Cole, Wathen, Leid, & Hall, P.C. has been representing insurance clients since 1908. Over the years, the firm has been involved in a broad variety of cases involving first party and third party claims. Today, we represent dozens of insurance companies, underwriters, and adjusting firms. Our clients range from large insurers to regional carriers and self insured entities. The firm handles cases in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Hawaii. We represent clients in the Superior Courts, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court of Washington, the Courts of other Northwest States, in the Federal Courts, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

The firm has broad experience in both commercial and personal line losses. These cases range from multi million dollar commercial claims involving construction defects to fire and theft claims under homeowner and commercial policies. We are also routinely retained as liability defense counsel in a wide variety of third party cases including construction, professional liability, product liability and automobile accidents. Over the past 90 years, the firm has been involved in over 100 published Appellate Court decisions.

The firm has many years of experience in handling suspected fraudulent claims under commercial and homeowner policies. Our firm won defense verdicts in the Pang Warehouse loss and in the case of Manglona v. Allstate, the largest Commercial and Homeowner’s arson losses in the history of Washington State. We conduct examinations under oath, assist insurers in conducting investigations of suspicious claims, and represent insurers in the litigation of fraudulent claims.

The firm handles numerous construction defect cases, including first party and third party issues. We have obtained defense verdicts in front of juries on multi-million dollar cases on alleged collapse and other defect or water intrusion cases.

A substantial part of our practice is devoted to advising adjusters, supervisors, and managers during the investigation and adjustment of claims. Typically, the problems include policy interpretation, loss measurement, coverage opinions, good faith requirements, examinations under oath, appraisal, etc. The firm also routinely defends claims involving allegations of Bad Faith and violations of the Consumer Protection Act. We are particularly proud of our record of providing advice at a reasonable cost which keeps Insurance Companies out of Court and anticipates problems before they occur.

For years, the firm has recognized that attorneys and insurers must take certain steps to remain competitive and cost effective. By specializing in distinct areas of insurance law, our need for legal research is reduced. Knowledge of policy requirements, legal procedures, strategy, and tactics, together with knowledge of expert witnesses, investigators, appraisers, adjusters, and others involved in our areas of practice increases efficiency. Most importantly, by working closely with claims personnel, sensible decisions can be made as to what legal work is truly necessary for each case, thereby achieving the desired result at a reasonable cost.