Carney Badley Spellman, P.S. is a Pacific Northwest law firm located in Seattle, Washington. Our clients will tell you we are known for providing exceptional value in legal services by recognizing case objectives early and obtaining cost-effective results. The Carney firm provides legal services in business, litigation, construction, government affairs and insurance to individuals and to privately-held and publicly-traded companies.
Jeffrey Laveson, a principal, joined Carney Badley Spellman in 2002. Before joining the firm, Mr. Laveson was a partner at the law firm of Lane Powell in Seattle, where he focused on insurance coverage and insurance defense matters. He has practiced law in the Pacific Northwest for 23 years.
His practice at Carney Badley Spellman includes insurance coverage law and defending policyholder interests. He handles all phases of resolution, mediation, arbitration, trial and appeal. Special practice areas include aviation, environmental, product liability, premises liability, and professional liability law.
Mr. Laveson remains actively engaged in complex multi-party litigation. He has tried jury and non-jury trials in both state and federal court. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and Oregon State Bar Association.
Practice Areas
- Aviation Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Environmental Law
- ERISA
- Insurance Coverage
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate
- Wrongful Death
Mr. Laveson has represented both London Market and domestic insurers' interests in complex multi-party insurance coverage claims in each of these practice areas.
Mr. Laveson has represented a wide range of aviation interests throughout the United States. Clients in the past include Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Lloyd's of London, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Mr. Laveson served as a United States Navy Pilot for 18 years. His aeronautical qualifications include private and commercial pilot ratings, single and multi-engine jet and instrument ratings, flight instruction and aircraft carrier operations.
Representative Appellate Cases
Estate of Corbitt v. Experimental Aircraft Ass'n., 146 Wash.App. 1073, Not Reported in P.3d, 2008 WL 4542871 (Wash.App. Div. 1, 2008).
Mr. Laveson represented the EAA and NWEAA against a wrongful death claim brought by the Estate of decedent Donald Corbitt. This claim arose from Mr. Corbitt's fatal aircraft crash while departing the Arlington Municipal Airport after attending the Arlington Fly-In. The Estate's negligence claim focused primarily on premises liability. On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the jury verdict and remanded for entry of judgment in favor of the EAA and NWEAA. The Washington Supreme Court denied the Estate's Petition for Review.
Olympic Pipe Line Co. v. Pacific Employers Ins. Co., 128 Wash.App. 1003, Not Reported in P.3d, 2005 WL 1406125 (Wash.App. Div. 1, 2005).
Mr. Laveson defended first-layer excess insurers against coverage claims for environmental damages in excess of $450 million arising from the catastrophic failure of the Olympic Pipe Line in Bellingham, Washington. The trial court ruled in favor of the excess insurers on summary judgment. This trial court ruling was then upheld by the Washington Court of Appeals. The Washington Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs' Petition for Review.
West v. Kelley, 109 Wash.App. 1032, Not Reported in P.3d, 2001 WL 1521994 (Wash.App. Div. 2, 2001).
Mr. Laveson defended a property owner against a neighboring property owner's attempt to extinguish various easements. The trial court upheld the validity of the easements and awarded attorneys fees and costs to Mr. Laveson's client under Washington's frivolous lawsuit statute. On appeal, the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court decision and award of attorneys' fees. The Washington Supreme Court denied the plaintiff's Petition for Review.
First State Ins. Co. v. Kemper Nat. Ins. Co., 94 Wash.App. 602, 971 P.2d 953 (1999).
Mr. Laveson represented an excess insurer to recover the "excess" portion of the jury verdict in a wrongful death case from the primary insurer, based on the primary insurer's refusal to enter into good faith settlement negotiations prior to trial. On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the jury verdict and remanded for entry of judgment in favor of the excess insurer as a matter of law.
Hurlbert v. Gordon, 64 Wash.App. 386, 824 P.2d 1238 (1992).
Mr. Laveson defended a well-established Washington law firm, which provided legal services in closing a commercial purchase and sale transaction, against a malpractice claim brought by the sellers. On appeal, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the law firm, reversing the jury verdict in favor of the sellers and imposed sanctions against the sellers' attorneys.
Associations
- American Bar Association
- King County Bar Association, Past President
- Aviation and Space Law Section, King County Bar Association
- Oregon State Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Northwest Insurance Coverage Association
- Northwest Aviation Insurance Association
Education
Marietta College, BA, cum laude, 1976, Phi Beta Kappa; University of San Diego School of Law, JD, 1986, San Diego Law Review, Executive Comments Editor.
