Overview

Jessica Goldman is an experienced litigator and legal advisor who counsels clients in high-stakes First Amendment, Public Records Act, and general business litigation. Highly skilled in oral advocacy, she has substantial experience litigating at all levels of the Washington State courts, as well as the Western District of Washington and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

With a strong track record of winning cases on summary judgment, clients know Jessica as a creative and aggressive advocate and smart, thorough legal advisor. From the earliest stages of an engagement, she focuses on enabling her clients to make informed decisions about case strategy and tactics and resolving disputes consistent with her clients’ legal and business objectives. Jessica’s extensive experience includes:

First Amendment and constitutional litigation.  Jessica represents media organizations – including newspapers, broadcasters, and publishers – as well as public entities in First Amendment and other constitutional litigation. She has represented clients in cases involving defamation, commercial speech, privacy, access, prior restraint, reporters’ shield laws, newsgathering torts, and other claims. She also provides pre-publication counsel to newspapers, publishers, and others concerned with risks related to defamation and invasion of privacy claims.

Public Records Act litigation.  Jessica defends public entities sued for violation of the Public Records Act, which requires that public records kept by state and local agencies in Washington be made available to members of the public.

General litigation.  Jessica has advised on business and commercial disputes involving a broad range of claims: breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business fraud, false advertising, consumer protection, racketeering and tortious interference as well as corporate disputes among owners and shareholders, business divorces, homeowners association disputes, intellectual property disputes (including trademark, trade secret, and copyright infringement claims), and other business torts.  In a 48-day trial, Jessica successfully defended a parent wrongly accused of medical child abuse by doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Clients.  Jessica’s clients include the Washington State Legislature, the City of Seattle, The Seattle Times, The Stranger, The Portland Mercury, the Bellevue School District and Seattle University as well as book authors, publishers, public agencies throughout the State of Washington, homeowners’ associations, and other entities.

Credentials

Education

  • Washington University School of Law
    JD, Order of the Coif, 1992
    Olin Fellowship and full scholarship; Executive Notes and Comments Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly
  • Oberlin College
    BA, 1989

Admissions

  • Washington State Supreme Court

Clerkships

  • Honorable Daniel M. Friedman, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, Washington, D.C.

Awards & Accolades

  • Washington Super Lawyers, “Super Lawyer” (2008–2023); “Rising Star” (2001 - 2002, 2007)
  • The Best Lawyers in America, "Seattle Lawyer of the Year," First Amendment Law (2019, 2021, 2023); Litigation - First Amendment (2013, 2015, 2017, 2024); recognized since 2008
  • Benchmark Litigation, “Washington State Litigation Star” (2015–2020); also listed in Benchmark Top 250 Women in Litigation (4th edition)

Memberships

  • American Bar Association Forum on Communication Law
  • American Bar Association Section of Litigation
  • King County Bar Association

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • "Seattle Times Wins Summary Judgment in Surgeon’s Libel Suit," Media Law Resource Center MediaLaw Letter (March 2021)
  • "Public Records: Insights on Compliance and Effective Policy," Association of Washington Cities 2017 Labor Relations Institute (May 5, 2017)
  • "Case Law Update: Use of Personal Devices by Public Servants," Law Seminars International Public Records and Open Meetings Seminar (March 31, 2017)
  • "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Washington," Lorman Education Services, Federal Way, Washington (May 9, 2013)
  • "Public Records Act Litigation," Law Seminars International, Seattle, Washington (January 30, 2013)
  • "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Washington," Lorman Education Services, Federal Way, Washington (May 9, 2012)
  • "Views from a Commercial Litigator: What You Can Learn About Contract Drafting from the Other Side," Washington State Bar Association, Seattle, Washington (May 13, 2011)

Experience

Representative Matters

First Amendment and Other Constitutional Litigation

  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of the City of Seattle in a First Amendment challenge to the City’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance.  Yim v. City of Seattle (W.D. Wash. 2021). 
  • Obtained dismissal of claims under the Equal Protection, Contracts and Supremacy Clauses in defense of the City of Burien’s grocery workers hazard pay ordinance.  Northwest Grocery Ass’n v. City of Burien (W.D. Wash. 2021).
  • Obtained dismissal of a Consumer Protection Act claim and summary judgment in a $26 million, high-profile defamation lawsuit against a newspaper. Delashaw v. Seattle Times Co. (W.D. Wash. 2018, 2020).
  • Successfully defended the City of Seattle against a First Amendment petition claim brought by a local business. Teriyaki v. Wok (W.D. Wash. 2020).
  • Obtained summary judgment of defamation claims against a newspaper along with a fee award. Dickerson v. Index Newspapers, LLC (Multnomah County, OR Superior Court 2020).
  • Obtained dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against the City of Seattle brought by two police officers based on statements made by a member of the City Council. Miller v. Sawant, 2019 WL 998334 (W.D. Wash. 2019).
  • Represented the City of Seattle in the Western District of Washington and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in a lawsuit brought by the yellow pages industry alleging that a city ordinance violated the First Amendment and Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. Dex Media West v. City of Seattle, 696 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 2012).
  • Represented Cable News Network and Turner Broadcasting Systems in a Montana lawsuit regarding the application of the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution to ride-alongs by the news media. Jessica litigated the case from the District of Montana to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and then to the United States Supreme Court. Wilson v. Layne, 526 U.S. 603 (1999).
  • Obtained summary judgment dismissal in King County Superior Court of defamation claims brought against The Seattle Weekly involving an article about a well-known artist.
  • Obtained a defense judgment in a Douglas County Superior Court defamation suit brought against The Wenatchee World.
  • Provided pre-publication review for broadcasters, newspapers and other publications, including a Random House Spanish-language book on a controversial Mexican artist.

