Practice Areas
Mary B. ReitenMember
Professional Experience
Mary's practice includes a diverse caseload of homeowner association disputes, real estate and commercial litigation, class actions and other matters. Mary works with both homeowners and associations on issues related to the governance of condominium, cooperative, townhome and subdivision homeowner associations. She counsels clients on their rights and obligations under their governing documents and Washington law and actively seeks resolution of disputes both inside and outside the courtroom. She advises homeowner associations in drafting amendments to governing documents, implementing due process procedures, and enforcing covenants.
Mary also litigates real estate disputes in both Washington and California, including matters involving breach of real estate purchase and sale agreements, commission disputes, timber trespass, and easement disputes.
Mary has served as co-counsel on several class actions, representing Washington, California, and multi-state classes. Mary's class action caseload includes consumer, antitrust, securities, and non-injury product defect cases
Before joining Tousley Brain Stephens, Mary worked as an associate attorney at Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, in San Francisco, California, and clerked for the Presiding Judge's Department for the Superior Court of San Francisco, California, Civil Division and The Honorable Larry Zervos, Superior Court, Sitka, Alaska.
Representative Matters
Trimble v. Holmes Harbor Sewer District, et al. - Member of litigation and trial team representing plaintiff class of bond investors against 25 defendants who participated in the creation, marketing and sale of fraudulent bonds ostensibly on behalf of Whidbey Island's Holmes Harbor Sewer District. Recovered more than $15 million for the class.
Richison v. American Cemwood Corp. - Member of litigation team representing national (excluding Colorado) class of Cemwood shake property owners. The San Joaquin County Superior Court approved a $105-million partial settlement with the manufacturer's parent company. The remaining claims settled shortly before trial for an additional $83 million.
S.B. v. Nusbaum - Represented a minor in an abuse case that settled for more than $800,000.
Carlson v. Gable - Prevailed at trial in a timber trespass case on behalf of a property owner whose neighbor wrongfully cleared a path over his property by asserting the existence of an easement. After obtaining a summary dismissal of the neighbor's easement claim, our clients' claim for damages proceeded to trial, where they were awarded a judgment for their damages and all of their attorneys' fees and costs.
Spectrum Commercial Properties, et al. v. Central Valley Business Park, LLC - Second chair at AAA arbitration. Obtained rescission of purchase and sale agreement for commercial real property in Palm Desert, California.
Butler Investments v. Homestreet - Successfully obtained injunction on behalf of developer enjoining foreclosure proceedings on three construction projects.
Kuo v. Homestreet - Successfully obtained injunction on behalf of guarantor delaying UCC sale of limited liability company interest.
San Francisco Superior Court Civil Harassment Restraining Order Clinic - Partnered with Hastings College of Law to create and implement a clinic at San Francisco Superior Court to assist applicants for civil harassment restraining orders.
Professional and Community Involvement
Washington State Bar
Rules for Professional Conduct Committee (2006 - 2007)
State Bar of California
King County Washington Women's Lawyer's Association (2006 - present)
Board Member (2008-present)
Judicial Evaluation Committee (2011)
YWCA Girls First! Mentorship Program (2009 - present)
Professional Recognition
Recognized as a "Rising Star" by Washington Law & Politics magazine
Education
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law
Public Interest Scholar
B.A., with high honors in Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
President's Scholarship recipient for independent research in South Africa
Admissions
Washington
California
Alaska (Inactive)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit