Lawyer (1995 – 1997)

Givens Pursley LLP

Worked with former Idaho State Supreme Court Justice Robert C.Huntley in doing plaintiffs’ civil litigation in areas of product liability, wrongful death, national class action, complex multi district litigation & employment discrimination. Working with Mr. Huntley, we obtained a $1.5 million verdict in Prince v. Gordon Trucking for wrongful death. We sued Baxter Healthcare in a federal MDL case on behalf of a group of plaintiffs who had become infected with Hepatitis C through Intravenous Immune Globulin. We eventually took the cases to mediation with JAMS in San Francisco serving as mediator, and obtained confidential settlement amounts on behalf of our clients. Also working with Mr. Huntley, Judy Holcombe and Gary Allen, we sued Zilog under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and obtained a confidential settlement on behalf of a group of plaintiffs on the eve of trial. That case eventually received a three page write up in USA Today. Also assisted Mr. Huntley in serving as local counsel along with a Washington D.C. based firm hired by the F.B.I. to defend Special Agent Lon Horiuchi who was the sniper on the F.B.I. Hostage Rescue Team that shot and killed Vicki Weaver at the Ruby Ridge incident in Northern Idaho. I consider our strategy for defending S.A. Horiuchi a success. He was charged with murder by a county prosecutor, but was never convicted, never spent any time in jail, and the charges were thrown out by a federal judge. That decision was eventually overturned on appeal to the Ninth Circuit, but by then the prosecutor decided to not file the charges again. Also assisted Mr. Huntley in representing a group of plaintiffs, who had become infected with HIV through blood clotting factors sold to hemophiliacs by several large pharmaceutical companies. The case was a national class action involving attorneys from all across the nation. It eventually settled for $800 million, with waiver by Congress of Medicaid reimbursement rights.

Lawyer (1992 – 1995)

Weiss, Jensen, Ellis & Howard

Worked with Catherine S. Travis in representing First Interstate Bank, West One Bank and U.S. Bank in doing creditors’ right work in Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Also assisted in doing work for bankruptcy trustee Edward Hostmann, and in litigation for Hillman Properties, Standard Insurance, Bowflex, Beaverton Foods, Inc., and Weiden & Kennedy Advertising Agency. Weiden & Kennedy is the advertising agency that represents Nike and helped build the Nike brand image into what it is today.

Lawyer (1988 – 1991)

Green, Service, Gasser & Kerl

Worked with Jim D. Pappas in doing creditors’ rights in federal bankruptcy court, assisting in representing Key Bank, West One Bank of Idaho, Farm Credit Services, Ireland State Bank and Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy trustee L.D. Fitzgerald. Mr. Pappas is now one of two U.S. Bankruptcy Judges in the Federal District of Idaho. Also assisted Ron Kerl in state court foreclosures and quiet title actions on behalf of Farm Credit Services. Mr. Kerl is a past President of the Idaho State Bar. Also assisted, Steven Richert, Fred Ring and Duane Bybee in representing Union Pacific Railroad under the Federal Employers Liability Act which governs claims between injured railroad workers and the railroads.

Skills & Expertise

Representing debtors in bankruptcy, individual and business cases, Chapters 7 and 13, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts and Probate, Contract Negotiations, Real Estate, Civil and Commercial Litigation

Education

Northwestern School Of Law, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon (1983 – 1987)

Juris Doctor, Law Worked full time for DSU Peterbilt & GMC in its leasing department while attending law school. Graduated in top third of law school class. Lewis & Clark was and is the top rated law school in Oregon, ahead of University of Oregon and Willamette University, with the highest pass rate on the Oregon State Bar.

Willamette University (1977 – 1981)

Bachelor of Science, English & Economics, double major

Activities and societies: Served as ASWU Senator, Assistant Editor of Willamette Collegian school newspaper, President of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and enjoyed rock climbing at Smith Rocks, Mt. Hood area and Columbia River Gorge while attending college. Also engaged in mountaineering on Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Finger Jack and in the Three Sisters area, as well as alpine and cross country skiing. Also played rugby on the Willamette team.

Additional Information

Interests: Running, Skiing, Climbing, Hiking, Backpacking And Bike Riding

ESTATE PLANNING | TRUSTS | WILLS | BANKRUPTCY LAWYER & ATTORNEY BOISE, MERIDIAN, NAMPA, CALDWELL, EAGLE, KUNA IDAHO