Ahearne, Thomas F.

Current Employment Position(s)

Member, since 1993

Lawyer Overview

Practice emphasizes:
(1) Representing policyholders in insurance coverage litigation in federal and state courts, as well as related construction defect litigation; and
(2) Constitutional law cases, election disputes, ballot title challenges, and litigation over the enforcement or validity of statutes and Initiatives.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Insurance Coverage
• Municipal Government
• School Law
• Appellate Team
• Construction
• Education and Schools
• Retail

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Construction Law, Education Law, Municipal Employment -- Employee, Insurance Law, Litigation & Appeals, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Liability, State Government

Bar Admissions

• Washington, 1984
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington, 1991
• U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 1984
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1991
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2006

Professional Associations and Memberships

• King County Bar Association (Judicial Screening Committee), 2003 - Present
• Washington State Bar Association (Litigation Section)
• Federal Bar Association
• American Bar Association (Litigation Section)
• American Bar Association (Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee)
• American Bar Association (Special Deputy Prosecutor)
• King County Prosecutor's Office, 1990 - 1991 (Felony Drug Task Force)
• Washington State Bowhunters, 2002 - Present (Member)
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 2001 - Present (Member)
• Bainbridge Island Planning Commission, 1994 - 1997 (Commissioner)
• United Way of King County, 1993 - 1996 (Literacy and Employment Funding Review Panel Member)
• Bainbridge Island Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, 1992 - 1994 (Member)
• Notre Dame Alumni Club of Western Washington, 1987 - 1994 (Secretary and Newsletter Editor)
• Bainbridge Island Transportation Planning Committee, 1991 - 1992 (Chair)

Honors and Awards

• Super Lawyers® List, Washington Law & Politics, 2000 - 2008
• The Best Lawyers in America® - Insurance Law, 2007 - 2008
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
• Best Lawyers’® 2011 Seattle Insurance Lawyer of the Year
• 2010 Top Lawyer, Seattle Metropolitan magazine
• Washington Super Lawyers®, 2000-2010

Classes and Seminars

• Insurance Coverage Issues in Public Works Construction; Public Bidding Procedures and Bid Contests, Public Works Construction in Washington, Seattle - 2008
• Reducing Project Risks Through Insurance, Construction Project Management, Seattle - 2008
• Insurance Coverage and Its Critical Role in Construction Defect Claims, Construction Claims in Washington, Seattle - 2008
• Pursuing Insurance Coverage for Construction Defects, Construction Defects: Water Intrusion & Other Calamities, Seattle - 2007
• Insurance Coverage & Indemnity Clauses-- Ensuring that Someone Else Pays When Things Go Wrong, Construction Law and Risk Management for Municipalities -- Latest Traps & Strategies, Seattle - 2007
• Myth vs. Reality in the World of Condominiums, Construction Litigation and Insurance Coverage -- inLatest Traps the Trenches, Hot Issues in Real Estate and Land Use Development, Seattle - 2007
• Constitution & Education Funding Litigation, Seminar at Washington Legislature's Senate Office Building, Olympia - 2007
• Construction Defects: Water Intrusion & Other Calamities, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2006
• Insurance Law: Third Party Coverage, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2006
• Public Works Construction: New & Dramatic Legal Changes in Washington, Lorman Educational Services, Tacoma - 2006
• Construction Defects: Water Intrusion Claims, The Seminar Group, Seattle - 2005
• Election Law in Washington, Northwest Legal Foundation, Seattle - 2005
• Where's My Vote? Lessons Learned From Washington's Gubernatorial Election, Elections Law Symposium, CLE, Seattle University Law School, Seattle - 2005
• Water Intrusion & Other Construction Defects Conference, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2004
• Insurance Coverage Challenges in Washington, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2004
• Water Intrusion and Toxic Mold Claims, Sterling Educational Services, Tacoma - 2004
• Insurance Litigation in Washington, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2003
• Solving Water Intrusion And Mold Problems in Washington, Lorman Education Services, Tacoma - 2002
• Insurance Protection For Construction Defects Terrorist Threats, And Other Losses, Annual Technical & Management Conference of the Evergreen Rural Water Association, Yakima - 2002
• Protections (And Limitations) Of Home Owner Warranty/Insurance Programs Under Washington Law, Master Builders Association Presentation, Bellevue - 2002
• Update on Terrorism Insurance After 9/11, KING 5 Television - September 2002
• Understanding The Insurance Contract and Washington Insurance Coverage Law, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2002
• Construction Defects & Mold Claims: Parties and Insurance Coverage, National Business Institute, Seattle - 2002
• Insurance Law In Washington, National Business Institute, Bellevue - 2001
• Terrorism Insurance After 9/11, KING 5 Television - October 2001
• Getting The Most [Insurance] Protection For Your Taxpayers, Municipal Attorney CLE, Seattle - 2000
• Recent Collapse Cases & First-Party Property Cases In Washington, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, Spokane & Seattle - 1998ngton
• Getting The Most Out Of The Insurance The Homeowner Paid For, National Business Institute, Seattle - 1998
• Getting The Most Out Of That Directors And Officers Policy The Company Bought, National Business Institute, Seattle - 1998
• Insurance Coverage For Environmental Pollution Claims: Use Those Old Insurance Policies, Risk Insurance Management Society ("RIMS"), Seattle - 1996

Past Employment Positions

• Foster Pepper PLLC, Associate, 1986 - 1992
• Chief Judge John V. Singleton, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, Law Clerk, 1984 - 1986
• King County Prosecutor's Office, Special Deputy Prosecutor Felony Drug Task Force, 1990 - 1991

Education

• University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois, 1984
  J.D.
  Honors: With Honors
• University of Notre Dame, 1981
  B.A.
  Honors: magna cum laude

Address

1111 Third Avenue
Suite 3400
Seattle, WA 98101-3299

Phones

(206) 447-8934

Faxes

(206) 749-1902

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.foster.com