Williams Kastner Welcomes Three New Attorneys to the Spokane Office
Williams Kastner is proud to announce the addition of three new attorneys to its Spokane, Washington office: Amy M. Mensik, William “Bill” Symmes, and Abigail “Abby” Maurer-Lesser. The addition of these three exceptional attorneys adds to William Kastner’s already robust Construction, Labor & Employment, and Litigation practice groups and helps further solidify the firm’s presence...
Celebrating Black Americans and the Arts
Have you ever made an effort to learn about the origin of Black History Month and its impact on the nation? Black History Month was the outgrowth of a movement started by historian Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves who, though largely self-taught, was the second Black American to receive a Ph.D. from...
Williams Kastner Announces New 2024 Members
January 01, 2024 ─ Williams Kastner is pleased to announce the promotion of two of the firm’s attorneys: Heidi L. Mandt (Portland) is being promoted to Equity Member and Miles Stewart (Seattle) is being promoted to Member. “We are very proud of Heidi and Miles and truly appreciate their contributions to our firm and our...
Trucking Industry Facing Spike in Nuclear Verdicts
The trucking industry in the U.S. has been facing a tremendous surge in so-called “nuclear verdicts,” which are those large enough to cause serious financial harm to a fleet or trucking company. How can your company defend itself against these kinds of verdicts? What happens when your business is involved in a lawsuit where the...
Newly Suggested Merger Guidelines Could Impact Tech Companies
When two companies merge, they combine forces and form a new entity that is intended to be bigger than the sum of its parts. Companies may choose to merge for a number of reasons, but the ultimate goal is to gain market share and increase profitability. If too many mergers occur within a particular industry,...
NOAA Releases Five-Year Plan to Prioritize the Nation’s Seafood Industry
In August 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a new plan to increase support and technology for the U.S. seafood industry. This plan is meant to strengthen the sector against competition from illegal fishing and challenges caused by climate change. Understanding how this plan will affect companies operating within this industry will...
Moving Toward a Cohesive COVID Court System?
An Analysis of Federal Jurisdiction of Personal Injury Claims Arising Out of the Pandemic A host of tort lawsuits filed over the past few years involving nursing homes and patients’ allegations that they contracted COVID-19 due to the nursing homes’ negligence provides an opportunity for national and multi-state employers to analyze and prepare for how...
Rising Construction Costs Impacting Insurance Rates
The recent surge in inflation across the economy has impacted the price builders must pay for various forms of insurance. Simply stated, rising costs mean potential claims are worth more, and insurance companies must charge more to assume this risk. From an insurance company’s standpoint, they need to anticipate far more contingencies than they would...
Increased Risks for Banks Lending to Commercial Real Estate Due to Empty Offices in the Wake of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic, a public health crisis of unparalleled proportions, sent shockwaves through the world, disrupting every corner of the global economy. Few sectors, however, have borne the brunt of the fallout as significantly as commercial real estate (CRE). The swift pivot to remote work, mandated by public health imperatives, has triggered changes, compelling many...
ChatGPT / AI Could Be a Big Liability for Business Owners, Particularly in the Healthcare Industry
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various business sectors, including the healthcare industry. From diagnosing diseases and predicting treatment outcomes to providing efficient customer service through virtual assistants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the potential of AI in healthcare is enormous. This blog post explores these potential liabilities and considers possible strategies to address them....
Williams Kastner Trial Team: Successful Defense in a Negligence and One-time Discrimination Case Against Walmart
Williams Kastner trial team consisting of Eddy Silverman, Ashley Langley, Tristan Pirak, Xavier Gardner, and Nick Sacco successfully defended a negligence and one-time discrimination case against Walmart, prevailing outright on 2-of-3 of the plaintiffs’ causes of action and persuading the Federal Court jury to award only $5,000 total on the plaintiffs’ remaining claim. The case...
Williams Kastner Celebrates Grand Opening of Inland Northwest Office at the Historic Davenport in Spokane
Spokane, WA – June 7, 2023 – Williams Kastner, a leading full-service law firm with offices in Seattle and Portland, marked a significant milestone in its regional presence with the opening of its Inland Northwest office in Spokane. The firm celebrated the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 5, 2023, held at the...