Vinnie Nappo is tenacious in his fight for justice—and closure—for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Every day he sees firsthand the damaging effects survivors face because of the reckless and selfish acts of powerful entities and institutions that enabled and allowed abuse to go on for decades. He combines his legal knowledge, practical experience, and emotional strength to hold these institutions accountable, whether it be the Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts of America, schools, foster care providers, or other youth serving institutions.
For too long, these institutions marginalized and ignored survivors of sexual abuse and assault. But their voices are finally being heard and believed. Vinnie devotes his practice to representing these men and women— empowering them, supporting their claims in court, and fighting for them at trial.
For Vinnie, litigating a sexual abuse case is not just a business transaction. Clients are not merely “files on a desk.” Each case is a person with unique concerns, objectives, and needs. Vinnie genuinely cares for each of the men and women he represents. He guides them compassionately through the highly emotional and complex legal process while ensuring they receive the best representation and outcome possible.
In the community, Vinnie’s volunteer and lobbying efforts are motivated by his desire to prevent sexual abuse and empower survivors through sensible public policy and initiatives at state and federal levels across the country. As part of a broader strategy to make communities safer and help abuse victims come forward for healing and closure, he volunteers alongside law enforcement, victim advocates, think tanks, policy groups, politicians, and others.
When he is not at work, Vinnie spends most of his time with his wife and twin boys, enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest and all it has to offer.
Honors
• Rising Star, Washington Law & Politics Magazine, 2017–present
Representative Cases
• $8.5 million settlement on behalf of two sisters against State of Washington and DSHS for sexual abuse by foster parent
• $3 million sexual abuse settlement against State of Washington and CPS for failing to properly investigate an abusive home
• $2 million sexual abuse settlement against State of Washington and DSHS on behalf of two girls who were sexually abused in a foster care home
• $1.7 million sexual abuse settlement against State of Washington and CPS for failing to properly investigate an abusive home
• $975,000 sexual abuse settlement against Spokane Community College on behalf of a young girl who was sexually abused at a childcare center by an adult volunteer
• $750,000 settlement for a special needs’ child against State of Washington and CPS for failing to properly investigate neglect in the home
• $600,000 sexual abuse settlement against Burlington-Edison School District on behalf of a high school student who was sexually abused by an adult volunteer instructor
• $325,000 sexual abuse settlement against a perpetrator-uncle who abused his niece in the home
• $237,500 sexual abuse settlement against Lake Washington School District on behalf of a high school student who was sexually assaulted by a school employee
• $144,746.48 jury verdict in a civil trial against a construction company, the defendant, offering $20,000 to settle before trial, involving a motor vehicle accident that resulted in no visible property damage to the vehicles, but permanent injury to the plaintiff
• $142,400 sexual abuse settlement against a perpetrator-step father on behalf of a stepdaughter
• Confidential settlements against owners of www.backpage.com on behalf of three minor girls who were trafficked and sold for sex on the website
• Numerous confidential settlements against the Boy Scouts of America for sexual abuse in Scouting
• Appellate Cases: J.S. v. Village Voice Media Holdings, L.L.C., 184 Wn.2d 95 (2015), where the Washington Supreme Court upheld a trial court’s refusal to dismiss claims brought by three girls who alleged they were trafficked for sex on www.backpage.com, which had asserted immunity under the Communications Decency Act
Classes & Seminars
• CLE Presentation: “Tort and Consumer Law,” March 26, 2021, Washington State Bar Association Reinstatement/Refresher Course
• CLE Presentation: “Torts 101,” August 27, 2020, Washington State Bar Association Reinstatement/Refresher Course
• CLE Presentation: “Plaintiff’s Personal Injury from Start to Finish: Ethical Considerations for the Plaintiff’s Attorney,” November 1, 2019. National Business Institute
• CLE Presentation: “Plaintiff’s Personal Injury from Start to Finish: Understanding the Law on Damages,” November 1, 2019. National Business Institute
• CLE Presentation: “Personal Injury Claims in Bankruptcy,” October 8, 2019. King County Bar Association
• CLE Presentation: “Adding Insult to Injury: Personal Injury Claims in Bankruptcy,” May 15, 2019. Washington State Bar Association
• CLE Presentation: “Personal Injury Bootcamp: Conducting Thorough Client Intake and Pre-Suit Investigation,” September 3, 2019. National Business Institute
• CLE Presentation: “Cross Examination and Redirect,” Trial Advocacy Program, March 30, 2019. Washington State Bar Association
• Guest speaker: “Online Sex Trafficking and Foster Care,” June 19, 2019. The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
• Guest speaker: Backpage.com Litigation, “Freedom Fighters: The Battle Against Modern Slavery,” January 12, 2018. Grace Farms Foundation, New Canaan, Connecticut
• Guest speaker: Backpage.com Litigation, “Fighting Modern Day Slavery,” January 11, 2018. YWCA Greenwich, Connecticut
• CLE Presentation: Online Commercial Sex Trafficking Litigation, “Anti-Human Trafficking Series Part II,” January 18, 2018. American Association for Justice
• Guest speaker: “Online Commercial Sex Trafficking and the Fight Against Backpage.com,” Respond Spokane Conference, December 5, 2017, Partners with Families & Children
• CLE Presentation: “Website Liability: The Communications Decency Act,” November 29, 2017, American Association for Justice
• CLE Presentation: Effective Use of Interrogatories and Requests for Production, “Low Bono Program,” November 7, 2017, Seattle University School of Law
• CLE Presentation: Effective use of Discovery, “Bridging the Gap,” December 9, 2016, King County Bar Association
• Guest speaker: Young Lawyers Panel at WSBA’s Trial Advocacy Program, October 28, 2016, Washington State Bar Association
• CLE Presentation: Effective Use of Interrogatories and Requests for Production, “Effective Tools for the 21st Century Litigator,” September 21, 2016, Washington State Bar Association
• CLE Presentation: Motions in Limine, “How to Harness the Power of Your Team for Trial,” February 12, 2016, Washington State Association for Justice
Pro-Bono Activities
• King County Superior Court Appointed Special Advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children (CASA)
• Seattle Against Slavery
• Washington Engage
• King County Neighborhood Law Clinic
Professional Associations
• Washington State Association for Justice
• King County Bar Association
• King County Young Lawyers Division, Former Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer, 2014-2017
• National Crime Victims Bar Association
• American Association for Justice
• Washington State Bar Association , Past Chair, WSBA Litigation Section Committee, 2013—present
