Focus of Practice
Since 1981, my practice has been primarily as civil litigator in the field of torts. Although I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants, for all but two years of that time, I represented injured people and families. Since approximately 2010, I have been essentially a full-time neutral, with a primary emphasis on mediations.
Legal Experience
Since 1981 my practice was mostly limited to personal injury/tort cases, primarily representing the injured party. Since 1983, I have been in business as Law Office of Steven G. Toole and later, Law Office of Steven G. Toole, PS. For the last approximate 11 years, I have essentially been a full-time arbitrator/mediator, with the strong emphasis on mediation. Although I have mediated cases in multiple areas of law, such as disputes over contracts, boundary lines and neighbor/business trespasses, corporate dissolution, professional negligence, products liability, construction site injuries and any other type of tort case, my primary experience is with automobile negligence and premises liability injuries. I have been particularly successful in cases with complex facts and/or multiple parties, requiring good creativity and innovation by the mediator.
Court Admissions
WA State Courts, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Education
BA Degree from Ohio State University (1971); Juris Doctorate from University of San Diego School of Law (1975)
Professional Associations
WSBA (President in 2010-2011), Washington State Association for Justice (President in 2002-2003); past member of National Conference of Bar Presidents; East King County Bar Association (President in 1993); member of ADR Roundtable and ADR Section of the WSBA
ADR Training
2018 Fall Mediation Competition on 10/12/2018, for 2.5 hours of CLE credit; 25th Annual NW Dispute Resolution Conference on 3/28-29/2019, for 10.25 hours of CLE credit. Prior to this period of time, I have attended multiple ADR CLE Seminars, including the 2017 and 2023-2025 Annual NW Dispute Resolution Conferences. I also am a graduate of the Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
ADR Experience
Pre-covid, I mediated approximately 100-125 cases per year; Since Covid, I am mediating approximately 75 cases per year. I am also selected as an arbitrator in approximately 12 cases per year (although most of these settle without the need for an arbitration hearing)
ADR Practice Areas
Insurance, Product Liability, Professional Negligence, Torts