Managing Attorney
See bio
Isaac Ruiz
Managing Attorney
Education
- University of Texas at Austin, 1996
- Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 2000, magna cum laude; Notre Dame Law Review
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2004
About
Notable Cases
- Homeowners Claim Against American Family — Hard-fought victory and significant settlement for an Enumclaw, Washington family, allowing them to rebuild their classic home.
- Grocery Store Destruction by Fire — State-court litigation in Quincy, Washington; obtained relief that allowed the store to be rebuilt from the foundation.
- Fire on Boat in Seattle — Represented owner of a vessel that burned on Lake Union; obtained a large settlement after insurer accused policyholder of arson.
- Underinsured Motorist Claim Against State Farm — Federal litigation from a high-speed rear-end collision; achieved favorable settlement.
- Manufactured Home Insurance Claim Against Foremost — Federal litigation over significant water loss and failures to investigate/provide housing; favorable settlement.
- Denial of Life-Saving Treatment by Uniform Medical Plan — Court determined HTCC implementation unconstitutional; secured life-saving spinal cord stimulator for client.
- King County & Brightwater Plant Defects — Unique policy endorsement; multimillion-dollar recovery for the County.
- Covenant Judgment & Bad Faith Against Farmers — Defended covenant judgment in Bird v. Best Plumbing (WA Supreme Court) and pursued bad faith; favorable result.
- Major Water Damage in High-End Kalama Home — $2.8M appraisal award, multiples over insurer’s offer; extracontractual claims later settled.
- Motorcycle Crashes — Multi-million-dollar settlement for client with life-altering injuries.
- Injuries Caused by Security Staff at Bartell — Favorable result for elder knocked down during attempted shoplifter apprehension.
- Police Officer Gunshot Injury — Settled for most of defendant’s available assets.
- Foreign Objects in Food — Represented clients (e.g., nail in Starbucks sandwich) for mouth-injury cases.
- Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Against wafla — Multiple cases involving conduct by the organization’s leader.
- Lawsuit Against Washington State Bar Association — Represented WSBA employee; settled pre-trial.
- Kaiser v. CSL Plasma — Discrimination case involving a transgender woman; favorable federal summary-judgment order before resolution.
Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, IFCA on Trial, Washington State Association for Justice, Seattle, WA (December 2024)
- Author, Chapter 8: Discovery, Insurance Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice (2022)
- Speaker, IFCA Update, Washington State Association for Justice Annual Convention (September 2021)
- Co-Presenter, Courtroom Conduct—Best Tips for Overcoming Phobias and Bias Against Your LGBTQ Clients, Washington State Bar Association, Navigating the Landscape of LGBTQ Issues in the 21st Century (2018)
- Presenter, Civil Rights Issues Impacting the Trans and GNC Community, King County Bar Association, Common Legal Issues and Barriers for the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Community, Seattle, Washington (2017)
- Panelist, Community Concerns and Complaints, Community Involvement and Oversight, Washington State Bar Association, A Look at People of Color: Racial Progress or a Deepening Racial Divide, Seattle, Washington (2017)
- Panelist, Collective Bargaining and Police Oversight, National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), 23rd Annual NACOLE Conference, Spokane, Washington (2017).
- Presenter, UIM + IFCA: Two Acronyms that Go Together, WSAJ’s Auto Cases Seminar, Seattle, Washington (2017)
- Co-Chair & Co-Presenter, Avoiding the Pitfalls of Appraisal, Washington State Association for Justice’s 38th Annual Insurance Law Seminar, Seattle, Washington, and Spokane, Washington (2016)
- Co-Presenter, LGBTQ Discrimination in Public Accommodations, Washington State Bar Association’s LGBT Rights: Issues and Practice Areas (2016)
- Co-Chair & Presenter, Insurance Fair Conduct Act Update, Washington State Association for Justice’s 37th Annual Insurance Law Seminar, Seattle, Washington, and Spokane, Washington (2015)
- Co-Presenter, Duty or No Duty?, concerning the duty to defend in liability insurance policies, American Bar Association’s 2015 Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Tucson, Arizona (2015)
- Co-Presenter, “American Sniper”: What to Do When Good Faith Goes Bad, Puget Sound Adjusters Association’s 4th Annual Spring Symposium (2015) Presenter, A Claimant’s View of IFCA, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers’ Annual Insurance Law Update, Seattle, Washington (2015).
