The firm represented the Benson family who lost their daughter, Jessica, in a tragic two-boat collision on Lake Washington in 2005.  The Bensons filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against the two boat operators, arguing that their negligence and the unseaworthiness of each of their boats caused Jessica’s death and injuries to other victims. 

After a substantial investigation, including an additional lawsuit against Farmers Insurance that revealed the existence of a $2 million personal umbrella policy for one of the defendants, the parties reached a global settlement for $2.8 million, with more than $2.4 million being paid to the Bensons and the remainder paid to the other nine victims.  The global settlement was a product of three mediation sessions over eight months among 11 parties with ten sets of lawyers, including six minor claimants represented by four attorneys and five settlements guardians ad litem. 

The King County Superior Court approved the settlement in October 2007. 

The case was handled by Jeff Tilden and Mark Wilner at GTT&C, together with co-counsel Will Smart and Ian Birk at Keller Rohrback.