Jody K. Reich is a principal and partner with Dethlefs Sparwasser and focuses her practice on commercial litigation, employment, real estate transactions and defense of various entities, including local family businesses and large, nationally-known businesses alike.  Prior to her civil practice, Ms. Reich served as a law clerk to The Honorable Edward F. Shea, United States District Court in the Eastern District of Washington, and The Honorable James M. Murphy, Spokane Superior Court Judge (retired).  Ms. Reich gained her business and litigation experience as a trial attorney in a large Seattle business firm where she was a partner since 2004.

Ms. Reich was named “Rising Star” by Washington Law & Politics magazine in 2006 and 2007, a designation reserved for fewer than 3 percent of all licensed attorneys in the State of Washington who have practiced less than 10 years.

During her legal career, Ms. Reich has handled the following notable cases:

• Representing property developers in large-scale construction defense litigation.
• Representing employers in discrimination complaints and hostile work environment and retaliation claims.
• Representing homeowners in property development dispute obtaining defense verdict and award of attorney’s fees.
• Representing construction subcontractors in contract disputes and catastrophic losses.
• Representing fire suppression system company in large commercial fire loss.
• Conducting construction lien foreclosure actions on behalf of small and large business.
• Representing national insurers in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.
• Representing major transportation company in incident of sexual assault.

Additional Cases

• Representing domestic violence center and its Board members in hostile workplace/retaliation claim achieving dismissal before trial with presentation of live testimony from witnesses who confirmed that plaintiff fabricated evidence related to her firing.
• Representing the defendant restaurant in Erman v. India Cuisine, et al., Cause No. 01-2-35867-7 SEA, King County Superior Court.  Plaintiff slipped and fell in an insured restaurant, fracturing her back.  Plaintiff asked jury for $2.28 million in damages.  After a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict awarding the plaintiff $89,000, less than half of her total medical bills and a minimal pain and suffering award.  Plaintiff rejected a settlement offer of $250,000 prior to trial.
• Representing a local fire district in highly publicized incident involving treatment of a patient and achieving summary dismissal.
• Representing numerous medical device and pharmaceutical companies in product liability actions, including many Fortune 500 companies.
• Representing both general contractors and subcontractors in construction defect litigation, successfully achieving dismissal at the time of trial.
• Defending litigants in complex wrongful death action arising out of a multi-car collision.
• Defending several large nationally-recognized corporations in product liability suits, including an appeal to the Washington Supreme Court.
• Representing small and large business owners in litigation involving property and injury claims resulting in efficient settlement.
• Representing excess insurance carriers in coverage disputes.
• Representing homeowners in covenants appeal.

Admissions
She is admitted to practice in the State of Washington and before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington.

Memberships
Ms. Reich is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Washington State and King County Bar Associations and the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association (WDTL).  She serves as editor in chief for the WDTL’s quarterly publication, Defense News.  Ms. Reich is also a member and volunteer for the Junior League of Seattle, an organization focused on improving the lives of children in need in the greater Seattle area and for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Publications
Ms. Reich had authored the following articles:

“Trial Budgets: A Defense Lawyer’s Dilemma – How Much is Enough?”
Defense News (July/August 2004)

“The Need for Tougher Standards in Washington Imposing Criminal Liability for the Intentional Exposure to HIV,” 34 Gonz. L. Rev. 185 (1999).  (This article was published under the name Jody Kuiper)

Education
Ms. Reich received a Bachelor of Arts decree in Political Science form the University of Washington in 1994.  She received her law degree in 1998 from Gonzaga University School of Law.  She was a member of the Gonzaga Law Review where she served as Board Member and was honored as “Editor of the Year.”