Randall P. Beighle

Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7096 | beighler@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Randy Beighle focuses on business and commercial litigation, where he has handled matters ranging from franchising, dealership and sales contracts to energy and software disputes. Randy has tried significant complex commercial cases to verdict, including Maid O’Clover v. Chevron Products Group (won defense verdict in six week trial; plaintiffs’ claims exceeded $50 million; October-November 2005) and March Point Cogeneration Company v. Puget Sound Energy (won three week trial worth over $350 million, October 1997).

Admitted to Practice

Washington and relevant Federal Courts
U.S. Court of Claims

Academics

University of California at Los Angeles (J.D., 1983)
- Order of the Coif; Moot Court Distinguished Advocate
University of California at Berkeley (A.B. with honors and great distinction, 1980)
- Phi Beta Kappa

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

Franchising
Litigation

Representative Matters and Clients

Gee West Seattle v. Huling Bros. (Private Arbitration 2010)(Represented sellers in dispute with buyer over the sale of large car dealership group; obtained favorable arbitration result after two week arbitration before three arbitrator panel)
Johnson v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. King County Superior Court No. 07-2-20155-6 SEA (Represented defendant oil company in employment race and disability discrimination case; co-counsel in three week jury trial, December 2008; defense verdict)
Shareholder Representatives of Abacus v. TAC Americas, Inc. (Private Arbitration, July 2008)(Represented selling shareholders in dispute over sale of company and obtained an arbitration award for $1.35 million on post-sale earn out clause)
Everything Cycles, Inc. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Civ. No. 07-1170-TC (USDC D. Oregon) (Represented motorcycle manufacturer in dealer termination dispute; summary judgment for defendant)
Maid O’Clover v. Chevron Products Group, No. CV-03-3077-EFS (E.D. WA 2005) (Represented defendant oil company in gas pricing and franchise dispute against 20 station marketer; six week jury trial; defense verdict)
SOMA Partners v. Northwest Biotherapeutics, American Arbitration Association (AAA NY City No. 13 180 02010 04)(Represented biotech company in arbitration over multi-million dollar investment banking fee claim; three day arbitration hearing with complete victory for client)
Home Depot v. First Berkshire Properties, King County Superior Court No. 03-2-13169-5 SEA (Represent retail store in lease assignment dispute; summary judgment in favor of client)
Murdzia, Berlin, Cade, Dowe, Fry, and Granfors et al. v. Equilon Enterprises, LLC, Skagit County Superior Court No. 99-2-00066-1 (Represented oil refinery is wrongful death cases arising from refinery explosion)
Kern River Cogeneration Company et al. v. Southern California Edison Company, Kern County Superior Court, Case No. 243932 SPC (Represent two cogeneration companies in contract dispute with major electrical utility; case value $260 million; settled with full payment to clients)
March Point Cogeneration Company v. Puget Sound Energy, No. C95-1833R (W.D. WA 1997) (Represent congeneration joint venture in contract dispute with electrical utility; co-counsel in three week jury trial; case value of roughly $350 million with complete victory for client)
Home Depot v. Rosenwald, No. 96-2-00399-8 (King Cty. Sup. Ct. 1996) (Represent lessor in declaratory relief case against tenant one week bench trial)
Brader v. Minute Muffler, 81 Wn. App. 532 (1996) (Represent franchisee in franchise dispute under Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act; partial summary judgment and two week bench trial on damages)
First Interstate Bank, Trustee v. Sinegal, No. 93-2-02890-2 (King Cty. Sup. Ct. 1994) (Represent trustee in lot line dispute; two week jury trial with complete victory for client)
Horbach v. Tompourlos, 75 Wn. App. 1001 (1994) (Represent foreclosing seller in commercial property dispute; foreclosure affirmed on appeal)
First Interstate Bank v. WestCap et al., 74 Wn. App. 900 (1994) (Represent lender in $5.3 million foreclosure case; summary judgments affirmed on appeal)
Blanton v. Texaco, 914 F. 2d 188 (9th Cir. 1990) (Represent putative franchisor in franchise dispute under Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act; summary judgment affirmed on appeal)
Simpson Timber Company v. Ellis et al., No. 85-2-09627-4 (King Cty. Sup. Ct., 1988) (Represent corporation in dissenting minority shareholder valuation; co-counsel in four week bench trial; victory for client)
Home Insurance Co. v. Seattle-First National Bank, 800 F. 2d 263 (1986) (Represent beneficiary in letter of credit dispute; summary judgment)

Speaking Engagements

Randy is a frequent lecturer on complex civil litigation topics, including the following recent engagements:

“Hot Topics and Trends in Damages” Washington State Bar Association CLE (Chair)
“Federal Court Subject Matter Jurisdiction” (Repeated at Washington State Bar Association “Best of CLE for 2002”)
“Remedies under Uniform Commercial Code Article 2”
“Franchise, Dealership and Distribution Law in Washington”
“Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code”

Awards and Honors

Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell

Professional and Community Activities

Trustee, The Children’s Museum Seattle, 2006-Present
Committee of Bar Examiners, Washington State Bar Association, 1992-2003; Executive Committee, 1994-1999
Litigation, Business and Corporations Sections, Franchise Forum American Bar Association
Mentor of the Year, Lane Powell Seattle office 2008
Volunteer Youth Soccer Coach 2006-Present