Jury Awards $20.9 Million to Washington Worker Diagnosed with Mesothelioma after Asbestos Exposure at “Tacoma Aroma” Mill
A King County jury has awarded $20.9 million to Scot McLeod, a former abatement worker who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at industrial worksites across the Pacific Northwest beginning in 1989. Mr. McLeod is represented by attorneys Kaitlin Cherf, Colin Mieling and Craig Sims of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender (SGB).
Dr. Ben Danielson prevailed in a race discrimination lawsuit against Seattle Children’s Hospital for its failure to address acts of racism within the institution.
In Washington State Association for Justice’s December edition of Trial News, SGB attorney and WSAJ President Elizabeth Hanley dives deep into the applications of DEI in the legal field and the uncontroversial role it plays for plaintiffs’ lawyers.
Schroeter Goldmark & Bender (SGB) was recognized as a Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers®, a prestigious, peer-reviewed publication for the legal industry, for the 15th consecutive year. Honored as a Tier 1 firm in employment law, medical malpractice law, personal injury litigation and product liability litigation practice areas, SGB achieved the highest ranking awarded during Best Lawyers’ annual review of law firms.
Each month, SGB attorney and WSAJ president Elizabeth Hanley pens a column for Trial News, sharing insights into a range of legal topics and publication’s special focus areas.
In the October edition of Washington State Association for Justice Trial News, the 2025 WSAJ president and SGB’s own Elizabeth Hanley urges attorneys to become members of the American Association for Justice.
These latest lawsuits join three others already filed in 2024 against OYA staff for previous and ongoing abuse.
Hanley becomes the 71st president of the organization, continuing WSAJ’s legacy of advocacy and leadership
A Washington State Superior Court has dismissed a lawsuit against injured skydive customer Jaime Beenen, brought by Skydive Toledo, a company based in Lewis County that provides training and facilitation of skydiving. The court’s order requires Skydive Toledo to pay Beenen’s attorney fees after the company sued Beenen for initiating her own lawsuit when she suffered injuries that rendered her quadriplegic at the skydive outfit.
For Washington State Association for Justice's May edition of Trial News, which focuses on Medical Negligence, SGB attorney Liz McLafferty explores a deadly condition known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) -- a life-threatening reaction to a commonly administered blood thinner -- and what attorneys should prepare for in litigating negligence cases involving HIT.