- Author, Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act: Cases and Analysis, the definitive guide to Washington’s groundbreaking insurance law (2014 & 2015 Supp.). Book received positive review in the WSAJ Trial News and proved popular among lawyers on plaintiff and defense sides.
- Author, Legislative History of Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act, which makes available (for the first time ever) written transcripts of the House and Senate committee hearings that led to IFCA’s passage (2014).
- Author, "Lost in Translation: The Needs of Spanish Language Policyholders," published in WSAJ Trial News (2014)
- Author, On the Remedial Nature of the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, published in the Gonzaga Law Review (2014)
- Author, "Seven Years After the Insurance Fair Conduct Act," published on the first page of the King County Bar Bulletin (2014)
- Author, "The Insurance Fair Conduct Act & Liability Insurance Policies," published in WSAJ Trial News (2014)
- Presenter, IFCA and Bad Faith Insurance Claims, WSAJ’s Legal Staff Section (2014)
- Presenter, IFCA Claims Without a Denial of Coverage, WSAJ’s 35th Annual Insurance Law Seminar: Hot Topics in Insurance Law (2013)
- Co-Presenter, Insurance Fair Conduct Act: Point-Counterpoint, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers’ Annual Insurance Law Update (2013)
- Author, "My Letter to the Trustees of the La Feria Schools on the Handling of Jeydon Loredo’s Yearbook Photo" (2013), published by the Huffington Post. The letter involved a high school principal’s decision to ban a transgender teen from appearing in a yearbook.
- Author, "IFCA Claims Without a Denial of Coverage," published in WSAJ Trial News (2012)
Recognitions & Awards
- Super Lawyers, 2015–2025
- “Top 100” Super Lawyers in Washington, 2020–2023
Professional & Civic Involvement
- Commissioner and three-time co-chair, Seattle Community Police Commission.
- Served as commissioner and three-time co-chair of the Seattle Community Police Commission, the official community-centered accountability body first created as part of the ongoing federal consent decree.
- Written and regularly updated the IFCA Book, which is the definitive guide to Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act (“IFCA”) and is relied upon by many plaintiff attorneys.
- Lectured regularly (Isaac has lost count) to industry groups and community on the topics of insurance law, civil rights, and police reform.
- Edited and completed the bench-bar guide on LGBTQ issues, used by judges in the State of Washington.
- Served as board member and president of the board of Entre Hermanos, which provides health services to members of the Latinx LGTBQ community.
- Served as board member and president of the board of the QLaw Foundation, which provides free legal services to members of the LGBTQ community.
- Enrolled as a member of the Washington State Association for Justice (“WSAJ”) Eagle program for 10 years and served as chair of the insurance section of the WSAJ in the past.
Attorney
See bio
Kathryn (Kayti) Knudsen
Attorney
Education
- University of Washington, B.A. Law, Societies, and Justice, 2004
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., 2008, cum laude; Lead Article Editor, law review
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2009
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 2009
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 2009
About
Notable Cases
- Gamble v. State Farm (U.S. District Court underinsured motorist insurance, bad faith, verdict in favor of client 19 times the policy limits)
- Bagley v. Travelers (U.S. District Court first party property insurance bad faith)
- Spaulding v. State Farm (U.S. District Court underinsured motorist insurance bad faith)
- Kaiser v. CSL Plasma (King County discrimination against transgender customer)
- Merriman v. American Guarantee (Yakima County first IFCA class action against insurer following fire at storage facility)
- Freeman v. Amtrak (U.S. District Court personal injury arising from Amtrak Derailment)
- Wang v. Comcast (Employment arbitration, race discrimination)
- Adams v. Walmart (U.S. District Court personal injury arising from sliding door incident)
Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, Navigating Client Relationships in Insurance Recovery and Bad Faith Litigation, Insurance Law Seminar, Washington State Association for Justice (May 2026)
- Speaker, Insurance Bad Faith: 50% Law, 50% Story, King Couty Bar Association, Seattle, WA (March 2026)
- Kathryn Knudsen, When My Client Lost Her Voice, I Found Mine, Bar Bulletin Vol. 44, Issue 7, King County Bar Association (March 2026)
- Speaker, IFCA on Trial, Washington State Association for Justice, Seattle, WA (December 2024)
- Speaker, “Social Inflation,” Limits-Demands, and Consent Judgment Settlements, The Seminar Group, Seattle, WA (November 2023)
- Speaker, Panel: Preparing Your Bad Faith Case from Start to Finish, American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA (July 2023)
- Editor, Insurance Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice (2022)
- Author, Chapter 11: Trial, Insurance Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice (2022)
- Speaker, Public Adjusters, Friend or Foe?, Insurance Law Seminar, Washington State Association for Justice, Seattle, WA (May 2023)
- Speaker, IFCA Update, Washington State Association for Justice Annual Convention (September 2021)
- Speaker, Conflicts, Cash, and Coverage: Ethics in Insurance Litigation, Insurance Law Seminar, Washington State Association for Justice, Seattle, WA (May 2021)
- Speaker, The Floor is Lava! Insurer Bad Faith in Residential Environmental Claims, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Seminar, American Bar Association (March 2021)
- Kathryn M. Knudsen, How to Make the Most out of a Rule 30(b)(6) Deposition, The Woman Advocate Practice Points, American Bar Association (November 2020)
- Speaker, Insurance Broker Liability, Insurance Law Seminar, Washington State Association for Justice, Seattle, WA (May 2020).
