Washington State Bar Association, Healthcare Law Section
• Past Member, Legislative Committee
• Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Past Committee Chair for the South Sound Region
• Washington Health Care Risk Management Society
• Defense Research Institute
• Litigation Counsel of America

Publications & Presentations

• “Hospital Sole Defendant in Some ED Malpractice Claims,” quoted in ED Legal Letter, December 2019
• “Effective Tools for the 21st Century Litigator,” Presenter, Washington State Bar Association Seminar, September 2016.
  
• “Simple Actions Before Discharge Can Prevent Some ED Claims,” Commentator, ED Legal Letter, July 2015.
• "When patients are unable to pay for care that's needed, strategies to decrease risk," Commentator, Physician Risk Management, June 2014.
• "Change of Shift is 'Rife with Potential Legal Exposure' for Both EPs," Commentator, ED Legal Letter, May 2014.
• "E-Discovery: How to Prepare and Respond," Presenter, 2011 Annual Risk Managers Conference, October 14, 2011.
• "Developing a Successful Trial Strategy," Presenter, CHI Defense Counsel Conference, Denver, CO, September 29, 2011.
• "Ten Commandments of Giving a Good Deposition; Prescription Narcotics: Legal Issues; Informed Consent: What a Patient Needs to Know; Patient Termination," Presenter, Managing Risk in the Medical Office Setting, June 5, 2008.

Honors & Awards

• Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers
• 2023 Lawyer of the Year, as recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Seattle
• AV® PreeminentTM 5.0 rating by Martindale-Hubbell
• Named a Super Lawyer by Washington Super Lawyers, 2007-Present
• Best Lawyers in America® 2019, in the area of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Top 40 Under 40, Tacoma Business Examiner‍
• Top Business Attorneys in Healthcare in Washington, Washington CEO‍
• Named a Rising Star by Washington Super Lawyers, 2003 - 2004 Community

Community Involvement

• Geneva Foundation
  Board of Directors, 20I0 - 2017
  
• St. Patrick's School
  Commissioner and Chair, Strategic Planning Committee, 2011 - 2014
  
• Fellow, American Leadership Forum, Tacoma Chapter (Class XIX)
• Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2009