Thomas B. Vertetis

As the first in his family to attend college, Tom Vertetis was inspired to attend law school based on the encouragement of his father. It was the clearest path to try and make a big difference in helping others. If waking up at 3 a.m. and emailing colleagues to share a new legal strategy is an indication, Tom clearly found his calling. With a passionate commitment to assisting victims in complex personal injury cases, including medical malpractice, wrongful death, sexual abuse, school liability, and civil rights claims, Tom works tirelessly to help those with the greatest needs.

Tom has consistently obtained success in the courtroom including many multi-million-dollar plaintiff’s verdicts, having led more than 50 jury trials, as well as significant settlements that help provide his clients with the financial support and care they require. Treating every case as if it is his only one, he works diligently to understand the numerous facts and complicated medical issues involved in each matter. As the father of a special needs child, he is a strong advocate and champion for disabled children and is particularly zealous about cases involving children.

Tom knows that his work, and that of the entire PCVA team, changes the lives of their clients by enabling them to stop struggling to pay their medical bills and improving their access to appropriate care, and he takes this responsibility very seriously.

A judge remarked that “[Tom] was professional, courteous, prepared, and a zealous advocate for his client. I wish I had more attorneys like him appearing before me.”

Tom’s peers are in awe of his round-the-clock work ethic, which inspires them to want to do more and be better. They jokingly refer to him as “the mayor” because he is so widely known and respected, and acknowledge that Tom has one of the sharpest legal minds who gets great results for his clients.

Before entering private practice, Tom served as a law clerk for the Honorable Jane B. Cantor of the New Jersey Superior Court and as an assistant prosecutor in New Jersey, where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal matters on behalf of injured victims.

Tom is married to his college sweetheart, Jennifer, and they have three children. Outside work, Tom donates much of his time to nonprofits that support medically fragile children and autism awareness.

Honors

• Top 25 Verdicts & Settlements of the West, 2020 (The Recorder)

• 2019 Washington Trial Lawyer of the Year, American Board of Trial Attorneys

• Peter Perlman Service Award, Litigation Counsel of America

• Top 100, Washington Super Lawyers

• Super Lawyer, Washington Super Lawyers, 2012-2021

• AV-Rated, Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating

• Superb Rated, avvo.com Peer Review Rating

• Top 40 Under 40 of Washington, National Trial Lawyers Association

• Boss of the Year, National Association of Legal Secretaries of Pierce County

• Local Hero Award, Washington State Bar Association

• Pro Bono Award, Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association

Representative Cases

• $13.95 million medical malpractice jury verdict for a 22 year old client who suffered a catastrophic embolic stroke during an elective cardiac catheterization.

• $12.5 million medical malpractice settlement for an infant left with birth injuries due to a negligent delivery.

• $8 million federal civil rights excessive force settlement after eighth day of trial for a client shot by Tacoma Police Department during a low-speed pursuit.

• $6 million settlement with Kiwanis International for failing to protect children from sexual abuse at Kiwanis Vocational Home.

• $5.425 million auto accident settlement for a client struck by a motor vehicle and suffered a serious injury.

• $5 million auto accident settlement for a client struck by a motor vehicle and suffered a serious permanent injury.

• $4.5 million personal injury verdict in federal court for a 19-year-old Amtrak passenger seriously injured after a train’s derailment.

• $4 million medical malpractice settlement for client who suffered a post-surgical stroke resulting in kidney transplant.

• $3.5 million medical malpractice settlement for an 84-year-old woman who suffered severe post-operative complications.

• $3.4 million medical malpractice settlement for a client who suffered a permanent brain injury as a result of a complication during a cardiac catheterization.

• $3.075 million jury verdict for the wrongful termination and defamation of a 20-year decorated senior county prosecutor.

• $2 million medical malpractice settlement for client who suffered partial bilateral blindness due to delayed diagnoses of increased intracranial pressures that damaged his optic nerves.

• $1.5 million physical abuse settlement against the DSHS for a minor who suffered serious injuries due to the failure of CPS to intervene and investigate a child abuser.

• $1.5 million auto accident jury verdict for the wrongful death of a college graduate student who died instantly as a result of a high-impact rear-end collision.

• $1.475 million medical malpractice settlement for a client who suffered permanent cervical injury due to delayed diagnosis of fractured vertebrae.

• $1.4 million jury verdict for a family-owned business against the State of Washington for unlawful conduct against a local business.

• $1.3 million personal injury settlement for a client who suffered major burns over 30% of her body when she tripped while carrying a large pot of hot oil.

• $1.2 million medical malpractice wrongful death settlement for a widower whose wife died of a heart attack due to delayed diagnosis during admission to hospital.

• $1.2 million medical malpractice settlement for a client whose incorrect cancer diagnosis resulted in a permanent colostomy.

• $1 million medical malpractice settlement for a client who suffered neurological deficits after the failure of a radiologist to diagnose an aneurysm.

• $1 million medical malpractice settlement against a psychologist for failure to properly treat a mentally ill patient who killed an innocent bystander.

• $1 million medical malpractice verdict against a surgeon for an improper bladder laceration post-hysterectomy.

• $1 million medical malpractice wrongful death settlement for a widow whose husband died due to a delayed diagnosis of acute leukemia.

• $1 million personal injury settlement for a client who suffered a serious permanent dominant hand nerve injury, limiting his future use and employability in his profession.

• $900,000 medical malpractice settlement for a client who suffered irreversible kidney damage following a delayed diagnosis of kidney disease (RPGN).

• $850,000 medical malpractice wrongful death settlement for a widow whose husband died due to equipment malfunction and delayed transport to an appropriate hospital.

• $776,400 medical malpractice verdict for a 19-year-old client who suffered permanent injuries from a mistreated fracture to her non-dominant arm.

• $750,000 medical malpractice settlement for a client who suffered partial permanent deficits after complications from a neurosurgical procedure.

• $750,000 serious injury settlement for a couple who suffered physical and cognitive impairments due to prolonged exposure to phosgene from a defective propane tank.

• $300,000 civil rights verdict for a high school student with autism who was serially bullied and harassed by a group of students, despite repeated notice to the school district, which failed to stop the harassment and conduct resulting in long-term psychological injury to the minor.

Pro-Bono Activities

• Friends of the University of Washington Experimental Education Unit

• University of Washington Autism Center & Experimental Education Unit; Past Advisory and Fund-Raising Board Member, and Annual Auction Emcee

• Ashley House for Medically Fragile Children, Board of Directors

• McCarver Elementary School – Werlin Reading Program, Weekly Tutor

• Academy of Precision Learning, Past Board of Directors

Classes & Seminars

• Regularly Scheduled Speaker, Trial Practice, Medical Malpractice and Evidence, CLE Seminars

• Regular Lecturer, WSBA CLE Courses

• Regular Lecturer, WSAJ CLE Courses

Published Works

• Chapter Author, WSAJ Medical Negligence Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, 2016

Past Positions

• Honorable Jane B. Cantor of the New Jersey Superior Court, Clerk

• New Jersey, Assistant Prosecutor

Professional Associations

• Washington State Campaign for Equal Justice, Board of Directors, President

• Pierce County Bar Foundation, Past President

• American Board of Trial Advocates, Washington Chapter, Executive Board, Secretary

• Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington, Trustee

• Western District of Washington Ninth Circuit, Past Lawyer Representative

• Washington State Association for Justice, Medical Negligence Section, Past Chair

• International Society of Barristers, Fellow

• Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow