Aggressive, Experienced counsel. Proven results.
When faced with allegations of negligence, misconduct or civil rights violations, powerful corporations and government agencies often seek to abuse their position to leverage favorable results or dismiss valid claims. They work to instill a feeling of hopelessness through obstructive litigation tactics, unnecessary delays and oppressive costs.
Fighting these tactics requires an attorney who is not afraid to stand up for your rights, speak truth to power, and relentlessly pursue justice.
While many attorneys claim to be “experts” at handling these cases, they have no track record of success.
Ian’s results speak for themselves. Some of his recent recoveries are detailed below.
On the eve of trial, Ian and his Partners (Darrell Cochran, Kevin Hastings and Bridget Grotz) reached a $65.3 million settlement and covenant judgment with the Kiwanis Vocational Home in Centralia, Washington, on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse at the home. More than 70 victims have come forward with allegations of widespread abuse, fraud and neglect at KVH between 1971 and its closure in 1994. Read more about the Kiwanis Vocational Home litigation.
(Covenant judgments involve settlement without involvement of the defendants’ insurance companies, which typically employ “win at any cost” tactics without regard for the suffering of innocent victims or the risks facing their insureds at trial.)
Ian and his Partners continue to investigate and litigate additional cases involving abuse at the Kiwanis Vocational Home, and have negotiated additional settlements totaling $34.9 million on behalf of survivors of KVH.
Boys Village was founded by Warren Connolly as a “Christian” group home for boys.
In 1978, Connolly pled guilty to the sexual abuse of Boys Village residents, following charges of rape and indecent liberties. Despite this conviction, DSHS continued to renew Boys Village’s license, putting the lives of vulnerable young boys in the hands of the same people who had enabled, facilitated and ignored Connelly’s predatory behaviors.
In the years that followed Connelly’s conviction, DSHS was repeatedly warned that children at Boys Village were being subjected to extreme physical and sexual violence. Yet, DSHS continued to place young, vulnerable boys at Boys Village without meaningful pre-placement assessment, oversight and/or supervision. As a result, the abuses continued unabated.
Ian and his Partners (Darrell Cochran and Kevin Hastings) represented four men who were subjected to extensive sexual abuse on multiple occasions at the hands of staff, including the abusive Executive Director, leading to a $10.5 million settlement shortly before trial. The settlement obtained by Ian and his team in this case was voted one of the top settlements nationwide in 2024, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian and his Partners continue to investigate and litigate additional cases involving abuse at Boys Village, and have recovered an additional $19.25 million for survivors of Boys Village.
After more than a decade of litigation, Ian joined his Partners (Darrell Cochran, Chris Love, Tom Vertetis, Kevin Hastings and Mike Pfau) in a contested hearing to determine the reasonableness of settlements and covenant judgments totaling $25 million on behalf of 6 children and their families, related to sexual abuse suffered by the children at the hands of an Olympia Early Learning Center staff member.
Among other things, Ian cross-examined the “reasonableness” expert hired by the insurance companies to attack the settlements – a highly-respected, experienced attorney. Ultimately, the Court rejected the testimony of the insurance company’s expert in its entirety, upholding the reasonableness of the settlements:
- Hearing Transcript, Ruling (October 26, 2022)
- Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law Re: Reasonableness of Covenant Judgments (October 26, 2022)
Excelsior Youth Center is a state-licensed residential treatment centers for children, subject to the supervision of the State of Washington. The State has also placed countless dependent children at Excelsior for treatment and therapeutic services, despite a long, documented history of sexual abuse at the hands of predatory Excelsior staff and inadequate supervision.
Ian and his Partners (Darrell Cochran and Kevin Hastings) have litigated numerous cases against Excelsior Youth Services and the State of Washington, recovering $26.5 million for survivors of Excelsior to date. They continue to investigate and litigate additional cases involving abuse at Excelsior.
The J Bar D and Reynolds Creek Boys Ranches were supposed to be safe, therapeutic group homes for young boys. But they were actually “Hell on Earth,” where residents were raped, viciously beaten, neglected and abused for years – all under the eyes of Washington state licensors, social workers and Child Protective Services investigators, who turned a blind eye.
Ian and his Partners (Darrell Cochran and Andrew Ulmer) took the first J Bar D case to trial in November 2022, leading to a $1.5 million settlement shortly before closing arguments – read more about the T.V. trial here.
