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Attorneys
Lynam, Joseph E.

Practices & Industries

Joseph E. Lynam

Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7088 | lynamj@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Joseph Lynam has an active litigation practice focusing on complex litigation, with emphasis on aggressively representing clients in litigation relating to real estate, severe personal injuries and other matters.  With over 28 years in litigation, Joseph’s wide range of experience includes insurance coverage, intellectual property, Internet disputes, and piercing the corporate veil.  In representing plaintiffs, Joseph has obtained multiple multi-million dollar recoveries.  Joseph serves as co-chair of the Firm’s Real Estate Litigation Group, which is focused on representing clients in disputes involving the sale and purchase, leasing, development and financing of real property.

Admitted to Practice

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

Academics

  • University of California at Davis (J.D., 1982)
  • University of Washington Business School (B.A., magna cum laude, 1979)
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

  • Co-chair, Real Estate Litigation Practice Group
  • Director and Office Liability
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property and Technology
  • Litigation
  • Securities

Representative Matters

  • Tacher v. Elephant Car Wash (Wash. State Court) — represented plaintiffs in premises liability and motor vehicle accident case relating to horrific accident where injuries included loss of legs; obtained favorable settlement for confidential amount for clients.
  • Balvage et. al. v. RISA (Wash. Federal Court) — representing 54 individual plaintiffs bringing federal Fair Housing Act discrimination claims; successfully obtained summary judgment order of FHA violations and obtained preliminary injunction enjoining future discrimination.
  • Commercial Development Company v. Abitibi (Wash. Federal Court) — obtained summary judgment dismissal of specific performance claims and breach of contract claims relating to alleged agreement to sell an 83 acre pulp and paper mill.
  • Hyatt v. Northwest Contractors, et al. (Wash. State Court) — brought negligence and product liability claims relating to worksite accident; recovered $1.5 million for clients.
  • Kenyon Zero Storage v. PF Acquisition I, et al. (Wash. Federal Court) — brought piercing the corporate veil and other claims relating to multi-year lease of commercial property and recovered over $1.4 million for landlord client.
  • Falcon v. ATG (Wash. Federal Court) — obtained summary judgment dismissal of $2.3 million copyright infringement claims relating to Internet website.
  • Willow Wind, et al. v. Kenyon Zero Storage (Wash. Federal Court) — defended over $65 million of damages claims related to alleged agreement to purchase stock and breach of fiduciary duties.
  • DMX Music v. Crow’s Nest Entertainment (California Federal Court) — defended trade secret, unfair competition, and other claims arising from franchise agreement and pursued multiple counterclaims for breach of contract.
  • Valverde v. ATG, et al. (Wash. Federal Court) — defended claims for breach of director duties, intellectual property claims, and breach of contract claims relating to Internet agreements and other disputes between parties.
  • Classmates v. MarketRange (Wash. State Court) — brought claims relating to Internet agreement concerning sale of website advertising.
  • Smith v. Briere (Wash. State Court) — obtained defense verdict in jury trial concerning claims brought against real estate agent for misrepresentation in sale of parcels of real property.
  • CAS v. RTS Enabling Technology (Wash. State Court) — defended claims relating to alleged breach of software development agreement.

Speaking Engagements

  • “2010 Changes to WA State Laws for Real Estate Brokers,” Building Owners and Managers Association of Seattle King County, October 26, 2010
  • “Real Estate Transition Course,” BOMA Seattle King County, May 11, 2010
  • “Current Issues in Washington Commercial Real Estate,” Real Estate Core Curriculum Course, March 26, 2009

Awards and Honors

  • Named as a “Washington Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers magazine, Business Litigation, 2003-2005, 2008-2011
  • Certified Real Estate Instructor, certified by Washington State Department of Licensing to instruct courses in numerous real estate subject matters.

Professional and Community Activities

  • Member, Washington State Association for Justice (formerly Washington State Trial Lawyers Association)
  • Member, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
  • Member, NAIOP
  • Associate Member, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
  • Member, BOMA Education Committee
  • Member, Corporate Counsel Section of the Washington State Bar Association
  • Member, Litigation Section of the Washington State Bar Association
  • Member, Litigation Section of the American Bar Association
  • Member, Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington