Education
- University of Washington, B.A. in Geography, Minor in Labor Studies, 2020
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2024
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2024
About
Joe represents people who have been injured or wronged by companies that broke their promises. He believes people deserve a lawyer who will hold those companies accountable and fight for the full compensation they’re owed.
Joe began his legal career as a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney in Tacoma, where he represented clients in motor vehicle collisions, premises liability cases, and underinsured motorist claims. That work is what drew him to insurance law, and Joe joined Ruiz & Smart because he wanted to focus on holding insurance companies accountable on behalf of real people.
In practice, Joe takes the time to understand what his clients are going through, not just what happened to them. He knows that a claim is about people trying to get their lives back after someone else’s negligence or bad faith upended them. Joe is drawn to the detail work of a case: piecing together what happened, understanding the coverage at issue, and building the strongest possible record for his clients.
When he is not working, Joe enjoys backpacking, running, swimming, and crossword puzzles.