stephen m. todd
PRACTICE
Steve Todd has been a trial lawyer for over 30 years. Steve has obtained defense verdicts in trials involving medical malpractice, professional malpractice, aviation insurance coverage, premises liability, wrongful death, auto, and a variety of products liability claims involving serious personal injuries.
Steve participated in the defense of the consulting engineering firm in the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) bond default securities litigation and served as local counsel for B.A.T Industries in the class action tobacco litigation.
As plaintiff counsel, Steve co-chaired a five-week age discrimination trial resulting in a judgment in excess of $2 million. He obtained a judgment in excess of $18 million in a class action against the State of Washington involving public pension benefit calculations.
Steve’s current practice consists primarily of construction defect defense work. He’s represented all levels of the construction industry including developers, design professionals, general contractors, construction managers and trades, in suits, arbitrations, and mediations. Steve has chaired the Construction Section of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers and speaks often at construction related CLE’s. Steve is AV rated and has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law and Politics since 2004.
EDUCATION
- University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 1977
Honors: Symposium Editor, Washington Law Review, 1976-1977; Published Casenote, “Beyond Alyeska; Creating a Workable Private Attorney General Exception,” 51 W.L.R. 1047 (1976)
- Duke University, B.A., cum laude, 1974
BACKGROUND
Steve served as law clerk to the Honorable Herbert A. Swanson, Washington State Court of Appeals - Division I from 1977-1979. He is admitted to practice in the State of Washington, the United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, and the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He was a shareholder with Reed McClure in Seattle, practicing in civil litigation from 1979 to 1995. In 1995, he formed Todd & Wakefield.
Steve lives in Seattle with his wife Dynva and has three daughters, Brittany, Stephanie, and Kelly, who has blessed him with a granddaughter and grandson. Steve used to love mountain climbing but now finds kayaking a much easier way to enjoy the outdoors. He enjoys woodworking and designs and builds cabinetry and furniture. He still has all his fingers (knock on wood).
- Jacob's Meadow Owners Ass'n v. Plateau 44 II, LLC, 139 Wn. App. 743, 162 P.3d 1153 (2007) (represented developer in successful prosecution of million dollar claim against subcontractor).
- Park Avenue Condominium Owners Ass'n v. Buchan Developments, L.L.C., 117 Wn. App. 369, 71 P.3d 692 (2003) (represented developer in multi-million dollar condominium construction defect claim).
- Association of Washington Public Hosp. Districts v. Philip Morris Inc., 79 F.Supp.2d 1219 (W.D.Wash. 1999) (represented B.A.T, Inc. in defense of litigation against tobacco industry based upon RICO and state law federal anti-trust theory).
- Northwest Laborers-Employers Health & Sec., 58 F.Supp.2d 1211 (W.D.Wash. 1999) (related tobacco litigation).
- Regence BlueShield v. Philip Morris, Inc., 40 F.Supp.2d 1179 (W.D.Wash. 1999) (related tobacco litigation).
- Litho Color, Inc. v. Pacific Employers Ins. Co., 98 Wn.App. 286, 991 P.2d 638 (1999) (successfully defended insurance company in coverage dispute).
- Bowles v. Washington Dept. of Retirement Systems, 121 Wn.2d 52, 847 P.2d 440 (1993) (successfully prosecuted class action resulting in $18M judgment against PERS I retirement systems of State of Washington).
- Pannell v. Food Services of America, 61 Wn. App. 418, 422, 810 P.2d 952 (1991) (successfully co-chaired prosecution of age discrimination case on behalf of five grocery store managers resulting in $2.3M judgment).
- State v. Reay, 61 Wn. App. 141, 143, 810 P.2d 512 (1991) (successfully defended King County Medical Examiner in suit over professional determination of death as suicide).
- Fischer v. Alhadeff, 131 F.R.D. 585 (W.D.Wash. 1990) (assisted in defense of Wall Street investment house in security litigation. Case settled without contribution by client).
- Goldman v. Alhadeff, 131 F.R.D. 188 (W.D.Wash. 1990) (assisted in defense of Wall Street investment house in security litigation. Case settled without contribution by client; opinion relates to sanctions for discovery violation).
- Heritage at Deer Creek Associates, L.L.C. v. Kirtley-Cole Associates, Inc., 128 Wn. App. 1065, 2005 WL 1899412 (2005) (represented subcontractor in condominium construction defect litigation).
- Jain v. Fowler, 124 Wn. App. 1039, 2004 WL 2931087 (2004) (successful defense of window manufacturer).
- Affiliated FM Ins. Co. v. Patriot Fire Protection, Inc., 120 Wn. App. 1039, 2004 WL 418102 (2004) (affirmation of summary judgment re insurance coverage).
- Mangouras v. Deputy, 106 Wn. App. 1025, 2001 WL 537878 (2001) (affirmation of summary judgment for failure of service).
- Feliciano v. Dockery, 86 Wn. App. 1114, 1997 WL 428329 (1997) (defended podiatrist in medical malpractice litigation).
- Marquez v. University of Washington, 32 Wn. App. 302, 648 P.2d 94 (1982) (successfully defended School of Law in discrimination/affirmation action litigation).