PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Chase concentrates his practice in real estate litigation and commercial litigation, including intellectual property litigation. He has tried and won cases in Washington Superior Courts and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and has argued appeals before the Washington Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Real Estate, Land Use and Construction Litigation

Currently representing national engineering firm in multiple professional service lien foreclosure actions.

Currently representing condominium owner's association in multi-million dollar construction defect and breach of fiduciary duty claim against condominium developer.

Recently obtained judgment after trial for construction contractor in construction lien priorty dispute with senior lender. Court awarded client judgment for contract amount plus interest and all attorney fees.

Defended real estate licensee and broker in action alleging nondisclosure of defects arising out of sale of a $13 million waterfront estate. Obtained summary judgment of the majority of plaintiff's claims before trial and settled remaining claim during trial for an amount less than 4% of plaintiff's demand to the jury.

Defended real estate licensees and broker in action alleging nondisclosure arising out of sale of $1.3 million commercial property. Obtained summary judgment dismissing plaintiff's claims and a judgment against plaintiff and its attorney for attorney fees expended on defense.

Has successfully defended several developers and owners in Land Use Petition Act (LUPA) and State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) appeals.

Represented former owner of multi-family senior housing project in claims for construction defects against general contractor and first party insurers. Client ultimately obtained eight figure settlement from contractor and seven figure settlement from insurer.

Represented owner of 10,000 s.f. warehouse in breach of lease action against original tenant, assignee, and successor entities as well as the lease guarantor. Obtained judgment against guarantor before he removed case to bankruptcy court. Once case was removed obtained summary judgment of liability and favorable monetary settlement from tenant and its successor entities.

Represented homeowner defendants in hard-fought neighborhood view covenant disputes. Plaintiff dismissed case on eve of trial.

Represented multiple property owners and loan guarantors in property foreclosure proceedings.

Commercial and Business Litigation

Represented former shareholders in litigation arising out of $52 million sale of construction company with active construction project backlog. Case settled favorably after obtaining partial summary judgment significantly reducing scope of adverse party's claims.

Multiple representations of LLC members and corporate shareholders in closely-held entity disputes.

Obtained refund of six-figure real-estate excise tax payment on behalf of title insurer.

Successfully represented creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and state court litigation.

Intellectual Property

Represented inventor of hybrid artificial/natural athletic playing field surface in multimillion-dollar breach of contract action arising out of sale of patents and trademarks. Case settled on confidential terms.

Represented inventor and holder of patent for batting helmet faceguard against national sporting goods companies. Case settled on confidential terms.

Represented e-commerce company in defense of claim of trademark infringement by national retailer. Case settled on confidential terms.

Represented copyright holders in federal court infringement actions.

Represented trademark holder in infringement action involving nationally distributed cosmetic brand. Case settled on confidential terms.

First Amendment

City of Seattle v. Mighty Movers, Inc., 112 Wn. App. 904 (2002). Represented commercial advertiser in striking down Seattle's poster ban as unconstitutional under the Washington State Constitution. Although the decision was subsequently reversed by the Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision, the case led to the revision to the City's ordinance to permit previously banned speech.

Counseled multiple state commodity commissions on First Amendment issues arising from the funding of generic advertising through mandatory assessments after federal court ruling striking down Apple Commission statute.

Successfully defended Washington statute prohibiting pre-recorded telemarketing calls against First Amendment challenge. Spafford v. Echostar Communications, 448 F. Supp. 2d 1220 (W.D. Wash. 2006)

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Speaker: Remedies: Enforcement and Protection of Rights in Real Estate and Real Estate-Related Transactions, WSBA Real Estate Boot Camp, 2008

Speaker: Ethics for Real Estate Attorneys, 2007-2008.

Program Co-Chair: Beyond Boot Camp: Real Estate, WSBA CLE, 2009

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Washington State Bar Association (Litigation, Real Property, and Intellectual Property sections)

Federal Bar Association

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Commended by the Washington State Bar Association for his pro bono service (2003)

Repeatedly recognized as a "Rising Star" in Washington Law & Politics magazine

AV-Peer Review™ Rated in Martindale-Hubbell®

EDUCATION

J.D., cum laude, Willamette University College of Law

Associate Editor, Willamette Law Review

B.A., English, Furman University

ADMISSIONS

Washington

Oregon

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington