Some of our results

All of these cases have been concluded. This is a small selection of our past cases.

Insurance bad faith

Homeowners claim against American Family

Hard-fought victory and significant settlement for an Enumclaw, Washington family, which allowed them to rebuild their classic home.

Grocery store destruction by fire

State-court litigation involving grocery store in Quincy, Washington. Obtained relief that allowed the store to be rebuilt from the foundation.

Fire on Boat in Seattle

Represented the owner of a vessel that burned on Lake Union, against an insurance company that accused the policyholder of setting fire to her own boat. Obtained a large settlement on client’s behalf.

Underinsured motorist claim against state farm

Federal court litigation arising from a high-speed rear-end collision. Achieved favorable settlement.

Manufactured home insurance claim against foremost

Federal court litigation involving a significant water loss in our client’s manufactured home. Case details involved the insurer’s failure to fully investigate and its failure to provide alternative housing for the policyholder. Achieved favorable settlement.

Denial of life-saving treatment by uniform medical Plan

State court litigation obtaining determination that the law creating the Health Technology Clinical Committee as implemented was unconstitutional. Obtained life-saving implantation of a spinal cord stimulator for our client, a former judge.

Representation of king County Relating to defects at brightwater plant

State court litigation involving a one-of-a-kind insurance policy endorsement against King County’s insurer, resulting in multimillion dollar recovery for the County.

Covenant Judgment and Bad faith Action Against Farmers

Successfully defended a covenant judgment in Bird v. Best Plumbing at the Washington Supreme Court and brought bad faith action against Farmers. Favorable result achieved. Attorneys Will Smart and Isaac Ruiz co-counseled with Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell.

Major water damage in high-end Kalama home

Represented owner of a home devastated by a hot-water leak that occurred while traveling. Obtained an appraisal award of $2.8 million, which was multiples larger than the insurance company’s offer. The extracontractual bad-faith and IFCA claims were subsequently settled.

Personal Injury

Motorcycle CrashES

One of our clients was hit by a negligent driver while riding his motorcycle, causing life-altering injuries. Achieved multi-million dollar settlement. Another of our clients brought suit (handled with Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell) based on a restaurant’s negligent service of alcohol to a minor.

SCALPING INJURY AT GO-CART FACILITY

In 2005, Will Smart and Isaac Ruiz worked on opposite sides of a case in which a woman was scalped and permanently disfigured when her hair was caught in the axle of a go-cart. This was the case that convinced Isaac to become a plaintiff attorney and team up with Will. The plaintiff obtained a significant settlement.

Major Traumatic Brain INjury Cases from defective cross walks

Will Smart—together with Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell—represented three plaintiffs who were struck by vehicles in poorly maintained and poorly designed crosswalks in the City of Seattle, achieving successful results in each.

Major INjuries Caused by Security Staff at Bartell

Represented elder who was knocked down while security staff at a Bartell drug store attempted to apprehend a shoplifter. Obtained favorable result for client and his wife.

police officer Gunshot injury

Represented police officer who was shot by a suspect. The case settled for most of the available assets of the defendant.

Foreign Objects in Food

Represented several clients in cases involving foreign bodies in food (including a nail in a Starbucks sandwich). These cases often cause major mouth injuries.

Employment Law

Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Against wafla

Represented multiple clients in cases against wafla (Washington Farm Labor Association). The cases have involved actions by the leader of the organization.

Lawsuit Against Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)

Represented employee of the bar association. The allegations involved a member of the powerful Board of Governors. The case was settled before trial.

Appeals

Bird v. Best Plumbing

Successfully defended a covenant judgment at the Washington Supreme Court.

MWW v. KIRIBATI SEAFOOD COMPANY

Successfully defended a reasonableness finding involving a covenant-judgment like settlement in Division 1 of the Washington Court of Appeals.

State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers

Filed amicus brief with Washington Supreme Court on behalf of Northwest Consumer Law Center.

Employee Benefits

Litigation arising from denial of long term disability by Standard Insurance Co.

Represented a physician whose disability prevented her from continuing with a highly respected practice.

Disability claim for leading seattle surgeon

Successfully represented surgeon in seeking long-term disability benefits, avoiding litigation.

Improperly Denied Life Insurance Benefits

Represented beneficiaries when an insurance company accepted a premium for a higher benefit but then failed to provide the higher benefit after the insured passed away.

Appeals of Medical Benefits Denials By Kaiser (Group Health)

Assisted claimants seeking reversals of denials by different health plans, including Group Health (now Kaiser).

Civil Rights and Community Work

Seattle Community Police Commission

Managing Attorney Isaac Ruiz served as Co-Chair from 2016 to 2019. He played a meaningful role in the passage of Seattle’s landmark accountability legislation.

QLaw Foundation

Ruiz served as President of the QLaw Foundation board, which provides free legal services for LGBTQ people and legal education. He was the editor of the official Bench Bar Guide on LGBTQ issues.

Kaiser v. CSL Plasma

Together with David Ward of Legal Voice, Isaac Ruiz, Kayti Knudsen, and Paige Lewis worked on a case involving discrimination by a plasma collection facility against a transgender woman. The team obtained a favorable summary-judgment order from the federal court before the matter was resolved.