Meet Pacific ADR Mediator Kathryn "Kayti" Knudsen! Kayti Knudsen is passionate about justice and holding wrongdoers accountable. Kayti’s practice focuses primarily on policyholder insurance bad faith, serious injury, and representing victims of discrimination and harassment. She has experience representing insureds in cases ranging from single-family homeowner disputes to complex class action claims. Kayti’s tenacity and experience litigating against some of the largest corporations in America get results for her clients both in and out of the courtroom. What types of disputes have you handle ..read more

In the realm of property management, eviction is often considered the final solution to resolve conflicts between landlords and tenants. The process is emotionally and financially taxing for both landlords and tenants, often resulting in strained relationships and negative outcomes. Instead, adopting conflict resolution strategies through the use of a mediator can offer a more amicable and sustainable path forward, preserving tenancy and fostering healthier landlord-tenant relationships. Understanding Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution is a structured approach to resolving disputes coll ..read more

Meet Pacific ADR Mediator/ Arbitrator Rick Gaustchi! Rick Gautschi has extensive employment litigation experience, including class action matters, primarily having represented employees. However, his business background, an MBA and Ph.D in business administration, enables him to effectively communicate with employers. Rick has also taught Negotiation and Negotiation Ethics at the UW Foster School of Business. He has taught more than 125 sections of courses including: Business, Government, and Society; Negotiation; Organization Theory; Decision Making; Business Ethics; and Introduction to Law ..read more

Starting January 2024, Washington state will see the enactment of several new employment law changes that will affect minimum wage regulations and impose additional obligations under the state’s Paid Sick Leave Law. There are also new laws regarding pre-employment drug screening to protect future employees. Changes to Minimum Wage Laws The minimum wage landscape is set to undergo a substantial shift in Washington. Come January 1, 2024, the state's minimum wage will skyrocket to $16.28 per hour, marking a 3.4% increase from the previous year. This leap will position Washington with the highest ..read more

Meet Pacific ADR Mediator/ Arbitrator Andrew Kinstler! Andy Kinstler has a civil trial practice with an emphasis on employment law and personal injury defense. He has extensive experience advising both employers and employees on issues arising under federal and state laws. Andy has been a member of the Pacific ADR team since 2017 and brings demonstrable value to our clientele. He has achieved tremendous success due to his insightful nature and fairness. As of recently, Andy has become "Of Counsel" to the Helsell Fetterman LLP firm after serving as a partner there for thirty-three years, inclu ..read more

Meet Pacific ADR Mediator/ Arbitrator Kathy Cochran! Kathy Cochran was one of the founding members of Seattle based firm Wilson Smith Cochran & Dickerson where her practice focused on defending complex medical malpractice and pharmaceutical product liability matters. She practiced law for 41 years as a trial lawyer before retiring and pursuing alternative dispute resolution and her passion: photography. What types of disputes have you handled? Kathy: I have handled medical malpractice and personal injury mediations, as well as contract disputes and arbitration matters, most recently Balan ..read more

When parties involved in a serious conflict want to avoid a court battle, a trained mediator tries to help the parties find common ground using principles of collaborative, mutual-gains negotiation. On the surface, mediation processes may look similar, but in fact, mediators follow different approaches depending on the type of conflict they are aiming to resolve. Before selecting a mediator, consider the various styles and types of mediation that are available to help resolve conflict. Mediators typically conduct their mediations based on their own mediation style. While many have heard of th ..read more

In an age where technology continues to advance, it is becoming evermore tempting for legal professionals to turn to artificial intelligence for assistance in research. But what are the risks of replying on artificial intelligence for A recent Reuters article serves as a cautionary tale for attorneys considering relying on AI, such as ChatGPT, for their legal research needs. The aftermath of the New York attorney who included made-up case citations generated by an artificial intelligence chatbot in a legal brief, sheds light on the potential pitfalls of entrusting AI language models for legal ..read more

Construction projects can be complex, time-consuming, and expensive endeavors. Disputes often arise during the process, which can delay projects and increase costs. Mediation has proven to be beneficial for construction disputes. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of mediation for construction disputes. Mediation is a process which helps parties in a dispute to reach a mutually agreeable solution. Unlike arbitration, the mediator does not make a decision or impose a solution on the parties. Instead, the mediator helps the parties communicate, identify the issues, and work together ..read more

Imagine the following scenario: During the mediation of an employment dispute, the mediator has just concluded an initial session with the defendant employer and its attorney. The mediator announces that he will leave the employer’s representatives and its attorney to go meet with the plaintiff employee and her attorney. As the mediator is leaving the room, the employer’s attorney says, “When you meet with Ms. X (the employee’s attorney), please tell her that I don’t think much of her client’s case.” Subsequently, the mediator asks Ms. X about her view of the case. Ms. X carefully and methodi ..read more