- Kathryn M. Knudsen, Aggressive Discovery Produces Results in Employment Arbitration, Trial News, Washington State Association for Justice (2020)
- Speaker, Blast From the Past: Lost Policies and Long-Tail Environmental/Asbestos Claims from the Pre-Absolute Exclusion Era, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Seminar, American Bar Association (Tucson, AZ 2020)
- Author, Third-Party Adjuster Liability After Keodalah, Trial News, vol. 55, n. 3, Washington State Associate for Justice (November 2019).
- Speaker, 10 Things We Can All do to Help Insurance Policyholders, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (Bellingham, WA) 2019
- Speaker, Personal Injury from A to Z, National Business Institute (Seattle, WA 2018). CLE Faculty, Effective Motion Practice in Civil Litigation, National Business Institute (Seattle, WA 2017)
- Speaker, 10 Things Every Lawyer Needs to Know about Washington Insurance Law, Construction Defect & Dispute Conference (Seattle, WA 2016)
- Author, Obtaining Benefits Under A Lapsed Life Insurance Policy, Trial News, vol. 52 n. 5, Washington State Association for Justice (January 2016)
- Speaker, Insurance Discovery Privileges: Views from the Offensive and Defensive Lines, The Women of the Section of Litigation Conference Networking Roundtable Luncheon, American Bar Association (Chicago, IL 2015)
- Author, The Dos and Don’ts of Beginning your Trial Practice, Trial News, vol. 50 n. 10, Washington State Association for Justice (June 2015)
- Author, Hidden Risks in Insurance Appraisal Clauses, Trial News, vol. 50 n. 9, Washington State Association for Justice (May 2015).
- Speaker, Duty or No Duty (Concerning the Duty to Defend in Liability Insurance Policies), Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, American Bar Association (Tucson, AZ 2015)
Recognitions & Awards
- Super Lawyers, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Super Lawyers Rising Star, Washington, 2016–2021
- Washington State Bar Association Supreme Court Pro Bono Publico Honor Roll, 2016
- WSAJ Eagle Member
Professional & Civic Involvement
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- King County Bar Association, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Washington State Association for Justice, Board of Governors 2022-present
- University of Washington School of Law, Affiliate Instructor, Trial Advocacy
- American Bar Association, The Woman Advocate Committee, Insurance Subcommittee Chair, 2020
- Washington State Association for Justice, Co-Chair Insurance Committee, 2019–2020 & 2021–2023
- Gerry Spence Method Trial Training, Graduate
- Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association, Member
- ArtsFund, Associate Board Member, Visionaries Culture Council, 2014–2022
- Friends of CASA, Board of Directors, 2015
- Allied Arts of Yakima, Board of Directors Nominating Committee, 2012–2013
Attorney
See bio
Isaac Castañeda
Attorney
Education
- Washington State University, B.A. Political Science, magna cum laude, 2019
- University of Washington School of Law, J.D., June 2022
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2022
- Texas, 2023
About
Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, East LA Mexican Independence Parade Press Conference (2023)
- Speaker, Shield or Sword? Litigating Protective Orders in Insurance Bad Faith Cases, Insurance Law Seminar, Washington State Association for Justice, Seattle, WA (2025).
