Cole, Lether, Wathen & Leid, P.C. has been representing insurance clients since 1908. Over the years, the firm has been involved in a broad variety of cases involving first party and third party claims. Today, we represent dozens of insurance companies, underwriters, and adjusting firms. The firm handles cases in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Hawaii. We represent clients in the Superior Courts, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court of Washington, the Courts of other Northwest States and the Federal Courts. We are proud to offer our clients unparalleled service and superior legal skills.

Our attorneys have broad experience in both commercial and personal line losses. These cases range from multi million dollar commercial claims involving nuclear plants, computer manufacturing plants, fruit warehouses, and office buildings, to fire and theft claims under homeowner policies. The firm has handled numerous construction defect cases, including first and third party issues. We have obtained defense jury verdicts on multi-million dollar cases on alleged collapse and other defects, and on water intrusion cases. We are also routinely retained as liability defense counsel in a wide variety of third party cases including construction, professional liability, product liability and automobile accidents. Over the past 99 years, the firm has been involved in over 100 published Appellate Court decisions.

The firm also has many years of experience in handling suspected fraudulent claims under commercial and homeowner policies. Our firm won defense verdicts in the Pang Warehouse loss and in the case of Manglona v. Allstate, the largest Commercial and Homeowner arson losses in the history of Washington State. We conduct examinations under oath, assist insurers in conducting investigations of suspicious claims, and we represent insurers in the litigation of fraudulent claims.

A substantial part of our practice is devoted to advising adjusters, supervisors, and managers during the investigation and adjustment of claims. Typically, the issues include policy interpretation, loss measurement, coverage opinions, good faith requirements, examinations under oath, appraisals, etc. The firm also routinely defends claims involving allegations of bad faith and violations of the Consumer Protection Act.