In October 2023, Ian and his Partners took another J Bar D case to trial, leading to a $16.95 million settlement the morning of closing arguments. Listen to Ian speak with King5 News about this landmark settlement here. The settlement in M.S./D.E. was recognized by TopVerdict.com as one of the Top 20 settlements nationwide in 2023. You can also read more about the M.S./D.E. trial here.
In April 2024, Ian and his Partners took another J Bar D case to trial, leading to a $2.85 million settlement on the morning of opening statements.
Ian and his Partnerscontinue to investigate and litigate additional cases involving abuse at the J Bar D and Reynolds Creek Boys Ranches.
Ian and his team represented two children who suffered years of sexual abuse after DSHS placed them into an unlicensed foster home.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation revealed that, when the children were taken into protective custody, the Court had ordered that they be placed with relatives. Notwithstanding this explicit directive, DSHS promptly placed the children into an unlicensed home with non-relatives — a home with a documented history of sexual abuse and drug use. DSHS not only withheld this history from the Court, but also violated multiple court orders regarding placement of the girls while working to secure the children’s long-term placement in this uniquely dangerous home. For example, once other DSHS social workers learned about the home’s history and determined that the the children should be immediately removed, the assigned social worker instead coordinated with the family to seek third-party, private foster home licensure. When a private agency refused to license the home for placement, the assigned social worker again failed to remove the children and instead worked with the family to secure third-party guardianship over the children.
The State agreed to an $18 million settlement to resolve the girls’ claims shortly before trial. The settlement obtained by Ian and his team in this case was voted one of the top settlements nationwide in 2024, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian represented five children who suffered extreme abuse and neglect in the home of their biological parents. Ian and his team filed suit against the State of Washington, after their investigation showed that Child Protective Services had received dozens of graphic, detailed warnings about the health, safety and well-being of the children, but failed to take any meaningful action to protect them from further harm.
Read more about Tandberg/Rushing v. State of Washington, DSHS & DCYF:
Ian represented five children who suffered years of abuse, neglect and starvation in the home of their biological parents.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation determined that Child Protective Services had failed to investigate dozens of referrals warning that the children were not safe, including warnings that the children were being beaten with a piece of lumber and bicycle lock, tortured, starved, and locked in their rooms for days on end. Instead of investigating and protecting the children, DSHS accepted the excuses offered by their abusers and left the children to fend for themselves.
After Ian and his team caught DSHS’ team of highly-paid experts manipulating their opinions to minimize the profound abuse and neglect suffered by the Gray and Weller children, DSHS agreed to pay a then-record settlement to resolve the children’s claims.
Read more about Graf/Weller v. State of Washington, DSHS.
Ian represented Tristin, a profoundly disabled child who suffered extreme abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) and neglect in the care of her biological mother and grandmother.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation determined that Child Protective Services, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and (later) Adult Protective Services inexplicably ignored numerous reports that Tristin was living in horrific conditions (ultimately leading to the condemnation of the home), subject to the whim of drug-addled transients and known sexual predators passing through the home, and in dire need of intervention and protective services. Instead of intervening, CPS, DDD and APS pointed the finger of blame at each other, despite the fact that all three state agencies had an affirmative obligation to protect Tristin from harm.
The settlement obtained by Ian and his team on Tristin’s behalf is the co-largest settlement ever paid by DSHS’ Adult Protective Services (with the case Ian filed on behalf of Vernon Gray).
Ian represented Vernon, a profoundly disabled, endearing man who suffered extreme neglect after the passing of his mother.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation determined that Adult Protective Services ignored numerous reports that Vernon was living alone in horrific conditions, and in dire need of APS intervention and protective services. DSHS would later describe APS’ indifference to Vernon’s plight as a “system-wide failure.” Tragically, as a result of DSHS’ failure to intervene, Vernon was rendered homeless and blind, forced to fend for himself for years.
Read more about Vernon Gray v. State of Washington, DSHS.
The settlement obtained by Ian and his team on Vernon’s behalf is the co-largest settlement ever paid by DSHS’ Adult Protective Services (along with Ian’s recovery on behalf of Tristin Larson), and was voted one of the “Top 25” settlements nationwide in 2019, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian represented Dustyn, a profoundly disabled young man who suffered extreme neglect at the hands of his biological mother and father, maternal grandmother and step-mother.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation determined that DSHS/DCYF ignored numerous reports that Dustyn was not safe in the care of his family.
