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Tobin E. Dale
Stafford Frey Cooper, PC
3100 Two Union Square
601 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101-1374
206.667.8253 Direct
206.624.6885 Fax
Email:
Tobin
E. Dale |
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Tobin is a civil
litigator and shareholder at the firm, where he has practiced his entire civilian legal career. Tobin's practice focuses
on police misconduct, construction, and general litigation.
He defends the City of Seattle and Seattle Police officers against police misconduct and civil rights claims. Tobin's practice is not limited to bullets, but also involves nails. He represents contractors or homeowners after buildings get built and things go wrong.
Tobin is also a Captain in the U.S. Army (Reserve), JAG Corps,
serving with the 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) based at Fort Lawton, Washington. In the fall of 2007, he was called to active duty for a one-year mobilization at Fort Hood, Texas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. At Fort Hood, he served as a Legal Assistance Attorney for III Corps and Fort Hood.
Tobin, his wife, and son reside in Seattle and spend considerable
time on their boat, "Grace." In his spare time, he
enjoys boating in U.S. and Canadian waters, hiking in the Olympics,
scuba diving in the Sound, and bird hunting throughout Washington.
 Education
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Seattle University
School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1999 |
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Associate Editor, Seattle University
Law Review, 1998-99 |
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University of Washington,
B.A., Liberal Studies, emphasis on Comparative International
Studies, magna cum laude, 1996 |
Military
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U.S. Army (Reserve), Captain, JAG Corps, 6th JAG Det. (LSO), Fort Lawton (Seattle), Washington (2002-2009) |
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Active Duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Captain, Legal Assistance Attorney, III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas (2007-2008) |
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U.S. Army (Reserve), Captain, OSJA, 364th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Lawton (Seattle), Washington (2009-Present)
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Recent Representative Cases
Product Liability and Construction Litigation
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Autumn
Grove Condominium Homeowners Assoc. v. Avance Group, et al.
(King County 2005-2006)(Managed, litigated, and successfully
settled complex 13-party case on 32-unit condo project. Defended
the developer/general contractor against $6.5 million homeowners'
claim for construction defects and water intrusion damages.) |
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QPM
Construction v. Rosenberg
(King County 2005)(Successfully defended homeowner in home
remodel dispute with contractor. Resolution achieved through
cooperative investigation and without resort to litigation.) |
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Bayshore
v. ServiceMaster, et al.
(King County 2004)(Successful prosecution and settlement
of product liability and negligence claims against multiple
parties, where client's property was destroyed in a condominium
fire.) |
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Gold
Digger Apples v. Isolcell Italia, et al.
(Okanogan County 2004)(Prosecution and settlement of product
liability and Consumer Protection Act claims against generator
manufacturer and distributor involving damage to client's
fruit in long-term cold storage.) |
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Panther
Construction v. Tolen
(King County 2004)(Successful pursuit of general contractor's
claims against homeowner arising from home remodel.) |
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Extended Stay of
America v. Sto Corp., et al.
(Pierce County 2001-2004)(Member of team that successfully
defended national manufacturer of a synthetic stucco siding
product against product liability and Consumer Protection
Act claims brought by hotel chain owner. Owner claimed over
$1 million in damages. Obtained de minimis settlement for
defense client.) |
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Extended Stay of
America v. Dryvit Systems, Inc., et al.
(Multnomah County 2002-2003)(Member of team that successfully
defended national manufacturer of a synthetic stucco siding
product against product liability claims brought by hotel
chain owner. Owner claimed over $1 million in damages. Obtained
de minimis settlement for defense client.) |
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Everest
Estates Owners Assoc. v. Dryvit Systems, Inc., et al.
(King County 2000-2002)(Successful defense of national manufacturer
of a synthetic stucco siding product, obtaining dismissal
of product liability and Consumer Protection Act claims.) |
Police & Government Liability
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Inquest into the Death of Miles Murphy (King County 2009)
(Successful defense of two officers in the shooting death of a UW college student dressed in a German military-type uniform who aimed a Mauser rifle loaded with blanks and fixed with a bayonet at officers. Inquest jury returned a unanimous special verdict in favor of the officers.) |
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Inquest
into the Death of Dennie Trujillo (King County 2005) (Successful
defense of officer in the shooting death of a suicidal suspect
who grabbed officer's handgun. Inquest jury returned a special
verdict in favor of officer, finding officer used reasonable
force.) |
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Daniel v. Detective
Kilburg
(King County 2004)(Successful defense and dismissal of libel
and slander claims against homicide detective that arose
from underlying criminal matter, where plaintiff was convicted
for murdering his roommate with a kitchen knife. Obtained
dismissal of plaintiff's civil appeal in Court of Appeals,
Division One.) |
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Lyons v. City of
Seattle, et al.
