News & Events

NBF congratulates Larry E. Altenbrun for winning the first ever NBF Ping Pong Tournament!

NBF attorneys Curt H. Feig and Michael A. Guadagno obtained a discovery sanction of dismissal of all claims against their client in Calpito v. Farmers Insurance Company of Washington.  Plaintiff submitted a claim to Farmers alleging a theft of personal property.  Farmers denied the claim.  After several months of discovery disputes, the court granted a defense motion to dismiss the case as a discovery sanction.

NBF attorney Michael A. Guadagno, acting as local counsel, obtained summary judgment of dismissal of all claims against his client in Hai v. STL International, Inc.  Plaintiff sought damages resulting from an alleged design defect in the defendant’s product.  Defendant moved for summary judgment arguing for the application of Texas law, which barred plaintiff’s claims under the statute of limitations.  The court granted the defendant’s motion and dismissed all claims with prejudice.

NBF attorneys Curt H. Feig and Michael A. Guadagno obtained summary judgment of dismissal of all claims against their clients in McDonald v. Farmers Insurance Company of Washington.  Plaintiffs submitted a claim to Farmers after they suffered theft of their medical marijuana plants.  Farmers denied the claim arguing that plaintiffs lacked an insurable interest in their medical marijuana, because it is illegal under federal law.  The court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment holding that plaintiffs were unable to establish the fair market value of their medical marijuana, because Washington law prohibits the sale thereof rendering no “market value” for the same.

NBF attorneys Curt H. Feig and Chris P. Reilly obtained a victory for their client in Division III of the Court of Appeals.  In November 2010, the Spokane County Superior Court dismissed all claims against their client arising from allegations of breach of a commercial lease and personal injuries.  Following dismissal of those claims, the plaintiffs appealed.  Division III of the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision dismissing all claims against Messrs. Feig’s and Reilly’s client.

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NBF attorney Chris P. Reilly obtained a victory for his client Castle Fisheries, Inc. and Dan Castle in Anchorage Superior Court. On December 29, 2011, an arbitrator ruled in favor of Chris’s clients in a property damage dispute related to the 2010 Sitka sac roe herring fishery. The dispute was arbitrated over three days in December 2011. The arbitration award was confirmed by Anchorage Superior Court Judge Mark Rindner.

NBF attorneys Larry E. Altenbrun and Chris P. Reilly have been approved and certified by the U.S. Maritime Law Association as a “Proctor in Admiralty,” which is the highest category of membership in the MLA.

NBF attorney Rivers Black has been selected for membership of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association.

NBF attorneys Christopher W. Nicoll, Rivers Black, and Larry E. Altenbrun attended the annual meeting of the Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association, held in New Orleans.

NBF attorney Christopher W. Nicoll provided the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association with a presentation on the topic of marine insurance at its annual insurance law meeting in Seattle.