Intellectual Property Litigation

  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of a small Washington-based airline sued for trademark infringement by a publicly traded bus manufacturing company. New Flyer Industries Canada v. Rugby Aviation, LLC, 405 F. Supp. 3d 886 (W.D. Wash. 2019).
  • Represented a small telecommunications company plaintiff against a competitor that stole the plaintiff’s trade secrets and interfered with the plaintiff’s employment and customer contracts. The case resulted in a judgment of more than $6 million. Straitshot Communications, Inc. v. Telekenex, Inc., 2012 WL 5880293 (W.D. Wash. 2012).

Real Estate Litigation

  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of residential tenants in forcing the sale of a house subject to a purchase option, in addition to winning a substantial fee award and sequestration of proceeds pending appeal, and affirmance of two appeals. Smith v. Philips (King County Superior Court 2018); Smith v. Phillips, 12 Wn. App. 2d 1066 (Wash. Court of Appeals Div. I 2020); Smith v. Phillips, 15 Wn. App. 2d 1003 (Wash. Court of Appeals Div. I 2020).
  • Defended a homeowners’ association and its board members in a vast federal racketeering and breach of fiduciary duty case brought by 30 homeowners, including filing five successful dispositive motions which resulted in a defense judgment on the eve of trial and affirmance by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ortego. v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, Inc., 2016 WL 6836885 (W.D. Wash. 2016); Ortego. v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, Inc., 2016 WL 11621955 (W.D. Wash. 2016); Ortego. v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, Inc., 2016 WL 11622010 (W.D. Wash. 2016); Ortego. v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, Inc., 2016 WL 1720763 (W.D. Wash. 2016); Ortego. v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, Inc., 2015 WL 13828911 (W.D. Wash 2015); Ortego v. Lummi Island Scenic Estates Community Club, Inc., 738 Fed. Appx. 912 (9th Cir. 2018).
  • Represented minority homeowner plaintiffs against the controlling majority owner and the homeowners’ association on claims of breach of fiduciary duty, violation of the covenants, violation of the Homeowners’ Association Act, and piercing the corporate veil. Then enforced a settlement agreement that the majority owner sought unsuccessfully to breach. Parrott v. Benson Crest Homeowners Ass’n (King County Superior Court 2015).
  • Represented a large international real estate developer in a malpractice claim in King County Superior Court against its former real estate attorneys, obtaining a settlement for more than $5 million.

Commercial Litigation

  • Prosecuted a breach of settlement agreement claim against a minority shareholder, obtaining injunctive relief and a complete award of attorney’s fees. Allegis Communications, Inc. v. Harvey (King County Superior Court 2018).
  • Represented Waste Management of Washington, Inc., before the Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Thurston County Superior Court and the Washington Court of Appeals in litigation that led to the granting of Waste Management’s application for expansion of its biomedical waste services throughout the State of Washington. Stericycle of Wash. v. Waste Management of Wash., 190 Wn. App. 74, 359 P.3d 894 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
  • Resolved a complex dispute between doctors in a urology practice, resulting in the successful separation of the clients’ practices without the need for litigation.
  • Represented a closely held corporation in a derivative action brought by a major shareholder in King County Superior Court and obtained a settlement that favorably resolved all claims in favor of the corporation.
  • Represented the controlling partners in a closely held partnership in a valuation dispute against the non-controlling partners. The matter was resolved in private arbitration in favor of the controlling partners.

News & Insights

News

  • Firm News

    Best Lawyers has named Jessica Goldman the 2024 First Amendment Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Seattle. This is the seventh year that she has received the honor.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that twenty-four partners have been included in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. The annually published lists recognize the top practitioners statewide based on peer recognition and professional achievement.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is pleased to announce that 22 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 Washington Super Lawyers® and Washington Rising Stars® lists. The annually published lists recognize the top five percent of attorneys statewide based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Nine attorneys were additionally honored in the Super Lawyers Women's Edition and two were recognized for their tenth year by Super Lawyers.

  • Firm News

    For the fourth year in a row, Summit Law Group has been named the Washington Firm of the Year by Euromoney's Benchmark Litigation. Summit finished ahead of fierce competition from a shortlist of the best ranked law firms in Washington.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that the firm's Litigation and Labor and Employment practices have received top-tier rankings in the 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation, a guide to the leading litigation law firms and lawyers around the world.

  • Firm News

    Best Lawyers® has named Jessica Goldman the 2023 First Amendment Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Seattle. This is the sixth year that she has received the honor.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that eighteen partners have been selected by their peers for inclusion in 2023 Best Lawyers lists. Sixteen attorneys have been included in The Best Lawyers in America®, and two have been named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that thirteen of its attorneys have been named to the 2022 Washington Super Lawyers® list and five attorneys have been named to the 2022 Washington Rising Stars® list. The annually published lists recognize the top five percent of attorneys statewide based on peer recognition and professional achievement.

  • Firm News

    For the third consecutive year, Benchmark Litigation has named Summit Law Group the Washington Firm of the Year. Summit finished ahead of strong competition from a shortlist of firms and litigators who have performed exceptionally well at both local and national levels.

  • Firm News

    Eighteen Summit Law Group attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, two Summit attorneys have been included in the 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list.

  • Firm News

    Benchmark Litigation names Jessica Goldman and Shannon Phillips as two of the "Top 250 Women in Litigation."

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