Megan F. Starks

Contact

Direct: 206-462-6727
Email: mstarks@pattersonbuchanan.com

Principal

Admitted to practice in Washington, Alaska and Oregon

Practice Area

Ms. Starks’ practice focuses on complex litigation, including employment matters, personal injury, sexual abuse and discrimination.

Prior to joining Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, Ms. Starks worked as in-house counsel for an insurance company defending policyholders in personal injury actions. She successfully represented clients through arbitration, mediation, and jury trials. She gained extensive trial experience serving as a criminal prosecutor for both King County and the City of Seattle. Ms. Starks began her legal career in Snohomish County, where she clerked for the Honorable James H. Allendoerfer.

Education

• Seattle University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, cum laude 2007
• Recipient of Trustee Merit Scholarship, 2003-2007
• Research & Technical Editor, Seattle Journal for Social Justice
• CALI Excellence for the Future Award – Business Entities
• University of Utah, Bachelor of Science, 2003
• Dean’s List 2002-2003
• Community Police Academy - 2012

Publications / Presentations / Speaking Engagements

• Crafting the Initial Case Assessment – Co-presenter – in-house CLE - 2018
• Client Confidentiality – Presenter – in-house CLE - 2017
• Guest Speaker – King County Bar Association Swearing in Ceremony 2011
• Opening Statement: Crafting a Compelling Case Narrative – King County Young Lawyers Division – 2018
• Surviving a Lawsuit– Co-presenter – Washington Fire Commissioners Association 2019 Conference

ADMISSIONS

• Washington State Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar Association
• Alaska State Bar Association
• United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
• United States District Court for the District of Oregon

Representative Cases

Jury Trials include:

• Templeton v. Archdiocese of Seattle – Plaintiff claimed negligence for breach of mandatory duty to report; obtained defense verdict
• Webb v. Diagnos-Techs, Inc. – Prevailed against plaintiff’s claim of hostile work environment and gender discrimination.
• Allen v. Clark County Fire District No. 6, et al – Plaintiff claimed hostile work environment based on gender; full defense verdict after 6-week jury trial.
• Miller v. North County Regional Fire Authority – Plaintiff claimed hostile work environment and gender discrimination; defense verdict after a 5 week jury trial.

Additional Cases:

• Karst Brandsma v. Larry Mann; – successfully petitioned court for a civil anti-harassment order protecting Superintendent of South Kitsap School District from threatening communications.