Michael H. Runyan

Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7062 | runyanm@lanepowell.com

Practice Areas

Mike is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. During his 33 year practice at Lane Powell, he has tried more than 50 jury cases. Mike’s practice includes defense of professional malpractice, product liability, and insurance coverage/bad faith litigation. He has written and lectured extensively on product liability, trial tactics, tort reform, evidence, civil procedure, legal ethics and insurance bad faith. In 2000-2010, he was selected as a Super Lawyer by his peers through Washington Law & Politics and has been named one of the top 100 Super Lawyers. In July of 2001, he was awarded the Jack P. Scholfield Outstanding Achievement Award by the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers in recognition of his “outstanding loyalty, leadership, commitment and support of the goals and objectives of the civil defense trial bar.” In October, 2002, WDTL members voted him “Outstanding Defense Trial Lawyer.” As his firm’s General Counsel from 1995-2009, Mike counseled Lane Powell and its attorneys on ethical issues and claims. Mike is also co-chair of the firm’s Trial Practice Group.

Professional Experience

Product Liability Experience Mike has defended hundreds of product liability cases ranging from household appliances to commercial manufacturing machines. He has defended an aircraft parts manufacturer in a suit brought by fourteen Boeing workers. He has defended oil, shipping, and forest product companies in toxic tort cases. He has also testified before the Washington State Legislature on product liability and tort reform measures. He is a sustaining member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), a select group of product sellers and manufacturers and defense attorneys regularly involved in product liability matters. Professional Liability Experience Mike has defended doctors, lawyers, hospitals and other professionals in a variety of professional liability cases. He has testified before the Washington State Legislature on Certificates of Merit. Insurance Coverage Experience Mike regularly counsels insurance companies on insurance coverage/bad faith issues. He has represented policy holders as well. He has been retained as an expert to testify in bad faith lawsuits. Other Professional Experience

Defense Research Institute, Board of Directors, 1999 – 2002; State Representative, 1994 – 1999
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, President, 1992; Trustee, 1988-1993; Ex officio Trustee 1993-2001; Senior Board Advisor, 2001-2004; Past Presidents’ Representative, 2004 – present
Arbitrator, King County Superior Court
American College of Trial Lawyers
American Board of Trial Advocates
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Federal Bar Association
Sustaining Member, Product Liability Advisory Council
Member of Litigation Section/TIPS, Professional Liability and Products Liability Committees, ABA; ADR and Litigation Committees, WSBA; Product Liability, Toxic Torts and Professional Liability Committees, DRI; Past Presidents Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, WDTL

Admitted to Practice

Washington (all courts, including Colville Tribal Court)
Alaska, Montana, Oregon, California (Pro Hac Vice)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Michigan (inactive)

Academics

University of Michigan (J.D., cum laude, 1975; B.A., 1972)
Law Clerk, Honorable Talbot S. Smith, Senior US District Judge, Eastern District of Michigan, 1975 -1976

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

Co-Chair, Lane Powell Trial Practice Group
Health Care
Insurance
Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Client Service Team
Premises Liability
Products Liability
White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations

Representative Clients

SeaRiver Maritime, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Ashland Chemical Co., Chevron USA, Ferro Corporation, Allied Signal Co., Texaco, Skil Corporation, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Les Schwab Tire Centers, Life Fitness, Brunswick Corporation, Nordstrom, CNA Insurance, Hartford Insurance

Representative Matters

Click here to see the full listing of Mike’s Representative Matters.

Publications

Washington Legal Ethics Deskbook Supplement, WSBA, 2008 (Editor)
“How Birklid v. Boeing Affects An Employee’s Mold Case Against His/Her Employee And Necessary Expert Witnesses,” WSBA, November 2007
“Understanding the Rights and Obligations of the Carrier: Insurance Coverage Disputes,” Product Liability Advisory Council Fall Conference, October 19, 2006
“Proposed New Rules for Professional Conduct,” Defense News, June 2006
“Electronic Discovery and Records Management: Best Practices,” Product Liability Advisory Council, April 2005
“Washington Consumer Protection Act”, 50 State Survey of Consumer Fraud Statutes, Product Liability Advisory Council, October 2004
“Anatomy of a Motor Vehicle Case: Alcohol,” Washington State Bar Association, September 2004
“Insurance Bad Faith in the State of Washington,” The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, May 2003
“Ethical Issues in Liability Defense,” Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, November 2002
“The Need to Return to Basics,” March 1993; “DRI Leadership at the State Level,” May 1999, For the Defense, The Defense Research Institute
“Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook,” WSBA, 1997, 2002, 2005 (Editor and Author)
“Civil Trial & Evidence Manual,” Chapters 10-17, Washington State Bar Association, 1994, 2001 & 2004 (Editor and Author)
“Joint Statement on Professionalism,” WDTL/WSTLA, 1993 (with Kelby Fletcher) (Co-Author)
Chapter on “Damages”, Washington Practice Manual, Seattle King County Bar Association (Editor)
“Digest of Insurance Law for Washington,”Best’s Digest of Recommended Insurance Attorney(Editor)

Speaking Engagements

View the full listing of Mike’s presentations.

Awards and Honors

Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell
Elected as Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, December 2003
Recipient, Outstanding Defense Trial Lawyer, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, October, 2002
Recipient, Jack P. Scholfield Outstanding Achievement Award, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, July 2001
Named as “Super Lawyer,” Washington Law & Politics, 2000-2010 (“Top 100 Super Lawyer,” 2002-2008)
Recipient, Exceptional Performation Citation, 1993; State Leadership Award 1999, Service Award 2002, DRI
President’s Award 1995, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers