Picture of Michael T. Pfau

Michael T. Pfau

Partner
pfaum@gth-law.com
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Phone: 206.676.7533
 Fax: 206.676.7575

One Union Square
600 University, Suite 2100
Seattle, Washington 98101

Primary Areas of Practice

Personal injury, including victims of sexual abuse, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and products liability; Class Action/Mass Torts; General Tort and Commercial Litigation
 

Education

J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1991

B.A., Philosophy and Psychology, Boston College, 1987
magna cum laude

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

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

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

American Bar Association

Washington State Bar Association

Illinois Bar Association

King County Bar Association

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

Cook County Bar Association

Washington State Trial Lawyers Association

Professional History

  • Joined Firm in 1994
  • Attorney with Baker & McKenzie, Chicago, 1991-94
  • As a trial lawyer, Mr. Pfau has tried in excess of 50 cases to juries, the bench and arbitration panels. He has obtained multiple verdicts in excess of $1,000,000 for clients and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements for his clients.
  • Mr. Pfau specializes in representing victims of childhood sexual abuse against perpetrators and the institutions that employ and protect sexual predators. Mr. Pfau has represented hundreds of victims of childhood sexual abuse and as lead counsel has recovered in excess of $75 million in cases against the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormon Church), the State of Washington, the Society of Jesus, the Boy Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, and a variety of schools, religious organizations and other corporations and employers.
  • Mr. Pfau has represented victims in sexual abuse cases in Washington, California, Idaho, Alaska and Louisiana.

Representative Cases/Transactions

  • Catholic Diocese of Spokane
    Mr. Pfau was co-lead counsel representing 75 victims of childhood sexual abuse in multiple lawsuits against the Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Mr. Pfau and his clients were instrumental in negotiating a $48 million settlement for more than 100 sex-abuse victims from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane who were molested by priests and other church officials. The settlement incorporates concessions requested by victims, including a written apology from the church, places for victims to speak and write about their ordeals, and a promise from Catholic officials to stop calling them “alleged” victims.

  • Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and other Catholic entities
    Mr. Pfau has represented hundreds of victims of childhood sexual abuse by priests and employees of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and other Catholic entities, including the Society of Jesus, the Christian Brothers of Ireland, and the Benedictines. Mr. Pfau has recovered approximately $30 million in settlements for victims of childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by the employees of these entities.

  • Jane Doe v. Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, __ Wn. App.___, 167 P.3d 1193 (2007). Mr. Pfau acted as co-lead counsel in this case that was tried to verdict in 2005. Following trial, a jury awarded two young women $4.2 million for sexual abuse perpetrated by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormon Church). The case is presently being appealed by the Church to the Washington State Supreme Court. The verdict is believed to be one of the largest verdicts against a religious organization for the sexual abuse of children in the state of Washington.

  • B.B. v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, et al., King County Superior Court Cause No.: 06-2-14120-2. Mr. Pfau and his co-counsel, Darrell Cochran, obtained a $1.1 million settlement on behalf of a victim of childhood sexual abuse by a Christian Brother employed as a principal at a Catholic grade school in Seattle. This is believed to be the largest single victim, Catholic clergy settlement against the Archdiocese of Seattle.

  • Loomis, et al. v. City of Puyallup Police Department, et al., U.S.D.C. Cause No.: C02-5417. Mr. Pfau tried this case as lead counsel against the Puyallup Police Department on behalf of the parents of a mentally ill man who was killed by a Puyallup Police Officer. After obtaining a favorable verdict on liability, the case settled in the middle of trial for $940,000.

  • R.C. et al. v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archbishop of Seattle, et al., King County Superior Court Cause No.02-2-16505-2. Mr. Pfau represented 16 victims of abuse by Seattle priest Father James McGreal. The case settled for $8.6 million.

  • Kenneth Fleming, et al. v. Church of Latter Day Saints, U.S.D.C. Cause No.: C04-2338. Mr. Pfau represented four victims of sexual abuse by a Mormon scout master. Three of the cases settled for a confidential amount. Mr. Pfau tried a fourth case to verdict against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormon Church) in 2006. The jury returned a gross verdict of $1.4 million.

  • P1, P2, P3 v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archbishop of Seattle, et al., King County Superior Court Cause No.: 04-2-15884-2. Mr. Pfau represented two victims of abuse by Seattle priest Father John Cornelius. The cases settled for $1,075,000.

  • J.S. v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archbishop of Seattle, Cause No.: 04-2-40947-1. Mr. Pfau represented a victim of abuse by Fr. Ed Boyle, a priest of the Seattle Archdiocese. The case settled for $825,000.

  • P.C. v. The Salvation Army, et al., King County Superior Court Cause No.: 05-2-02400-3. Mr. Pfau represented a victim of abuse by a Salvation Army coach and employee. The case settled for $500,000.

  • A.H., et al. v. Christian Faith Center, King County Superior Court Cause No.: 04-2-36590-2. Mr. Pfau represented the family of a victim of abuse by a minister of the Christian Faith Center. The case settled for $705,000.

Honors, Publications & Presentations

  • Named “Superlawyer” by WASHINGTON LAW & POLITICS (2003-2007)
  • University of Michigan Law School, Moot Court Semi-Finalist
  • Boston College Scholar of the College
  • Order of the Cross and Crown (Honor Society for academic and extracurricular excellence)
  • Dean’s List, Boston College, 1983-87
  • Golden Key Honor Society
  • National Dean's List