Defining Moments

The road to becoming a trusted plaintiff's attorney is full of character-defining moments.

• Father died when he was two, and mother waitressed at a dime-store luncheonette.
• At age 10, helped support the family by catching a 4:30 a.m. bus to pick strawberries.
• After high school, enlisted in the Air Force but missed out on the GI Bill.
• Worked his way through college as a janitor, then landed at Yale Law School.
• Unsure about practicing law until taking on a suit with his wife Peggy and himself as plaintiffs. Argued the case before the Washington State Supreme Court -- and won!
• After 30 years, still finds great satisfaction in helping victims of negligence.
• Adopted four of the five children in his multi-racial family, ensuring lively dinner conversations.

Gene has over 30 years' experience in handling complex personal injury cases. He is a frequent lecturer at legal seminars on medical negligence and trial techniques. A member of the Board of Governors of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association from 1987-1993, he also served as Vice President, Chair of the Medical Negligence Section, and Editor-in-Chief of the monthly newspaper Trial News.

Gene is a graduate of the University of Oregon and a 1968 graduate of Yale Law School. He has been listed in the book "Best Lawyers in America" and in "Best Lawyers in Seattle" published by Seattle Magazine. Gene also was recognized by his peers as a "Top 100 Super Lawyer" and a "Top 40 Plaintiffs Personal Injury Super Lawyer" in surveys conducted and published by Washington Law and Politics magazine during the past several years.

© Chemnick Moen Greenstreet