Recognitions & Awards
- Spring 2022 University of Washington Intramural Soccer League Champion
- The Order of Barristers
Professional & Civic Involvement
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- Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, Member
- Latina/o Bar Association of Washington Judicial Evaluations Committee, Co-Vice President
- Latina/o Bar Association of Washington Legal Clinics, Volunteer
- Joint Minority Mentorship Program, Mentor
- Joint Minority Mentorship Program, Board Member, 2023-2024
- UW Law Mentor Program, Mentor
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Washington State Association for Justice, Member
- Washington State Association for Justice Diversity Committee, Co-Chair
Attorney
See bio
David Fadduol
Attorney
Education
- Boston University, B.A. Psychology, 2011
- The University of New Mexico, J.D., 2015
Bar Admissions
- New Mexico, 2015
- Washington, 2023
About
David has exclusively worked for people who have been injured or killed because of the negligence of others. He believes in holding others accountable and helping his clients find closure through the legal process.
Attorney
See bio
Brenna Pink Pampena
Attorney
Education
- Seattle University, B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, 2011
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2024
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2024
About
Brenna is known for her strong commitment to justice, advocacy, and client care and institutes a people-first approach with every case. Prior to practicing law, Brenna built a diverse professional background including roles in marketing, Human Resources, and nonprofit development. This diverse experience allows Brenna to deliver legal services with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.
While at Seattle University School of Law, Brenna served as Co-President of the school's National Lawyers Guild chapter and was Managing Editor of the American Indian Law Journal. Her prior legal experience includes a clerkship with the Tulip Tribal Court and an internship with the Immigrant Justice Clinic.
In her spare time, Brenna loves spending time with her family, taking long walks with her dog, enjoys true crime podcasts, and loves to sing karaoke. She is also actively involved with her community. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Washington Middle School PTSA, has volunteered with the Girl Scouts of America since 2019, and volunteers with the Seattle Opera Guild.
Professional & Civic Involvement
- Washington State Bar Association, Editorial Advisory Committee Member, 2025-2027
- Washington State Association for Justice, Co-Chair Insurance Law Section, 2025
Legal Assistant
See bio
Rachel Cabral
Legal Assistant
Education
- Seattle University, B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, 2023
About
Legal Assistant
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Chris Jarman
Legal Assistant
Education
- University of Washington, B.A. Law, Societies & Justice
- St. Mary of the Woods College, B.A. Paralegal Studies
About
Chris brings over 20 years of experience in the legal industry. She has been a part of the core team for over 10 years.
Chris received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law, Society, and Justice from the University of Washington and then obtained her Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies from St. Mary of the Woods College.
In her spare time, Chris tends to her property where she has horses, donkeys, and dogs.
Firm Administrator & Paralegal
See bio
Paige C. Lewis
Firm Administrator & Paralegal
Education
- Portland State University, B.A. in Sociology, 1998
About
Legal Assistant
See bio
Shannon K. McKeon
Legal Assistant
Education
- Gonzaga University School of Business Administration, B.B.A. in Economics and International Business, 1993
- Empire College School of Law, attended
About
Shannon was born and raised in Libby, Montana, and has over 25 years of experience in the legal industry. She has worked with Isaac Ruiz for much of that time. Shannon has played an important role in many insurance bad faith, injury, employment, securities, and class-action cases.
Shannon is the most cheerful person you will ever meet and helps make clients feel at ease.
Paralegal
See bio
Lauren Powell
Paralegal
Education
- Washington State University, B.A. in Criminal Justice & Criminology with a major in Psychology, magna cum laude, 2020
About
Lauren has over 10 years of experience interacting with people in a variety of roles. She has been in the legal field for the past four years.
