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James W. Beck

Partner
jbeck@gth-law.com
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Phone: 253.620.6402
 Fax: 253.620.6565

Wells Fargo Plaza, 1201 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2100
Tacoma, Washington 98402

Primary Areas of Practice

Civil Rights, Personal Injury, Employment Law, Class Actions, Healthcare Law, Governmental Liability, Complex Media Law Litigation, Appellate Practice

Education

J.D., Georgia State University, 2003
Graduated first in class
summa cum laude

B.S., Ecology, University of Georgia, 1999

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Washington State Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

Washington State Bar Association

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

Member of Washington State For Justice Association

Member of Washington Employment Lawyers Association

Professional History


  • Law Clerk Extern to the Honorable Marvin H. Shoob, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Gerry L. Alexander, Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
  • Briefed and argued multiple appeals, including cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court
  • First chaired jury trials in both state and federal court

Representative Cases/Transactions

  • Represented the families of two Forest Service Firefighters in a wrongful death action arising from the Thirty Mile Fire tragedy of 2001. In related litigation, Mr. Beck represented civilians against the U.S. Forest Service for injuries also sustained during the Thirty Mile Fire. Both lawsuits were successfully resolved before trial. Hagemeyer v. The United States of America, E.D. Wash. Cause No. 2:04-cv-03061; Fitzpatrick v. Anchor Industries Inc., E.D. Wash. Cause No. 2:04-cv-03123
  • Co-counsel in trial representing a paralyzed skier in a case against Ski Lifts Inc. The jury returned a 14 million dollar verdict in the plaintiffs' favor after proving that the resort was negligent in its construction of a man-made ski jump and in its failure to respond to repeated prior injuries and specific warnings by other customers. Salvini v. Ski Lifts Inc., King County Cause No. 05-2-13652-9. The case was appealed and affirmed by Division One of the Court of Appeals. Salvini v. SkiLifts, Inc., 2008 WL 4616708 (2008). Review was subsequently denied by Washington State Supreme Court.
  • Integral member of litigation team that prevailed before the Washington Supreme Court in Kruger v. Regence BlueShield, 157 Wn.2d 290 (2006), which invalidated illegal arbitration provisions in healthcare-provider contracts
  • Co-counsel in case representing 28,000 former students of Washington based Business Computer Training Institute ("BCTI") in class action regarding educational services provided by school. Litigation resulted in a 13.25 million dollar settlement. Wright v. Business Computer Training Institute, Inc., Pierce County Cause No. 05-2-05763-2
  • Trial counsel for U.S. Air Force Reservist who was terminated from employment after his return from active service. The case was tried before a federal jury resulting in an ultimate award of $614,334.51 for the Reservist. Delay v. Ace Heating, W.D. Wash. Cause No. C06-1008
  • Trial Counsel for family of slain Rainier, Washington resident in wrongful death action. The case was tried before a Thurston County jury resultingin a verdict for the Plaintiffs of 4.37 million dollars. Keith v. Skewis, Thurston County Cause No. 06-2-01220-5
  • Appellate Counsel on case regarding scope and enforceability of arbitration agreement.  Nelson v. Westport Shipyard, Inc., 140 Wn. App. 102 (2007)
  • Serving as Appellate Counsel and acquiring reversal of summary judgment dismissal on sex discrimination lawsuit against Western State Hospital.  Doe v. State,  2008 WL 929885 (2008)
  • Appellate Co-Counsel on employment discrimination lawsuit against Thurston County Prosecutor's Office.  Trial judgment of approximately $3,000,000 affirmed by published decision of Division II of the Court of Appeals.  Broyles v. Thurston County, 147 Wn. App. 409 (2008)
  • Counsel for The News Tribune in Public Records Act lawsuit regarding scope of attorney-client privilege.  Prevailed before the Washington State Supreme Court in efforts to acquire access to records subject to a temporary restraining order.  Morgan v. City of Federal Way, 166 Wn.2d 747 (2009)

Community Activities

  • Frequent speaker at various CLE presentations
  • Member, The Mountaineers

Honors, Publications & Presentations

  • Named Rising Star by Washington Law & Politics
  • ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law
  • Outer Barristers’ Guild Award
  • Regents’ Opportunity Scholarship Recipient
  • Phi Delta Phi Professional Responsibility Honor