David Merritt Beninger

David Beninger obtained his degrees in economics and law from the University of Washington. He began practicing law with Paul Luvera in 1989 and is a founding partner/shareholder in their current law firm.

Mr. Beninger has successfully handled a number of complex and high profile cases. He has achieved over 70 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, including the largest results in the state for wrongful death, nursing home negligence, post-concussive syndrome and three of the four largest insurance bad faith outcomes in Washington. Some of his notable cases include the claims arising from the Washington D.C. Sniper shootings; Tacoma Police Chief Brame’s domestic violence murder-suicide; the Olympic Pipe Line Explosion that killed two 10 year old boys; and the two Anacortes Refinery Explosions that have claimed the lives of 12 workers.

Mr. Beninger’s work and advocacy have contributed to changes in the Pipeline Safety laws, Domestic Violence laws, and numerous company and industry-wide changes in insurance, construction and other fields to protect the public. His cases and clients have been featured in every major newspaper and TV news program in Western Washington, as well as CNN, The Today Show, Oprah, 48 Hours, People Magazine and other publications and broadcasts.

As a result of his trial work, Mr. Beninger is a select member of the Damage Attorneys Round Table (DART), an invitation only group comprised of the top five percent of trial attorneys in Washington representing injured people. He is also a member of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) Amicus Committee, and senior member of the WSAJ Judicial Selection committee. Mr. Beninger has been selected by Washington Law & Politics as a “Super Lawyer” in each of its annual editions.

Mr. Beninger often teaches, lectures and writes on trial advocacy and legal issues. He is also a participating faculty member for the international Justice Advocacy Africa trial training program for African lawyers.