Kari is the Chair of the Litigation Department. Her practice emphasizes litigation including, but not limited to, personal injury, wrongful death, insurance, employment defense, municipal, and other commercial litigation, as well as appellate work. Kari has successfully handled hundreds of litigation matters with her extensive experience in all aspects of litigation including discovery, motion practice, mediations, arbitrations, and trials. She has also briefed and argued a number of cases before the Washington State appellate courts, and she has appeared as a guest speaker on trial and insurance topics.
Whether proceeding with litigation or reaching a settlement, Kari approaches each new case with flexibility and provides comprehensive and strategic solutions for her clients. Kari represents both Plaintiffs and Defendants, giving her an advantageous and balanced perspective when navigating the difficulties of disputes and litigation. She also believes that communication and understanding her clients’ specific goals is paramount to determining the best course of action in each case. In representing Plaintiffs, Kari has secured millions of dollars for her clients. She has also successfully defended companies and individuals in employment disputes, as well as defended municipalities in Public Records Act cases, obtaining summary judgment dismissals of claims and lawsuits in such matters.
After growing up in New York and then attending college at Wake Forest University in North Carolina (and Italy) where she obtained her B.A., cum laude, in 1995, Kari moved to the Pacific Northwest and obtained her J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law in 1998. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and son, and when she is not working, Kari enjoys traveling around the world, skiing in Whistler, and cycling around Lake Washington. She also aspires to return to training for and competing in triathlons, having previously completed the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, which included swimming from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco shoreline.
Representative Experience
- Greene v. Allstate Ins. Co./Young, 113 Wn. App. 746, 54 P.3d 734 (2002) (Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals held that a bystander emotional distress claim of a spouse who arrived at the scene following an accident and witnessed the aftermath constituted a “bodily injury” and a separate claim under his UIM, uninsured motorist’s, coverage allowing recovery for the same).
- Harris v. Drake, 152 Wn.2d 480, 98 P.3d 872 (2004)(the Washington State Supreme Court held, as a matter of first impression, that an examination conducted by an individual’s first party insurer constituted work product and was not discoverable or admissible in subsequent third party litigation; the Court also furthered prior case law and held that evidence of a pre-existing condition is irrelevant and inadmissible unless the condition was symptomatic immediately before the injury at issue).
- Hudson v. Hapner, 170 Wn.2d 22, 239 P.3d 579 (2010)(the Washington State Supreme Court established, as a matter of first impression, a bright line rule that a party withdrawing a request for a trial de novo following a mandatory arbitration, must file the same before the commencement of the trial de novo, and thus prohibited the defense’s attempt to withdraw its appeal in the case).
- Ekelmann v. City of Poulsbo, 22 Wn. App.2d 798, 513 P.3d 840 (2022)(Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals affirmed the Superior Court’s dismissal of the Plaintiff’s Public Records Act (“PRA”) claim and held, as a matter of first impression, that: RCW 42.56.260(1)(a)’s PRA exemption applies to real estate appraisals in public works projects despite the exemption’s noted exception to chapter 8.26 RCW and RCW 42.56.260(1)(b)’s PRA exemption applies to documents and information related to the sale price of properties, which are necessarily documents prepared for the purpose of considering the acquisition of property).
Association Memberships
- Washington State Bar Association
- King County Bar Association
- Pierce County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Washington State Association for Justice
Education
- J.D., Seattle University Law School
- B.A., Wake Forest University
Professional & Community Activities
- Hilltop Children’s Center - Co-Chair of the Governance Committee (2015 - 2017); Board of Directors (2014 - 2017)
Accolades
- Named a “Rising Star” by Washington Law & Politics Magazine in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, an honor bestowed to only 2.5 percent of lawyers in any given state
- Named “Top 40 Under 40 Washington State Trial Lawyer” by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
- Rated “AV Preeminent®” for Litigation and Personal Injury by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating a lawyer can obtain, indicating a preeminent level of legal ability and exceptional ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Washington State Bar.
klester@omwlaw.com