Robert A. Radcliffe

radcliffe@sohalang.com

206.654.6615

Robert A. Radcliffe is Of Counsel with Soha & Lang, where his practice is concentrated in the area of commercial lines insurance law.  Robert has more than 30 years’ experience in insurance coverage analysis and litigation, as well as a deep background in commercial and tort litigation.  His experience in insurance includes commercial and personal property and liability insurance, related contractual indemnity disputes and Washington State risk pool law.  Representative matters involving large property loss have included commercial property development disputes, insurance coverage for construction defect claims, insurance coverage for landfill remediation and closures, additional insured coverage, first-party coverage for “wind driven rain” property damage claims, builders risk claims, and coverage for major environmental cleanup claims.  While in law school, he served as a law clerk in the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, and as an extern for The Honorable John Coughenour, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

ADMISSIONS

• Washington State Bar
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

EDUCATION

• J.D. with honors, University of Washington
• Washington Law Review Editorial Board
• B.A., Antioch College

HONORS AND INVOLVEMENT

• American Bar Association
• Litigation Section
• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• Seattle Emergency Housing Service, Pro Bono Representation
• AV rating from Martindale Hubbell.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Cascade Pole Company v. Reliance Insurance Company, et al. Trial counsel for insurer in complex environmental coverage action involving wood treating plants in four states. After a nine week jury trial the case was resolved on terms favorable to the client.
• King County v. Allendale Mutual et al. and related cases, King County Superior Court and U.S. District Court. Representation of municipality in multiple related liability and insurance coverage actions against contractors and insurers arising out of falling ceiling tiles at the Kingdome in King County, Washington. Ceiling tiles fell during exterior work on the structure, used as a stadium by multiple professional sports teams, causing a four-month disruption in the use of this major sports facility and other damages. We prevailed on multiple motions for summary judgment and settled remaining claims very favorably to the stadium owner.
• Eagle Hardware v. Valiant Insurance Company et al., United States District Court, Western District of Washington. Successfully defended insurer client against all claims for coverage and bad faith in hotly contested matter arising out of a dispute with another insurer, which mismanaged the underlying defense and sought to impose liability on our client.
• Allianz Global Risks US v. Ace Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Multnomah County Circuit Court (Oregon). Participated in trial team that obtained a defense jury verdict on pollution exclusion applicability to coverage for liability at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.
• Evanston Ins. Co. v. Penhall Co., Whatcom County Superior Court and Washington Court of Appeals. Obtained reversal of summary judgment orders that were adverse to client, followed by jury trial on remand.
• Copeland v. Assurance Co. of Am., United States District Court, Western District of Washington. Obtained summary judgment dismissing all claims in coverage dispute arising from construction and grading activity.
• Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. Ledcor Indus. (USA) Inc., King County Superior Court and Washington Court of Appeals. Successfully defended clients interests at the Superior Court and Court of Appeals in a complex multiparty construction defect coverage dispute that took ten years to resolve.