Biography
Ms. Benson focuses her practice on civil trial litigation in claims involving bodily injury and medical conditions, construction injuries, premises liability, product liability, real estate and neighbor disputes, automobile related lawsuits, retail and hospitality, and business litigation. She possesses extensive litigation experience, personally defending or prosecuting well over five hundred cases throughout the state of Washington. Yvonne has successfully tried cases in front of juries and courts throughout the State of Washington. Yvonne also has extensive experience in depositions, mediations, and arbitration. Her appellate work includes successful appeals to the Washington State Court of Appeals and Washington Supreme Court.
In addition to her day-to-day work, Yvonne works to serve the community in several capacities, including serving as the Board of Directors President for New Beginnings, an organization that works to put an end to domestic violence. Yvonne also volunteers her time to provide pro bono legal services to unaccompanied minor children in asylum applications and related proceedings.
Yvonne is married with two children. She enjoys skiing with her family, traveling, and being an active participant in her children’s activities.
Representative Matters
In 2019, Yvonne defended a claim in King County brought by a Plaintiff who claimed that a low speed automobile accident caused injuries to his temporomandibular joint. The jury declined to award damages for the medical treatment and declined to award future non-economic damages.
In 2018, following a seven-week jury trial in Pierce County Superior Court, Yvonne received a defense verdict on behalf of her client. The jury agreed with Yvonne that the actions of her client did not proximately cause the one-car accident.
Yvonne defended a developer in a lawsuit filed by a condominium owner’s association for damages of construction defects and breach of duties under the Washington Condominium Act and Washington Consumer Protection Act. She obtained a summary judgment dismissal of condominium owner’s association’s claims for violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act, Misrepresentation, and for failure to deliver a Public Offering Statement. Yvonne’s victory resulted in the dismissal of over $1.4 million in claimed damages against her client.
Following a head-on motor vehicle collision on a snowy, one-lane logging road, a driver who had a hunting bow and five arrows on his lap during the accident, filed suit against Yvonne’s client, claiming significant personal injuries. After a one-week jury trial in King County Superior Court, Yvonne obtained a defense verdict finding that her client was not responsible for the accident.
After a two-week jury trial in King County Superior Court, claims of statutory trespass and intentional inflections of emotional distress were dismissed and the jury returned a defense verdict for each remaining claim for homeowners represented by Yvonne.
Yvonne defended a manufacturer in a double wrongful death product liability case in federal court arising from the use of a propane radiant heater inside a camper. The jury delivered a defense verdict, finding that the heater was reasonably safe and not defective in design and warnings.
Yvonne defended a family in a lawsuit stemming from an undisputed liability automobile accident. Plaintiff underwent three surgeries following the accident and the jury agreed that the surgeries were unrelated to the accident. After an over three-week trial in Pierce County Superior Court, the verdict returned was substantially less than offered to Plaintiff before trial.
Professional History
EDUCATION
J.D., Seattle University
summa cum laude, 2004
B.A., University of Washington, 2000
JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Washington State Courts, 2004
United States District Court, Western District of Washington
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
PROFESSIONAL & BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Washington State Bar Association
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Defense Research Institute
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Gordon Thomas Honeywell
Extern to the Honorable Ronald B. Leighton
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
New Beginnings – Board of Directors, 2017; Vice President, 2018; President, 2019
House Corporation Board, Delta Delta Delta
Provide pro bono representation to three unaccompanied minors in their asylum applications and related proceedings
ARTICLES & PRESENTATIONS
“Civil Regulatory Jurisdiction Over Fee Simple Tribal Lands: Why Congress Is Not Acting Trustworthy” 27 Seattle U. Law Rev. 1063 (2004)
“Medicare Secondary Payor Act”, client seminar, 2011
Defending Washington Insurance Claims, Client Seminar, 2014
Defending Washington Auto Claims, Client Seminar, 2016
“Women and the Law,” Holy Names Academy, 2017