Christopher I. J. Fobes

Contact

Direct: 206-462-6724
Email: cijf@pattersonbuchanan.com

Attorney

Admitted to practice in Washington and Oregon

Mr. Fobes’s practice focuses on civil defense litigation, including areas of personal injury, sexual abuse, discrimination, and general liability.  Mr. Fobes attended law school after serving in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine in 2009 and 2011.  While in law school, Mr. Fobes was as an Article Editor for the Lewis & Clark Law Review.  As a certified law clerk for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office in Portland, Oregon, Mr. Fobes first-chaired twelve misdemeanor criminal trials.

Since 2020, Mr. Fobes has been representing and advising school districts across Washington State in litigation including claims arising from employment, discrimination, wrongful termination, physical or sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and negligence.  Mr. Fobes also advises school districts on investigations under internal policies and procedures.  He has successfully defended school board members against recall petitions.

EDUCATION

• Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2019
• University of Wyoming, Bachelor of Science, 2016

Admissions

• Supreme Court of the State of Washington
• Supreme Court of the State of Oregon
• 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

Presentations and Speaking Engagements

• Fall 2025 Conference, Washington School Personnel Association: Immigration Enforcement – What is Required/Not Required if Agents Show Up?
• Fall 2024 Conference, Washington School Personnel Association: Constructive Discharge and Retaliation Claims
• Fall 2023 Conference, Washington School Personnel Association: EEOC Updated Guidance on Disabilities
• 2025 Annual Conference, WASBO: Constructive Discharge and Retaliation Claims
• 2024 Annual Conference, WASBO: Problem Solving with Parent Groups
• 2023 Annual Conference, WASBO: Best Practices for Videotaping and Photographing Students in K-12 Settings
• 2022 Annual Conference, WASBO: OSPI’s Withholding of State Funds for Willful Violations of COVID-19 Health and Safety Requirements
• 2021 Annual Conference, WASBO: Addressing Employee Accommodations During COVID

Publication

• Rule 43(a): Remote Witness Testimony and a Judiciary Resistant to Change, Lewis & Clark Law Review (2020)

Professional Memberships

• Washington State Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar Association

Dismissals

• Harvey v. Clallam County – Summary judgment for defendant county in negligent training claim.
• Young v. American Reliable – Summary judgment for defendant insurer in breach of good faith and fair dealing claim. 
• King v. Puyallup School District – Dismissal for school district in response to appeal under RCW 28A.645.010.

Additional Cases

• Recall Petitions – Successfully defended two school boards against recall petitions based, in part, on allegations that the school boards failed to comply with COVID-19 guidelines established by the State of Washington.