In addition to being admitted to practice in Washington and Oregon, I am also admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (1978), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1980) and the United States Supreme Court (1985).  I have participated at the trial and appellate level in all three federal forums.

Before the United States Supreme Court, I participated in the landmark zoning case involving adult entertainment in City of Renton, et al. v. Playtime Theatres, Inc., et al., 475 U.S. 41 (1986) that successfully established municipal zoning limitations on the location of adult entertainment uses.  This case is studied in law school and appears in case books on constitutional law and the First Amendment. 

Recently, I represented the City of Renton against the federal government in U.S. District Court in United States v. City of Renton, et al., (W.D. Wash., Case No. 2:11-cv-01156).  This case resulted in a favorable ruling on retroactivity of the 2011 Stormwater Amendment to the Clean Water Act, permitting municipalities to recover storm water fees for federal facilities.   This case has been described by the media as having national implications for local governments in their efforts to comply with the Clean Water Act.

My litigation experience includes prosecuting multi-million dollar claims on behalf of individuals in serious injury and death cases and defending major tort claims brought against governmental entities.  Additionally, I have litigated real estate and contract claims, and actions based upon municipal exercise of the power of eminent domain and condemnation, including securing right of way for the City of Renton in connection with an extensive $42 million  dollar roadway improvement project.