Biography
Joe Gordon, Jr. joined GTH in 1968 and has been a pillar of the firm and of the legal community in the Pacific Northwest for many years. He has tried superior court cases involving a wide range of civil litigation matters in 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. He served as a Superior Court Judge Pro-tem for over ten years. In recent years Joe has regularly represented commercial and residential rental property owners and management companies on landlord-tenant matters. He has frequently served as an arbitrator, and has been appointed as the arbitrator in dozens of superior court cases subject to mandatory arbitration.
When he’s not working, Joe and his wife Sandy stay busy with a seemingly endless array of garden tasks at their Tacoma home. He is an avid follower and supporter of Stanford athletic teams and has served as Commissioner of the GTH fantasy football league each season since 1977.
Representative Matters
Joe obtained a judgment on behalf of an employer against both a former employee and his subsequent employer for misappropriation of trade secrets, even though the employee had never signed a noncompetition or confidentiality agreement.
As the sole arbitrator, Joe resolved a contract dispute between a franchisee and a national franchisor. His award, issued after six days of testimony, was confirmed by the Superior Court and the confirmation was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.
Joe presided over a ten-day jury trial of a medical malpractice action as a Superior Court Judge Pro-Tern. The judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.
Representing a landlord, Joe successfully appealed a trial court decision that denied his client reasonable attorney fees and double damages in a commercial eviction action in which the client prevailed.
Representing an injured workman, Joe appealed the trial court’s dismissal of his client’s claim that the industrial injury had rendered him totally disabled. The Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal, holding for the first time that the testimony of a vocational expert was relevant and admissible to establish an inability to perform gainful employment.
Professional History
EDUCATION
J.D., Stanford University School of Law, 1964
B.A., History, Stanford University, 1961
JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Washington State Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
PROFESSIONAL & BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association
Board of Trustees, 1988-1990
Lawyer Referral Committee Chair, 1972-1980
Washington State Bar Association
Senior Lawyers Section Executive Committee and Treasurer,
2022-2024
Adjunct Investigative Counsel, 2004-2009
Special District Counsel, 1986-2004
Group and Prepaid Legal Services Committee Chair, 1981-1982
Washington State Court Historical Society Board
Member, 1999 – 2023
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Joined Firm, 1968 and became Of Counsel, 2007
Pierce County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem , 2000-2010
American Arbitration Association, Panelist, 1992-2014
Washington State Assistant Attorney General, Department of Labor & Industries, 1965-1968
Washington State Supreme Court, Law Clerk for Justice Matthew W. Hill, 1964-1965
HONORS & AWARDS
AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell
2007 Civility Award, Honorable Robert J. Bryan Chapter of the American Inns of Court
2015 Lincoln Award, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
2018 Outstanding Pro Bono Service by an Individual Attorney Award, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
Past Inclusion in Washington Super-Lawyers, General Litigation
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
Board of Directors, 1985-1991
Secretary, 1986-1989
Chair, 1989-1991
Stanford University Law School
Board of Visitors, 1987-1990
Rotary Club of Tacoma
Board of Directors, 1985-1988
Downtown Tacoma Boys Club
Board of Directors, 1981-1983
Mary Bridge Hospital and Health Center
Board of Directors and Executive Committee, 1973-1976
ARTICLES & PRESENTATIONS
CLE Presentations: Evictions from the Landlord’s Perspective; Ethical Dilemmas for the Practicing Lawyer; and Courtroom Opening Statements.