Thomas Stratton has focused his practice on the defense of professional liability and E&O claims for more than thirty years. He manages a wide variety of claims against insurance producers, real estate agents, and attorneys, as well as defending construction and product liability claims. As appointed insurance defense counsel, Tom also handles personal injury claims involving sports organizations and premises liability. These claims have involved injuries as major as quadriplegia and death.
While Tom has successfully defended substantial claims through jury and court trials, he measures his success in terms of damage containment. A successful defense is one in which the insurer and client minimize both legal expenses and indemnity payment, as well as the client’s time involvement. Tom’s plan of action is to develop imaginative approaches to early and successful resolution of litigation.
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Tom develops and keeps clients by stressing client service. This means rapid response to requests along with meaningful and frequent reporting. His attention to detail has paid off in client loyalty; several major clients have worked with Tom for more than 20 years.
Prior to joining Bullivant, Tom was a shareholder at his boutique insurance defense firm. He started his career at the Pierce County prosecutor’s office in Washington State before entering private practice. With substantial courtroom experience, and having worked on both sides of the table, he offers a valuable perspective on putting together a winning case.
Tom litigates in state and federal trial courts and courts of appeals throughout the state of Washington as well as in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
PRACTICE AREAS
ADMISSIONS
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 1984
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
EDUCATION
- University of Washington School of Law – J.D., 1984
- University of Washington – B.A., 1980
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Annual Speaker/Presenter at IIABW and PIA Insurance Conferences
CLIENT WINS
- Colleen Long and Evergreen Athletics, LLC v. Sandra Flores, James Evans and Emerald City Gymnastics Academy, Inc., 17 Wash.App. 2d 1019 (2021) (unpublished opinion)
Court upheld summary judgment dismissal of all tortious interference, defamation, consipracy, Consumer Protection Act and abuse of process claims against Gymnastics Academy
- Reed-Jennings v. Baseball Club of Seattle, L.P., 188 Wash.App 320 (2015)
Court upheld summary judgment dismissal on lack of duty & assumption of risk.
- Johnson v. Spokane to Sandpoint, LLC, 175 Wash.App 1054, 309 P.3d 528 (2013)
Court upheld preinjury waiver and release.
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- Royal Ins. Co. of America v. Brady & Co. Inc., 146 Wash.App 1040 (2008)
Court concluded agent not proximate cause of carrier’s loss.
- Taylor v. Baseball Club of Seattle, L.P., 132 Wash.App 32, 130 P.3d 835 (2006)
Plaintiff’s claims dismissed on basis of assumption of risk.
- Barker v. Skagit Speedway, Inc., 119 Wash.App 807, 82 P.3d 244 (2003)
Court concluded that Speedway was not negligent
- McGowan v. Hudon, 110 Wash.App 1077 (2002)
Agent fulfilled duty to insured.
- Irish v. Conover Ins., Inc., 103 Wash.App 1030 (2000)
Agent not liable for insured’s lack of coverage.
- Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda, Inc., v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 86 Wash.App 1012 (1997)
Agent did not violate duty to insured.
- Isaacson v. DeMartin Agency, Inc., 77 Wash.App 875, 893 P.2d 1123 (1995)
Agent had no duty to notify insured of policy cancellation.
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN OR ON A LAKE
As a big advocate of outdoor sports, Tom enjoys snow skiing with his family. He is a member of a Crystal Mountain ski club, and also enjoys annual trips up north to hit the slopes of Whistler-Blackcomb. In warmer seasons, Tom can be found on Lake Washington in his water-ski boat for early morning runs on his Kidder Redline, although he has recently been spotted wake surfing in Texas. Tom also enjoys road bicycling with his wife and friends around the greater Seattle area and is branching out into e-bike trail adventures in eastern Washington. He and his wife were born and raised in Washington and have three grown children, but Tom also takes pleasure in traveling domestically and abroad.