has more than 30 years of experience litigating cases in state and federal courts. Spencer's practice focuses on commercial disputes, including investment fraud, business torts, contract disputes, employment, consumer protection, and intellectual property. Spencer has been honored by his peers as a Washington Law & Politics "Super Lawyer" every year since 1999. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Litigation Counsel of America.
Education
University of Virginia, J.D., 1975
- Order of the Coif
Georgia Institute of Technology, Bachelors of Industrial Engineering, 1969
- Alpha Pi Mu (Industrial Engineering
Honor Society)
Practice History
Hall Zanzig Claflin McEachern PLLC (Seattle, WA) Founding Member, 1998-present
SmartContractor v. RightWorks Corp. Obtained a $2.6 million jury verdict in favor of the client, SmartContractor, Inc., a Seattle start-up company in the high-tech industry whose website business failed as a result of defective software procured from a major software vendor. (King County Superior Court)
Lambert v. Ackerley. Obtained a $13 million jury verdict, including punitive damages, in favor of six employees fired by Barry Ackerley and the Seattle Supersonics for requesting overtime compensation. The trial judge reduced the punitive damages award to $4.5 million. Following cross appeals, the employees collected a judgment totaling more than $8 million. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)
B-Line Holdings, LLC Litigation. Represented founder of leading provider of consumer debt purchasing, processing and recovery services in litigation with an equity fund concerning the terms on which the company could be sold. Following a two-week trial to the court, and a series of revisions to the proposed sales terms favoring the founder, the court entered partial judgment permitting sale of the company. (Circuit Court of Oregon for Multnomah County)
Sahara Gaming Corp. v. Miller. Successfully defended and settled state and federal securities fraud claims in excess of $20 million asserted against officers and directors of Mississippi gaming corporation. (U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada)
Fidelity Funding Company v. Estate of Eugene Horbach. Successfully defended against fraud and RICO claims in excess of $12 million. Following one-week bench trial, obtained dismissal of all claims against Estate except a conversion claim of less than $500,000. (King County Superior Court)
Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master
Spencer serves as an arbitrator or mediator in commercial litigation.
Special Master, In Re Air Crash Disaster, MDL No. 1276, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Committees, Conferences and Advisory Groups
Trustee, Federal Bar Association, 2008-2009
Chair, 2009 and 2003-2005; Co-Chair, 2007-2008 Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington
Treasurer, Federal Bar Association, 2005-2007 Western District of Washington
Chair, Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group, 1999-2000 U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington Committee Member: 1995-2004
