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Bellevue Insurance Bad Faith Lawyer
Overview
Pat LePley is a Seattle native with close ties to just about everywhere in the Puget Sound. He has been a practicing attorney since 1975, when he started in the Pierce County Prosecutor's office. Shortly thereafter he began a trial practice which has grown ever since. Focusing on specialized areas of the law, he has earned a reputation as an expert in all types of tort and insurance law.Pat has fought and won numerous trials in Washington. His trial skills have earned his clients verdicts and settlements that total millions, but more importantly, have delivered justice to those that otherwise would have been left without it.
Pat has also been dedicated to ensuring that the laws surrounding tort and insurance issues are fair and protect the consumer. He has written or has contributed to many of the laws that protect the Washington consumer. He is frequently in Olympia and Washington DC speaking with legislators and executives, working to protect those laws from special interests who seek to increase profits over protecting people.
Pat has been named by numerous publications and organizations as one of the state's best trial lawyers. He has been selected as Trial Lawyer of the Year by both the Washington State Association for Justice and the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers. He is a constant selection as a "Super Lawyer" by Washington Law and Politics and was listed in the Best Lawyers in America selection. Pat is one of only a few attorneys that have been designated Certified Trial Attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates.
He is past president of the Washington State Association for Justice and sits on its board of governors. He also serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice. He has held numerous leadership positions in those associations as well as the Washington State Bar Association. Pat has written and contributed to articles published in numerous legal publications in Washington and nationwide. He is the creator of the annual "How to Hammer Allstate" CLE and has lectured throughout the United States to professional legal organizations.
Pat was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 1975 after attending law school at University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law). He is married to Carol Hern-LePley, the firm's manager. Pat and Carol are also partners in Hern-LePley Racing, a successful horse-racing company that races all over the west coast.
About Patrick H. LePley
Current Employment Position(s)
- Principal, since 1976
Practice Areas
- Insurance Bad Faith
Litigation
- 90%
Representative Clients
- Washington HBPA
Representative Cases
- Fraternal Order of Eagles, Cle Elum, Aerie No. 649 v. General Acc. Ins. Co. of America, 792 P.2d 178 (Wash.App. Div. 3 1990)
- O'Rourke v. Department of Labor and Industries of State of Wash., 788 P.2d 17 (Wash.App. Div. 1 1990)
- Husfloen v. MTA Const., Inc., 794 P.2d 859 (Wash.App. Div. 1 1990)
- Romanick v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 795 P.2d 728 (Wash.App. Div. 1 1990)
- Winters v. State Farm, 31 P.3d 1164 (Washington State Supreme Court 2002)
- Mahler v. Szucs, 957 P.2d 632 (Washington State Supreme Court 1998)
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 1976
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1978
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1976
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
Specialties and Certifications
- Civil Trial Lawyer, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2005
Other Affiliations
- American Bar Association, 1975 - Present (Member)
- Washington State Bar Association, 1975 - Present (Member)
- Seattle-King County Bar Association, 1975 - Present (Member)
- Washington State Association for Justice (Past President)
- East King County Bar Association, 1988 - 1992 (Member)
- American Association for Justice (Governor for WA State, Board of Governors)
- National Board of Trial Advocacy (Member)
Classes and Seminars
- Creator of the annual “How to Hammer Allstate” CLE and has lectured throughout the United States to professional legal organizations
Education
- University of Puget Sound School of Law, Tacoma, Washington, 1976
Doctor of Jurisprudence - University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1971
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science
Honors: cum laude
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Kappa Theta
References
References
- Eugene Moen, Attorney, Seattle
- Paul Stritmatter, Attorney, Seattle
Articles
Published Works
- Duty of Good Faith & Fair Dealing Among Parties to Insurance Transaction Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook, Issue 10, 1988
- Trial Lawyers Insurance Seminar (Chairman), 1979
- The Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Among Parties to the Insurance Transaction
- The Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook, Chapter 8, 1989. That particular deskbook, Chapter 8, has had two editions and four separate updates over the years, the most recent of which occurred in 2009. Patrick LePley was responsible for writing each of the updates.
- Chapter 5, Automobile Accident Litigation Deskbook, 2000. Chapter on bad faith litigation involving automobile insurance policies.
- Chapter titled “Navigating Appraisal Clauses”, the WSAJ Insurance Litigation Deskbook for Property Insurance, 2022.
Office Information
Address
3633 136th Place SESuite 120 Bellevue, WA 98006
Phone
Fax
- 425-747-0611
Websites
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Patrick H. LePley
Included on the 2025 Washington Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2005 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2004 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2003 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2002 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2001 Washington Super Lawyers list
Honors
- Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2002
- Named Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
- Received the Presidents Award from Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
- Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Special Achievement Award for Founding, Organizing and Chairing the Insurance Law Seminar for more than 25 years
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