With a strong business and litigation background, and over 30 years of first-chair trial experience, Gordon knows exactly which strategies will make a weak case stronger as well as what makes practical and financial sense. Gordon’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, traumatic brain injury, premises liability, contractor liability, school liability and construction defect litigation.

Prior to joining Smith Freed Eberhard, Gordon worked in-house for Travelers Insurance Company where he led the opening of the construction defect unit for their Seattle Staff Counsel office. He also focused on slip-and-falls, auto liability, construction liability, and commercial claims. Before joining Travelers, he worked for four years with the Hartford Insurance Company where he specialized in construction defect and complex commercial liability cases.

Gordon has successfully first chaired over fifty jury trials to verdict. He is a licensed attorney before the Washington State and Appellate Courts, the United States District Court, as well as with the Puyallup Tribal Court.

A notable trial victory for Gordon involved a recent complex personal injury lawsuit involving three defendants who were in separate accidents. The plaintiff alleged that she sustained a traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, neck and low back injuries as well as a failure of her kidneys. The Plaintiff also claimed all three accidents “caused” all of these injuries. Ten months before trial Gordon served an offer of judgment on the Plaintiff for $15,000 which the Plaintiff ignored. At trial Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to return a verdict of $21,000,000. Gordon convinced the jury that the vast majority of the Plaintiff’s claims were either fabricated or caused by other accidents. The jury entered a verdict against Gordon’s client for only $13,400, which was less than the offer of judgment extended to the plaintiff pre-trial.

Gordon also recently managed a complex personal injury claim where his client ran over a 7-year-old boy with his pickup truck. Leading up to trial Plaintiff’s counsel alleged that not only had his client sustained serious orthopedic injuries, but that he also suffered from a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Gordon retained a select group of experts who opined the Plaintiff did not sustain an head injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. As it was unquestioned the seven-year-old boy sustained multiple fractures and a ruptured spleen, Gordon’s carrier offered to settle for $450,000. Plaintiff demanded the insured’s $1,500,000 insurance policy limit and presented Gordon and his carrier with a $3.5 million life care plan. Gordon and his carrier remained confident taking this case to trial. Leading up to trial Gordon retained a computer animation expert who prepared a 3D animation explaining how the seven-year-old boy darted out in front of Gordon’s client thus causing his own injuries. After reviewing the 3D computer animation, and three days before trial, Plaintiff’s counsel finally accepted the $450,000 offer of settlement extended eight months earlier.

Gordon has also received a favorable verdict in King County District Court where the amount of the Plaintiff’s medical bills was not in dispute. The jury awarded only $1 in pain and suffering to the plaintiff.

University of Washington, J.D., MBA, 1991
University of Washington, B.A., Political Science, 1987

Member, Washington State Bar Association
Member, International Who’s Who
Member, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association
Member, Seattle Casualty Adjusters Association
Member, Tacoma Casualty Adjusters Association
Admitted, United States District Court, Western District
Black Belt Trial Advocacy Training Program Graduate