Joanne T. Blackburn
PartnerDownload VCard Print This Profile
Phone: 206.676.7540
Fax: 206.676.7575
One Union Square
600 University, Suite 2100
Seattle, Washington 98101
Primary Areas of Practice
Defense Litigation, Civil Litigation, Products Liability, Construction Law, Insurance Defense and Coverage, Appellate Advocacy
Education
J.D., University of Notre Dame, 1987
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1984
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Washington State CourtsCalifornia State Courts
Alaska State Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
American Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
Alaska Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
State Representative for Washington, 2004-08; Elected Board Member for the Northwest Region, 2008-11
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Member, Board of Directors, 2000-08; President, 2003
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
Member, 1999-present; Chair, Construction Committee, 2007-10; Member, Admissions Committee, 2008-11
Northwest Insurance Coverage Association
Professional History
- Joined Firm as Partner in 2008
- Jackson & Wallace LLP, Senior Partner, 2006-08
- Garvey, Schubert & Barer, Partner, 1999-2005
Recent Trial Verdicts
- Defended Pressure Point Control Tactics Management Systems (“PPCT”) in a three-week jury trial in Alaska superior court on a product liability claim. PPCT developed and designed a program that teaches use-of-force techniques to all divisions of the military, Homeland Security, police forces, prisons and other security companies. The plaintiff alleged that she had sustained injuries while participating in a PPCT program and requested damages of almost $670,000. The jury awarded a unanimous defense verdict after only one hour of deliberations and held that the PPCT program was not defective.
- Defended Smith Insurance Agency and its broker in a case claiming insurance broker negligence. The plaintiff alleged that he requested insurance coverage for his company from our clients but that they failed to purchase it. After tendering a claim he thought was covered, our clients informed the plaintiff that he had no such coverage. A claim was filed against our clients for alleged breach of fiduciary duty and special relationship, negligence and misrepresentation and sought $100,000 in damages. After a week-long jury trial, the jury returned a unanimous defense verdict in 30 minutes.
Community Activities
- FareStart, Board of Directors, 2001-present
- Member of the National Charity League, 2007-present
Honors
- Martindale Hubbell AV(T) Rated
- Selected for inclusion in Washington Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation, 2004-10
- AVVO Top Contracts/Agreements Lawyer,
Washington CEO Magazine, 2008
Papers & Presentations
- 2009 Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Winter Meeting: Construction and Professional Liability, “Stipulated Judgments and Covenants Not to Execute and the Implications for Liability of the Parties, Defense Counsel and Insurance Carriers.”
- 2009 Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Annual Insurance Law Seminar, “View on the Claims Desk on Duty to Defend.”
- 2010 Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Winter Meeting: “A Road Map – Stipulated Judgments and Covenants Not to Execute for Insurance Coverage, Construction, Insurance Industry and Reinsurance, Excess and Surplus Lines Sections.”
- 2010 Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Annual Construction Law Seminar, “Keepin’ it Covered: Practice Pointers for Defending “Mixed” and Complex Civil Claims from the Coverage Perspective.”
- 2010 Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Annual Insurance Law Seminar, Moderator of Judicial Panel Discussion: “Current Issues and Views from the Bench.”