Defense Verdict on Trial De Novo, where the plaintiffs were each asking for $124,000 and were awarded $17,075 and $10,000.

 Rory W. Leid, III, assisted by John B. Fay, represented Andrew Coyle, Kerri Coyle, and Menfis Montoya in the matter of Rudin v Coyle & Montoya, King County Superior Court, Case No. 20-2-06713-0.  This was a soft tissue injury claim that was tried via Zoom. 

Shin v. Allstate - Rory Leid, assisted by Lucy Wilhelm, prevailed on a motion for summary judgment dismissing Plaintiff’s extracontractual claims, including alleged bad faith and violations of the CPA and IFCA. The plaintiff alleged that Allstate denied coverage by making an unreasonably low settlement offer and failing to sufficiently explain the basis for the offer. On summary judgment, the Court found that there was no denial of coverage, and therefore, there could be no bad faith or violation of the IFCA. The Court found that Allstate’s conduct was reasonable and dismissed all of Plaintiff’s extracontractual claims.

Dylan R. Knapp

Associate Attorney

He joined the firm in March 2022. His practice focuses on all aspects of insurance defense.

 Mr. Knapp received his B.A. in History and B.A. in Law and Justice from Central Washington University before receiving his J.D. from Willamette University College of Law. Mr. Knapp sat for and passed the July 2021 bar exam.

 During law school, Mr. Knapp worked in the Willamette University Business Law Clinic and the Advanced Civil Practice Clinic, providing legal services for businesses.

 When not practicing law, Mr. Knapp enjoys reading, hiking, playing soccer, and studying history.

GEIC0 v. Weilert, USDC W.D. Wash. Case No. 3:22-cv-05997-DGE, September 2023 – Rory Leid, assisted by Dylan Knapp, prevailed on summary judgment establishing that the insureds could not stack their UIM coverage for each vehicle that had a UIM premium. GEICO’s policy explicitly excluded the stacking of UIM coverage. The Court concluded that GEICO offered the only reasonable interpretation of the insurance policy as would be understood by the average purchaser of insurance and that Washington State allowed UIM insurers to limit the stacking of UIM coverage.

Lauren I. Fugere

Associate Attorney

She graduated from Oregon State University with a BS in psychology in 2014. In 2019 she graduated from Seattle University School of Law 2019 and passed the July 2019 bar exam. Lauren was a member of the Seattle Journal of Environmental Law during law school, and her article Golf Course Land Positive Effects on the Environment was published in 2019. After law school, she worked at another insurance defense firm before joining WLHR. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Court Finds No Duty to Defend

Rory Leid, Lauren Fugere, and Matt Heyert prevailed on a summary judgment for declaratory relief finding that the insurance company had no duty to defend or indemnify the insureds in a wrongful death lawsuit after the decedent ingested, in part, fentanyl, an illicit substance, on the insured’s property.  The decedent passed away because of the ingestion of fentanyl.    The estate of the decedent claimed that because the death occurred on the insured’s property, the insured’s homeowner’s insurance should provide coverage.  The insurance company prevailed in establishing that the policy excluded coverage when illicit substances were involved, establishing that there was no duty under the policy to defend or indemnify.

  First American Insurance Company v. Wolverton et al, 3:23-cv-05228-TMC

ISABELLA M. FOXEN

Associate Attorney

Her practice focuses on all aspects of insurance defense. Ms. Foxen graduated from the Seattle University School of Law in 2020. During her time at Seattle University, Ms. Foxen was a legal extern at Trupanion and a student attorney for the Ronald A. Peterson Legal Clinic. Prior to joining WLHR, Ms. Foxen worked as a Family Law attorney assisting clients with divorces, domestic violence protection orders, and wills and trusts.

Outside the office, Isabella enjoys painting, knitting, and playing with her dog.

Legal Intern

Ashley joined the firm in May 2023. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics with concentrations in Finance and Development. She attends Seattle University School of Law and plans to sit for the July 2024 bar exam. Ashley is an associate editor of Seattle University Law Review, a board member of Seattle University's Public Interest Law Foundation, and has volunteered through the International Refugee Assistance Project and UW Federal Tax Clinic.

Prior to attending law school, Ashley worked in the local music and events scene. She enjoys going to shows, gardening, and planning her next adventure in her free time.

Associate Attorney

Matt joined the firm in July 2023. His practice focuses on all aspects of insurance defense. Originally from Hermosa Beach, CA, he graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2010. Prior to joining WLHR, Mr. Heyert worked primarily in civil litigation, representing clients in matters including cannabis, construction defect, contract disputes, business disputes, and landlord/tenant issues. His career also includes experience in corporate transactions and regulatory compliance.

 In his free time, Mr. Heyert enjoys getting outdoors, his Australian shepherds, and cooking for friends and family.

Court Finds No Duty to Defend

Rory Leid, Lauren Fugere, and Matt Heyert prevailed on a summary judgment for declaratory relief finding that the insurance company had no duty to defend or indemnify the insureds in a wrongful death lawsuit after the decedent ingested, in part, fentanyl, an illicit substance, on the insured’s property.  The decedent passed away because of the ingestion of fentanyl.    The estate of the decedent claimed that because the death occurred on the insured’s property, the insured’s homeowner’s insurance should provide coverage.  The insurance company prevailed in establishing that the policy excluded coverage when illicit substances were involved, establishing that there was no duty under the policy to defend or indemnify.

  First American Insurance Company v. Wolverton et al, 3:23-cv-05228-TMC

Gabrielle E. Fillis

Associate Attorney

Gabrielle joined the firm in December 2023. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a BS in microbiology in 2019. In 2023, Gabrielle graduated from Seattle University School of Law and passed the July 2023 bar exam. During law school, she worked as a research assistant for a faculty member and as an intern at a personal injury litigation firm. She also participated in her law school’s public health policy advocacy clinic. Gabrielle enjoys spending time with friends and family in her free time, painting, and watching movies.