Read more about Dustyn Wilson v. State of Washington, DSHS/DCYF.
Ian represented Heather, a profoundly disabled young woman who was living with non-relative caregivers when she was rescued by firefighters who found her emaciated and shackled to a bed in a garbage-strewn room.
Ian and his team filed a lawsuit on Heather’s behalf against the State of Washington after their investigation revealed that, for years, DSHS’ Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services and Division of Developmental Disabilities had ignored warnings that Heather’s non-relative caregivers were abusing, neglecting and exploiting Heather.
Ian and his team also filed suit against a private nursing agency (Professional Registry of Nursing, and Valerie Crosby) who also turned a blind eye to Heather’s suffering.
Read more about Curtis v. State of Washington, Professional Registry of Nursing & Valerie Crosby.
The settlement obtained by Ian and his team on Heather’s behalf was voted one of the “Top 50” settlements nationwide in 2017, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian represented Jacob, a young child who endured years of horrific abuse and neglect in the home of his biological mother.
Jacob and his siblings were rescued by firefighters from the family home after years of inaction on the part of DSHS’ Child Protective Services, who refused to accept responsibility for the harm Jacob and his siblings endured.
After filing suit on behalf of Jacob’s sister, Ian and his team caught DSHS and its attorneys trying to hide relevant, damning documents on two separate occasions. DSHS’ misconduct led to an award of $178,752 in sanctions in favor of Jacob’s sister, Cheyene.
After DSHS was caught trying to hide documents, senior DSHS officials were forced — under cross-examination by Ian — to admit that Child Protective Services’ actions were “dangerous and inadequate” and caused Jacob and his siblings profound harm.
Read more about Jacob Gilligan v. State of Washington, DSHS. (You can read more about Cheyene Gilligan v. State of Washington, here.)
The settlement obtained by Ian and his team on Jacob’s behalf was voted to be of the “Top 50” settlements nationwide in 2018, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian represented a young woman who endured years of horrific abuse and neglect at the hands of her biological father.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation revealed that DSHS had been repeatedly warned, year after year after year, that A.R.’s father was a serial pedophile, had begun to sexualize A.R. as a toddler, was an abusive, violent alcoholic (and drug abuser) who was repeatedly threatening to kill A.R. and himself. DSHS was also specifically warned that A.R.’s father had an extensive criminal and CPS history in other states. DSHS social workers ignored these warnings, which they characterized as a “custody dispute.” DSHS refused to intervene, never requested records from other states (which confirmed his violent, abusive and predatory behavior), and left A.R. in the home even after determining that her father had sexually assaulted another child living in the home.
The settlement obtained by Ian and his team in this case was voted one of the top settlements nationwide in 2024, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian represented Cheyene, a young child who endured years of horrific abuse and neglect at the hands of her biological mother. Ian also represented Cheyene’s biological father, Kevin.
Cheyene and her siblings were rescued by firefighters from the family home, after years of inaction on the part of DSHS’ Child Protective Services, who refused to accept responsibility for the harm Cheyene and her siblings endured.
After filing suit on behalf of Cheyene and her father, Ian and his team caught DSHS and its attorneys trying to hide relevant, damning documents on two separate occasions. DSHS’ misconduct led to an award of $178,752 in favor of Ian’s clients.
After DSHS was caught trying to hide these documents, senior DSHS officials were forced — under cross-examination by Ian — to admit that Child Protective Services’ actions were “dangerous and inadequate” and caused Cheyene and her siblings profound harm.
Read more about Cheyene Gilligan v. State of Washington, DSHS. (You can read more about Jacob Gilligan v. State of Washington, DSHS, here.)
Ian represented a young woman who endured years of horrific abuse and neglect — first, at the hands of her biological family, later in the care of the unlicensed foster home into which DSHS placed her.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation concluded that DSHS had been repeatedly told, over the course of years and in no uncertain terms, that J.B. was not safe. Yet, DSHS social workers ignored the unmistakable, objective signs of extreme abuse. Instead of intervening to protect her, DSHS left J. to fend for herself — a senseless dereliction of duty on the part of DSHS social workers.
Read more about J.B. v. State of Washington, DSHS/DCYF.
Ian and his team represented a young child who suffered severe brain injuries at her daycare on Seattle’s Eastside, consistent with violent shaking.
The details of the settlement obtained by Ian and his team on behalf of his client are confidential.
