Mr. Van Gorder is experienced in areas of general and commercial litiga­tion. After joining his first Seattle law firm in 1985,  Chase was heavily involved in defending public utility districts in the Washington Public Power Supply System federal securities fraud litigation. He traveled throughout the country conducting discovery regarding the decisions of institutional investors to purchase WPPSS municipal bonds. In addition to the WPPSS litigation and insurance coverage litigation involving claims for environmental clean-up costs, Chase has been involved in litigation involving consumer protection, non-competition agreements, damages resulting from a maritime collision, commercial contractor disputes, collection, commercial, residential and mobile home landlord/ tenant disputes, and division of property in non-marital relation­ships.

Representative Client Areas:

Personal Injury

• Obtained insurance policy limit settlement for client who suffered injuries in jet ski collision.
• Defended law enforcement official against negligence claims.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Defended uninsured driver in negligence lawsuit.

Environmental

•  Obtained contribution for clean-up of contaminated soil at gas station.

Family Law

•  Represented ex-husband in "palimony" lawsuit.

Consumer Protection

• Prosecuted "Lemon Law" claims against Maserati, Toyota, DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Company.
• Appealed denial of professional's disability claim.
• Represented senior education major at Western Washington University in disciplinary action and subsequent appeal.

Commercial Litigation

• Defended individuals in collection actions.
• Obtained judgment for damages and attorney fees for client in action against neighbor for negligent repair of building foundation.
• Defended landowner in breach of contract by logging contractor.
• Prosecution of landowner's claims resulting from negligent blasting activities.