Heather Jensen

Managing Partner

Heather.Jensen@lewisbrisbois.com

Heather Jensen is the managing partner in the Seattle office of Lewis Brisbois. Ms. Jensen is a trial attorney with over 20 years of experience. Since 2008, her practice has focused on the defense of long-term care providers in skilled nursing home and assisted living facility matters. She also defends insurance carriers and their policyholders in a variety of matters, including insurance bad faith, personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability and property disputes.

An experienced and successful trial attorney, Ms. Jensen began her career with a boutique insurance defense firm. In 2001, she practiced as a Deputy Prosecutor with the King County Prosecutor’s Office for seven years, where she tried more than 50 cases to verdict. As a prosecutor, Ms. Jensen specialized in cases involving domestic violence and the sexual abuse of children and adults. She tried cases involving arson, theft, and violent crimes to verdict. Ms. Jensen also handled numerous appeals, arguing several cases before Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals.

In 2008, Ms. Jensen returned to civil practice and was honored to become a firm shareholder. Having joined Lewis Brisbois in 2012, Ms. Jensen now serves as the Seattle Managing Partner while managing her successful trial practice.

Primary Area(s) of Practice

  • Healthcare
  • Long-Term Care
  • Bad Faith Litigation
  • General Liability
  • National Trial Practice

Admissions

Washington

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Oregon

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Education

George Washington University School of Law

Juris Doctor, 1999

Westminster College

Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, 1993

Representative Cases

  • Fehrle v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Association. After two-week trial, Ms. Jensen obtained a defense verdict on extra-contractual claims, including bad faith, the Consumer Protection Act, and Insurance Fair Conduct Act. The jury was also persuaded that the subject auto accident did not cause a disc herniation requiring surgery 16 months after the date of loss and returned an award of damages far less than the amount offered at mediation.
  • Elliott v. Staheli. In a highly contentious therapist-malpractice case, Ms. Jensen was able to negotiate a beneficial settlement on behalf of the therapist midway through trial.
  • Irby v. Eagle Healthcare. Ms. Jensen obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death suit against a skilled nursing facility after a six-week trial in King County Superior Court.
  • Equity Residential, et al. v. ACE American Insurance Company, et al. This matter involved an insurance coverage dispute arising out of four separate construction defect lawsuits against a real estate investment trust. Ms. Jensen obtained a dismissal of the coverage dispute on forum non conveniens grounds, prompting a favorable settlement before suit was refiled in the proper venue.
  • CCDI v. First National Insurance Co. Ms. Jensen was retained to defend the carrier against contractual and extra-contractual claims arising from a warehouse fire with significant exposure and negotiated a favorable settlement for the client.
  • Manning v. McGlothlin. A personal injury suit settled on the first day of trial for nuisance value after Ms. Jensen prevailed on a Frye motion to exclude Plaintiff’s medical expert.
  • Erb v. Hsiao. Ms. Jensen defended a driver involved in an accident with a bicyclist. The jury returned a verdict apportioning 25% fault to Hsiao and $6,000 in damages, improving the defense position after an arbitrator found Hsiao to be 50% at fault and awarded damages of $24,000.
  • Moore v. Luke. Negotiated a pre-litigation resolution on a property damage claim related to a marijuana-grow operation for a client with significant personal exposure.
  • Ryser v. Ernest. This case involved numerous claims arising out of a longstanding dispute over boundaries of neighboring waterfront properties and tortious interference with business expectancy. The case went to trial after Plaintiff refused to come down off a demand of $1.5 million or $40,000 and the title to the Defendants’ home. Ms. Jensen obtained a defense verdict on all claims except tortious interference with business expectancy, where the jury awarded $210,000. She successfully defended post-trial motions for additur of $250,000 and attorney fees of $425,000, which was upheld on appeal.
  • Chacos v. Simpson. Ms. Jensen obtained a defense verdict for a homeowner against claims of unlawful imprisonment and assault which were perpetrated by a guest of the homeowner.