Ian represented Laura, a profoundly disabled woman who was rescued from the home of her state-paid caregiver (her nephew). Laura’s arms and legs were covered in burns medically attributed to a meth pipe. She was missing many teeth and had extreme tooth decay. She had not visited a doctor or dentist in many years. Her living conditions were described by law enforcement as “deplorable.”
Ian and his team filed a lawsuit on Laura’s behalf after their investigation revealed that DSHS: (1) failed to investigate numerous reports that Laura was being abused and neglected; (2) hired Laura’s nephew to be her caregiver (at significant taxpayer expense) even though her nephew was suspected of raping Laura; and (3) failed to conduct any oversight into the “care” Laura’s nephew was providing for her, at taxpayer expense.
Read more about Gholston v. State of Washington, DSHS.
The lawsuit filed by Ian and his team on Laura’s behalf led to the enactment of “Laura’s Law” in Washington, strengthening the safety net for countless developmentally-disabled adults receiving in-home care.
Ian represented Tara, a profoundly disabled young woman who was subjected to extensive abuse and neglect at the hands of her state-paid caregiver.
Ian and his team filed a lawsuit on Tara’s behalf after their investigation revealed that DSHS: (1) hired Tara’s “boyfriend” to be her caregiver, without conducting the state-mandated assessment of his character, competence and suitability to be her caregiver; (2) failed to investigate numerous warnings that Tara’s caregiver was abusing, neglecting and exploiting her; and (3) failed to conduct any meaningful oversight of the “care” he was providing for Tara, at significant taxpayer expense.
Read more about Rosenburgh v. State of Washington, DSHS.
Ian and his team represented an adult, developmentally-disabled woman who was raped by a caregiver at her adult family home in the Tri-Cities.
The details of the settlement obtained by Ian on behalf of his client are confidential.
Ian represented Christa and Cheyanne, two young women who endured years of horrific abuse and neglect in the care of her biological parents and step-mother.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation determined that Child Protective Services: (1) failed to investigate numerous referrals warning that Christa, Cheyanne and their siblings were not safe in the family home; (2) conducted cursory investigations into certain allegations, but accepted the excuses of girls’ parents and step-mother, who blamed the girls for the unrelenting abuse and neglect in the home.
Read more about Gladden v. State of Washington, DSHS/DCYF, here.
The settlement obtained by Ian and his team on behalf of Christa and Cheyanne was voted one of the top settlements nationwide in 2021, by TopVerdict.com.
Ian represented a young woman who endured extensive sexual abuse in a uniquely dangerous foster home.
This case was particularly compelling because, prior to the placement of Ian’s 11 year-old client in the home, DSHS had concluded that the foster home “should not be used” for any foster child because of the parents’ “poor judgment.” And, the foster parents themselves had expressly stated they “only” wanted placement of “6-9 year old boys,” because teenagers were “too big and too difficult.” Yet, the State inexplicably placed Ian’s client in the home anyways, along with another foster child – a male teenager who was a documented sexual predator.
Ian represented Kyla, a young woman who endured years of horrific abuse and neglect as a child in the care of her biological parents.
Ian and his team filed suit after their investigation determined that Child Protective Services: (1) failed to investigate numerous referrals warning that Kyla and her siblings were not safe in the care of their biological mother; (2) placed Kyla in the care of her biological father in violation of a court order; and (3) failed to conduct mandated health and safety visits after placement in her father’s home, and otherwise monitor her health, safety and well-being after placement.
Read more about Hooper v. State of Washington, DSHS, here.
Ian and his team represented an adult woman who was raped by an emergency room technician charged with her care, after she was admitted to a Seattle-area hospital.
The details of the settlement obtained by Ian on behalf of his client are confidential.
Ian and his team represented a young child who was sexually assaulted by an employee at her Seattle-area daycare.
The details of the settlement obtained by Ian on behalf of his client are confidential.
Ian represented a senior citizen living in a Seattle-area retirement community.
After suffering a fall in his apartment, Ian’s client attempted to summon help using his facility-assigned medic alert bracelet; however, the alert system had dead zones throughout the building in which the bracelets would not work. As a result of this non-functional alert system, Ian’s client was unable to obtain prompt medical care and sustained serious injuries.
The details of the settlement obtained by Ian on behalf of his client are confidential.
Ian and his team represented an adult, developmentally-disabled woman who was harmed by the negligence of her caregivers in an Olympia-area adult family home.
The details of the settlement obtained by Ian on behalf of his client are confidential.
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