Paralegal
See bio
Adam Skraban
Paralegal
Education
- University of Washington, B.A. Law, Societies & Justice, 2025
About
Retired Attorney
See bio
William C. Smart (Retired)
Retired Attorney
Notable Cases
- Merriman v. American Guarantee, 198 Wn. App. 594, 396 P.3d 351 (2017)
- Bird v. Best Plumbing Group, LLC, 287 P.3d 551, Wash., October 25, 2012 (NO. 86109-9)
- Bird v. Best Plumbing Group, LLC, 161 Wash.App. 510, 260 P.3d 209 (2011)
- Dussault ex rel. Walker-Van Buren v. American Intern. Group, Inc., 123 Wash.App. 863, 99 P.3d 1256 (Wash.App. Div. 1 Nov 01, 2004) (NO. 53513-7-I)
- Piper v. Department of Labor and Industries, 120 Wash.App. 886, 86 P.3d 1231 (Wash.App. Div. 3 Mar 30, 2004) (NO. 21526-1-III)
- Halverson v. Skagit County, 139 Wash.2d
- Brown v. Snohomish County Physicians Corp., 120 Wash.2d 747, 845 P.2d 334, 61 USLW 2523 (Wash. Feb 11, 1993) (NO. 59018-4)
- State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Hooks, 787 P.2d 906 (Wash. Feb 22, 1990) (NO. 54950-8)
- Kenworthy v. Pennsylvania General Ins. Co., 113 Wash.2d 309, 779 P.2d 257 (Wash. Sep 21, 1989) (NO. 54950-8, 55149-9)
- Meaney v. Dodd, 111 Wash.2d 174, 759 P.2d 455 (Wash. Jul 15, 1988) (NO. 53891-3)
- Mutual of Enumclaw Ins. Co. v. Cox, 110 Wash.2d 643, 757 P.2d 499 (Wash. Jun 09, 1988) (NO. 53003-3)
- Orion Corp. v. State, 109 Wash.2d 621, 747 P.2d 1062, 18 Envtl. L. Rep. 20,697 (Wash. Dec 17, 1987) (NO. 52165-4, 52529-3)
- Meaney v. Dodd, 47 Wash.App. 386, 735 P.2d 100 (Wash.App. Div. 1 Apr 08, 1987) (NO. 17458-4-I)
- Rodriguez v. Williams, 107 Wash.2d 381, 729 P.2d 627 (Wash. Dec 11, 1986) (NO. 52535-8)
- Rodriguez by Brennan v. Williams, 42 Wash.App. 633, 713 P.2d 135 (Wash.App. Div. 1 Jan 21, 1986) (NO. 13166-4-I)
- Evans v. Steinberg, 40 Wash.App. 585, 699 P.2d 797 (Wash.App. Div. 1 May 09, 1985) (NO. 13647-O-I)
- Provost v. Puget Sound Power and Light Co., 103 Wash.2d 750, 696 P.2d 1238 (Wash. Mar 14, 1985) (NO. 51139-0)
- Orion Corp. v. State, 103 Wash.2d 441, 693 P.2d 1369, 22 ERC 1057 (Wash. Jan 11, 1985) (NO. 49941-1)
- Halverson v. Skagit County, 42 F.3d 1257 (9th Cir.(Wash.) Dec 12, 1994) (NO. 93-35783)
- Hiner v. Longstaff, 543 F.Supp. 1123 (W.D.Wash. Apr 13, 1982) (NO. C80-1238B)
Past Employment
Keller Rohrback L.L.P, Tier I Partner, 1977–2019Education
- Princeton University, B.A., cum laude, 1974
- Willamette University, Juris Doctor, 1977
Bar Court Admissions
1978, Washington 1978, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington 1993, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2004, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of WashingtonRecognitions Super Lawyers 2001–2021Awards
Super Lawyers Top 100 2020–2021Professional & Civic Involvement
- King County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
- Washington State Association for Justice, Member
- American Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Defense Trial Lawyers Association, Member; Past Trustee
- Past Chairman, Washington State Board, The Trust for Public Land
- Member, National Advisory Council, The Atlantic Salmon Federation
Publications
- Strict Liability and Criminal Sanctions: The 1971 Revisions to the Oregon Criminal Code,” 13 Willamette Law Journal 365, 1977.
- Contributor to WSAJ (formerly WSTLA).
- “Policy Limit Settlement Brings Measure of Redemption Out of Tragedy for First Generation Americans,” WSTLA Trial News, July/August 2000
- “Insurance Bad Faith Settlement Is Successful Sequel to Wrongful Death Case,” WSTLA Trial News, January 2000 (Contributed with Andrew Bergh)
- “Private Attorneys and EEOC Team Up to Combat Sexual Harassment, Retaliation in Aerospace Industry,” WSTLA Trial News, January 2001, Volume 36, No. 5
- “Race Discrimination Claim Converts to Insurance Bad Faith Case,” WSTLA Trial News, 2003
- Tort Law Update: Rising Above Tort Deform: WSTLA CLE, November 2003
- “New Challenges to the Settlement of Multi-Party Cases”
- Insurance Bad Faith Claims in Washington: Lorman Seminar, July 2004
Paralegal
See bio
Marilyn Wagoner-Funk
Paralegal
Education
- Seattle University, B.A. in Business Administration
- Edmonds Community College, Paralegal Certification