(W.D. Wash. 2003-2004)(Successful defense and dismissal of
state tort claims and federal claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983
by three plaintiffs against the City and four police officers,
where plaintiffs were arrested during protests marking the
one-year anniversary of the WTO Conference. Affirmed on appeal,
Lyons v. City of Seattle, et al., No. 04-35808 (9th Cir.
December 2006).) |
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Inquest
into the Death of DeOntrel Davis
(King County 2003)(Successful defense of officer in the shooting
death of a serial ATM-bank robber. Inquest jury returned
a special verdict in favor of officer, finding officer used
reasonable force.) |
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Estate
of Maxwell v. City of Seattle, et al.
(W.D. Wash. 2003)(Successful defense of the City and police
officers against wrongful death claims arising from the shooting
death of decedent, who threatened officers with a sword.
Obtained non suit of all claims.) |
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Inquest
into the Death of Adam Alexander
(King County 2002)(Successful defense of officer in the shooting
death of decedent, who held a hostage at gun point. Inquest
jury returned a special verdict in favor of officer, finding
officer used reasonable force.) |
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Thompson,
M.D. v. City of Seattle, et al.
(King County 2002)(Successful defense of City and police
officers against false arrest claims by doctor. Obtained
voluntary dismissal of all claims.) |
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Giron v. City of
Seattle, et al.
(W.D. Wash. 2000-2001)(Successful defense and dismissal of
civil rights claims for unlawful search and request for "alien
card" against the City and a police officer.) |
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Citoli v. City of
Seattle, et al.
(King County 2000-2001)(Successful defense of the City, Mayor,
and Police Chief against business owner's tort claims, which
arose from events during the WTO Conference and protests
in Seattle. At the trial court level, obtained dismissal
of all claims. Affirmed on appeal (handled by other firm
attorneys), Citoli v. City of Seattle, et al., 115 Wn. App.
459 (2002), review denied, 149 Wn. 2d 1033.) |
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Peterson
v. City of Seattle, et al.
(King County 2000-2001)(Successful defense of the City, Mayor,
City Attorneys, and police officers against claims for wrongful
arrest and civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. 1983,
arising from plaintiff's arrest for domestic violence assault
of daughter. At the trial court level, obtained dismissal
of all claims. Affirmed on appeal (handled by other firm
attorneys), Peterson v. City of Seattle, et al., 2003 Wash.
App. LEXIS 2361 (2003), 118 Wn. App. 1066 (2003), review
denied, 152 Wn.2d 1005 (2004).) |
Other Litigation
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Kilburg
v. Pfizer, Inc.
(2004)(Successful pursuit of client's personal injury claims
against Pfizer that arose from a bicycle-auto accident. Settlement
was achieved through cooperative investigation and without
resort to litigation.) |
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Crosby, Inc. v.
AB Enterprises, Inc.
(King County 2000-2001)(Successful defense and resolution
of tortious interference and contract claims brought by a
high-rise window cleaning competitor against client based
on non-solicitation agreement.) |
Memberships and Service
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Christian
Legal Society |
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King
County Bar Association |
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Washington Defense
Trial Lawyers |
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Washington State
Bar Association |
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WSBA Legal Services
to the Armed Forces Section |
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WSBA Litigation
Section |
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WSBA Construction
Law Section |
Publications And Presentations
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Police
Liability Prevention Training,
"Police Misconduct Actions and Defenses" (2006) |
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Law
Enforcement Training Bulletin,
"Impact of Supreme Court's Recent Knock-and-Announce
Ruling on Washington Law Enforcement" (2006) |
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Police
Liability Prevention Training,
"The Peaks & Pitfalls to Officer Off-Duty Conduct" (2006 |
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Police
Liability Briefing,
"Police Misconduct Actions and Defenses" (2005) |
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The
Mold Challenge in Washington,
"Scope of the Problem" and "The Present State
of Mold Litigation" (NBI, CLE, 2005) |
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Sharing Counsel
Table with the Government
- Practical Issues for the Private Attorney, "Special
Immunities for Governmental Agencies and Actors" (WDTL,
CLE, 2004) |
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Kentwood High School:
Guest speaker to high school business law classes performing
mock civil trials (2004) |
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Holy
Rosary Elementary:
Guest speaker to third graders on "the law" for
WSBA Law Week program (2001) |
Honors and Awards
• Rising Star, Washington Law & Politics |
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| All Washington
State and Federal Courts |
| Washington
State, 1999 |
| United
States Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit), 2000 |
| United
States District Court, Eastern District of Washington,
2000 |
| United
States District Court, Western District of Washington,
1999 |
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