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Phillip H. Ginsberg

PRACTICE EMPHASIS:

Phil focuses his practice in commercial litigation and the representation of professional service providers including lawyers, insurance brokers, and clergy.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES:

  • Obtained (1) a reversal of the trial court’s order of specific performance of a commercial real estate agreement, and (2) attorney’s fees in Uznay v. Bevis, 139 Wn. App. 359 (Div. I 2007), review denied, 80617-9 (April 29, 2008).
  • Obtained dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in State of Washington v. Digital Enterprises, Inc., et al., in King County Superior Court Cause No. 06-2-26030-9 SEA (2007).
  • Obtained order from WSBA’s Character and Fitness Committee permitting applicant to take 2005 Bar Exam.
  • Represented attorney on fraud and other charges resulting in a dismissal of the grievance by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (2005).
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of broker for alleged failure to obtain coverage. Monson Fruit Co. v. Marsh Advantage America, et al. (Yakima County Sup. Court 2004).
  • Obtained coverage and indemnification for insured after plaintiffs amended their complaint. Greenlaw, et al. v. Wellington Lakemont, et al. (King County Sup. Court 2004).
  • Obtained federal court dismissal of insurance broker on basis of abstention after obtaining withdrawal of reference to bankruptcy court. Trustee for Wade Cook Fin. Corp. v. Crump Ins. Servs. NW, Inc. (W.D. Wash. 2004).
  • Obtained Supreme Court decision affirming dismissal of action challenging Port’s rental car concession fee. Branson v. Port of Seattle, 115 Wn. App. 695, 63 P.3d 380 (2003), affirmed, 152 Wn.2d 862, 101 P.3d 67 (2004).
  • Obtained 12(b)(6) dismissal of online real estate services provider from national securities class action. In re Homestore.com, Inc., Securities Litigation (C.D. Cal. 2003).
  • Defended attorney against fraud charges brought by Washington State Bar resulting in full exoneration before hearing officer and disciplinary board (2002).
  • Obtained favorable rulings on jurisdiction and merits in fee dispute between attorneys. Whitson v. Stolpman, 174 F. Supp. 2d 1131 (W.D. Wash. 2001).
  • Obtained dismissal of claim of sexual harassment against a minister and trustee of a public college (1998).

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

Early in his career, Phil was an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Law School (1968-70) and director of its Mandel Legal Aid Clinic. He served as Chief Attorney and then Director of the Seattle-King County Public Defender Association (1970-76). He was a partner in Ginsberg & Stanich before joining Stokes Lawrence in 1992.

He has been active in civil rights. Illustratively, Phil represented (1) the Seattle Black Law Enforcement Association in litigation against the Seattle Police Guild to ensure fairness in the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement; (2) Hispanic Americans in the enforcement of their Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure; (3) two Syrian-Americans in their interviews with federal officials; and (4) recently obtained dismissal of assault charges with prejudice against two Arab-American clients in Fircrest Municipal Court.

ACTIVITIES:

In June 2008 the WSBA Board of Governors elected Phil to serve on the ABA House of Delegates. Phil served as the president of the Board of the Defender Association from 2000-2005. He is a member and former co-chair (2001-2003) of the King County Bar Association’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Lunch Committee and continues to serve on the Board. He is a charter member and past president of the Seattle International District Rotary Club, past chairman of the Mayor’s Judicial Selection Committee and Co founder of Save Darfur—Washington State (2005).

EDUCATION:

Phil obtained his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1964 and his B.A. in History, magna cum laude, from Princeton University in 1961.

ADMISSIONS:

Phil is admitted to the Illinois State Bar (1964), the Washington State Bar (1970), the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1972) and the U.S. Supreme Court (1990).

LECTURES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

Phil has served as an instructor for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and is a frequent speaker on trial practice and ethics.