James Verellen

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JDR is pleased to welcome Commissioner James Verellen as a new panel member. Commissioner Verellen served as a Commissioner at Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals from 1992 – 2011. Before joining the Court, Jim was a partner in the firm currently known as Vandeberg, Johnson and Gandara. He practiced civil law for 14 years with that firm, including a broad range of commercial, employment, business, real estate, and personal injury litigation. Jim was also a law clerk to the Honorable Vernon Pearson.

Experience & Specialties

Commissioner Verellen has a broad knowledge of civil law. As an appellate commissioner for almost 20 years, he has ruled on a wide range of issues in almost every area of civil law, including business, commercial, construction, real estate, consumer protection, franchise, trade secret, personal injury, product liability, malpractice, employment, discrimination, insurance, probate, worker compensation, and class action litigation. He has decided the merits of hundreds of appeals. Jim frequently speaks and writes about litigation topics including appellate settlements. For more than 10 years, he has conducted all of the settlement conferences at Division I, with a high success rate.

In his 14 years as an associate and partner at the firm currently known as Vandeberg, Johnson and Gandara, Jim actively practiced in administrative, antitrust, commercial, construction, discrimination, employment, estate planning, franchise, municipal, probate, product liability, real property, tort, trade secrets, and worker compensation law.

Jim’s clients included individuals, credit unions, banks, school districts, small professional corporations, trusts, estates, small retail and service businesses, regional and national corporations (local counsel), personal injury plaintiffs, injured workers, self-insured employers, and a municipal risk management pool.

Examples of his trial and appellate experience as an advocate include:

  • Douchette v. Bethel School District, 117 Wn.2d 805, 818 P.2d 1362 (1991); 58 Wn. App. 824, 795 P.2d 162 (1990). Accrual of cause of action for age and sex discrimination on constructive discharge claim – trial and appeal.
  • McCausland v. Bankers Life, 110 Wn.2d 716, 757 P.2d 941, 81 A.L.R. 4th 411 (1988). Validity of due on sale clauses and prepayment penalties in commercial real estate financing –trial and appeal.
  • Morris v. International Yogurt, 107 Wn.2d 314, 729 P.2d 33 (1986). Adopted federal securities law standards for nondisclosure of material facts under Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act – trial and appeal.
  • Krakowiak v. Tambrands, United States District Court. Recovered a significant settlement for the surviving husband, two minor daughters and the estate of a woman who died from toxic shock syndrome.
  • Thayer v. Pennisula School Dist., Superior Court. Defended a school bus – pickup truck collision wrongful death action.

Community Activites

For several years, Commissioner Verellen has been a repeat speaker at: University of Washington School of Law – Appellate Advocacy Seminar; Bishop Blanchett High School – Senior Government classes; and Garfield High School – AP Senior Government and AP Junior History classes.

Commissioner Verellen has served on the boards of youth ballet and baseball organizations. He has coached youth soccer and basketball.

Past Memberships

  • Washington Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Washington Chapter American Judicature Society, Public Education Committee
  • Board of Court Education
  • Washington Courts Appellate Education Committee
  • Washington Courts Fall Conference Planning Committee
  • Washington State Bar Committee on Legal Assistants
Education

J.D., Willamette University College of Law 1976
B.A., Washington State University 1973