Joe Gordon, Jr.
Of CounselDownload VCard Print This Profile
Phone: 253.620.6409
Fax: 253.620.6565
Toll Free: 800.240.5051
Wells Fargo Plaza, 1201 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2100
Tacoma, Washington 98402
Primary Areas of Practice
Commercial, Landlord/Tenant, Real Estate, and Workers' Compensation Litigation; Arbitration and Mediation.Education
J.D., Stanford University School of Law, 1964
B.A., History, Stanford University, 1961
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Washington State CourtsU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association
Board of Trustees, 1988-1990
Lawyer Referral Committee Chair, 1972-1980
Washington State Bar Association
Adjunct Investigative Counsel, 2004-2009
Special District Counsel, 1986-2004
Group and Prepaid Legal Services Committee Chair, 1981-1982
Washington State Courts Historical Society
Board of Directors, 1999-Present
Washington State Courts Historical Society
Member, Board of Directors
Professional History
- Joined Firm, 1968
- Pierce County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem , 2000-Present
- American Arbitration Association, Panelist, 1992-Present
- Washington State Assistant Attorney General, Department of Labor & Industries, 1965-1968
- Washington State Supreme Court, Law Clerk for Justice Matthew W. Hill, 1964-1965
Community Activities
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
- Board of Directors, 1985-1991
- Secretary, 1986-1989
- Chair, 1989-1991
Stanford University Law School
- Board of Visitors, 1987-1990
Rotary Club of Tacoma
- Board of Directors, 1985-1988
Downtown Tacoma Boys Club
- Board of Directors, 1981-1983
Mary Bridge Hospital and Health Center
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee, 1973-1976
Honors, Publications & Presentations
- AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell
- 2007 Civility Award, Honorable Robert J. Bryan Chapter of the American Inns of Court
- Selected for Inclusion in Washington Super Lawyers, General Litigation, 2000
Papers & Presentations
Continuing Legal Education Presentations: Evictions from the Landlord's Perspective; Ethical Dilemmas for the Practicing Lawyer; Evictions in Washington; Courtroom Opening Statements; Presenting Medical Evidence. Co-Author, Evictions in Washington, National Business Institute.
Representative Cases
Handled over 20 cases in Washington Appellate Courts:
- Kingery v. Department of Labor & Industries, 132 Wn.2d 162 - Significant decision on the issue of whether equitable relief is available to an injured worker who fails to file a timely appeal with the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, discussed at length in Pearson v. Department of Labor & Industries, 164 Wn. App. 426, 433-438
- Jepson v. Department of Labor & Industries, 89 Wn.2d 394 - Affirmed mandatory industrial insurance coverage for client, a corporate officer, despite his failure to notify the Department prior to his injury that he had elected to be covered
- North Pacific Plywood, Inc. v. Access Road Builders, Inc., 29 Wn. App. 228 - Affirmed judgment in favor of client for damages resulting from breach of contract to build a logging road
- Jackson v. People's Federal Credit Union, 25 Wn. App. 81 - Reversed judgment against client for damages based upon the tort of outrage in repossessing an automobile
- Fochtman v. Department of Labor & Industries, 7 Wn. App. 286 - Reversed dismissal of client's industrial insurance claim, establishing for the first time that a vocational expert is qualified to give an opinion on the ability of an injured worker to obtain and perform gainful employment
- Fife Properties v. Occupational Medical Clinic of Fife, Unpublished - Reversed judgment that denied client landlord reasonable attorney fees and double damages in a commercial eviction action
- Litigated cases in the superior courts of 26 Washington counties, and commenced over 1,000 eviction actions on behalf of landlords or property managers:
- Anderson v. Grays Harbor PUD#1 - Obtained jury verdict in favor of PUD defending wrongful death claim arising from electrocution of the decedent after the mast of a sailboat he was carrying came into contact with an overhead power line
- Best v. Kitsap County - Obtained jury verdict in favor of County defending wrongful death claim resulting from an automobile accident in which the decedent entered an intersection after a controlling stop sign had been vandalized
- Ferguson v. Department of Labor & Industries - Obtained jury verdict in favor of injured worker, reversing decision of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals that he was not totally and permanently disabled
- Jackson v. Boeing Co. - Obtained judgment in favor of injured worker, reversing decision of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals that his prostate condition was not aggravated by an industrial Injury
- Rath v. NIMO LLC - Obtained judgment after trial in an eviction action, cancelling tenant's option to purchase and restoring possession of commercial real property to clients
- Savage v. Williams - Obtained favorable settlement in case where promissory notes held by clients were in default for over 20 years, successfully resisting defendants' motion for summary judgment based upon the statute of limitations and subsequent motion for discretionary review to the Court of Appeals