K. Michael Fandel
Practice Emphasis
Antitrust & Complex Litigation, Hospitality, Beverage and Franchise & Distribution, Natural Resources & Manufacturing, Real Estate
BAR ADMISSIONS
Washington, 1986; Oregon, 2004
______________________________________________________________________Mike is a member of Graham & Dunn’s Board of Directors and acts as the firm’s general counsel. As a member of the firm’s Hospitality, Beverage, Franchise and Distribution team, Mike’s practice focuses on complex commercial and business litigation, including residential and commercial real estate, product liability, class action, contract claims and eminent domain. He also has extensive experience in insurance coverage counseling and litigation.
Mike has successfully represented petroleum product manufacturers, realtors, developers, management companies, franchisors, liability insurers, software developers, seafood processors, and other companies and individuals before state and federal courts and in arbitrations throughout the Western United States and internationally. His trial achievements include jury trial defense verdicts in a multi-million dollar product and premises liability class action, and in a six week, multi-family toxic exposure lawsuit. Mike is a frequent speaker and panelist on litigation topics relating to the hospitality, real estate and petroleum industries.
Represented major petroleum manufacturing company in an action brought by a former franchisee in Alaska. The plaintiff alleged that, although our client had extended credit to the franchisee on multiple occasions over the course of their relationship, our client had put the plaintiff out of business by declining to extend additional credit. The case was resolved on favorable terms after mediation with a Federal District Court judge.
Represented real estate agents and broker in a number of claims arising out of residential real estate transactions. One such recent action asserted numerous claims relating to purchase of a waterfront home. After successfully moving to dismiss most of the claims, the remaining claim was settled for a fraction of what the plaintiff had been demanding. The settlement not only resolved the claims against our clients, but also avoided an appeal of some of the legal issues that had been the basis for dismissing some of the underlying claims.
Represented petroleum refinery in a suit brought by the employee of a subcontractor, who was injured when he fell from his truck while loading at a refinery site. We successfully moved for summary judgment, arguing that our client owed no duty to the plaintiff because he was the employee of a contractor whose work was not controlled by our client. The dismissal was affirmed on appeal.
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Member, American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
Insurance Coverage Committee Member, American Bar Association
Member, Washington State Bar Association
Member, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
Member, King County Bar Association
RECOGNITION
Washington Law & Politics, “Super Lawyer,” 2000-2003
EDUCATION
J.D., cum laude, University of Puget Sound School of Law, 1986
B.A., University of Puget Sound, 1983
