Although practicing in one of the most conservative areas of the state, we have earned a reputation as a statewide leader in plaintiffs' personal-injury and wrongful-death cases. We recently resolved a car crash case for $4.1 million, a school liability case for $3.5 million, the largest settlement in the history of Kittitas County, resolved a Klickitat County case for $2.5 million, the largest settlement in that county's history, and obtained the largest jury award for a client with a soft-tissue neck injury in the history of Yakima County. Other recent successes include significant awards in motor vehicle collision, construction site, brain injury, and nursing home cases.
Among the attorneys in our firm are two past officers of the Washington State Association for Justice (formerly the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association). Mr. Abeyta has been recognized as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the state when he was named to the Damaged Attorney's Round Table. DART has only 23 members in the state with only two coming from Eastern Washington. He has also been named to the Best Lawyers in America, Law Dragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Lawyer in America, and American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA).
Two of our partners, Terry Abeyta and Rod Nelson, have been named Super Lawyers by Washington Law & Politics. Mr. Abeyta has been a Super Lawyer every year since 2000 and Mr. Nelson every year since 2001. Mr. Abeyta has repeatedly been named one of the top 100 Super Lawyers in the state. John Kapuza and Greg Lighty have been named Rising Stars by Washington Law & Politics.
Our firm is the only plaintiff's personal injury law firm in Yakima and Kittitas Counties with two partners named as Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers are nominated by other lawyers who have seen that attorney in action and then reviewed by a blue ribbon panel. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are so honored.
Our attorneys have contributed to national text on auto accident litigation as well as desk books published by the Washington State Bar Association and Washington State Trial Lawyers Association to teach other lawyers how to handle auto cases. One of our attorneys has also written a consumer guide on auto insurance which is used across the state.
We have grown to a firm of four attorneys with a support staff of 15, including a full-time investigator and medical coordinator (M.N. and J.D.). The firm limits its practices to handling plaintiff's personal-injury and wrongful-death cases.
