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James Gooding

Shareholder

Seattle Office
2601 4th Ave., Suite 6
Seattle, WA 98121
206.448.1992

Email: jgooding@glpattorneys.com 

James Gooding is a Shareholder based out of GLP Attorneys’ Seattle office.

Professional Overview

Jim learned the practice of personal injury law from his father in Kent, Washington, where together they represented clients from all walks of life. During those years Jim gained respect for the problems and issues his clients faced, and learned how to best counsel and represent them while achieving justice for their cause.

Jim’s practice eventually brought him to New York City, where he became trial counsel for various firms who sent their difficult cases to him when they knew the case was going to be tried to a jury. There, Jim successfully tried 75+ personal injury jury cases, bringing his clients millions of dollars and redemption from those who had injured them.

In 2007, Jim returned to the Pacific Northwest with his wife and three children and joined GLP Attorneys with the Seattle personal injury attorney team. Since 2010, Jim has been a shareholder with the firm.

Jim is currently an active member of the Washington State Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. He is a member of Trial Lawyers Care (a group that contributed pro bono time to World Trade Center victims after September 11th), a member of the WSAJ Disaster Relief Program (a group that contributed pro bono time to victims of the E. Washington wildfires) and is a frequent Moot Court Judge. He was a member of the Ethics Committee of the NY County Lawyers Association until 2007, and has served on the Washington State Bar Association Court Rules Committee. Jim is one of only a handful of attorneys in the Northwest who is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, a distinction which requires verifiable trial results, and a review process including testimonials by Judges and attorneys who have opposed him at trial. He is also an Associate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Jim was voted “Washington State Super Lawyer” from 2012 – 2024 and was named Top 100 “Washington State Super Lawyer” in 2018 and 2021 – 2024. He has achieved “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” distinction from 2012 – 2022.

Jim takes a personal interest in every client he represents. For Jim, a case is not just a number or a name – it is an injury that could have happened to any one of us. As such, he is dedicated to ensuring that his clients are treated with the respect that each one individually deserves.

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Awards & Recognition

topverdict.com top 100.
avvo rating 10.0.
american board of trial advocates associate.
The national trial lawyers.
National Board of Legal Speciality Certification.

More Information

  • Top 50 Premises Liability Verdicts Award, TopVerdict.com, 2021
  • Top 100 Jury Verdicts, TopVerdict.com, 2020, 2022
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Inducted 2020
  • Recognized as a Washington State Top 100 Super Lawyer, 2018, 2021 – 2024
  • Recognized as a Super Lawyer by Washington Super Lawyers, 2012 – 2024
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2012 - 2023
  • Highest rating by Avvo.com - 10.0
  • Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in civil trial practice since 2007
  • Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D., 1993
  • University of California at Berkeley, B.A., Philosophy, 1990
  • California, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 1993
  • Washington, 1994
  • New Jersey, 2002
  • New York, 2002
  • Appellate Division of The New York State Supreme Court, 2002
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 2007
  • Member, Washington State Association for Justice
    • Nursing Home and Elder Care Section, 2011 – Present
    • Trial News Editorial Board, Member, 2008 – 2018
  • Member, New York County Lawyers Association – Ethics Committee, 2003 – 2007
  • Member, Trial Lawyers Care, a group that contributed pro bono time to World Trade Center victims after the attacks on September 11th, 2001
  • Member, Washington State Bar Association – Court Rule Committee, 2008 – 2009

When Jim is not at work, he likes being with his wife and three kids enjoying time in the mountains, San Juan Islands or on Lake Washington.

Successful Cases

$5 Million

$5 million recovery for the wife and children of an employee who died after falling down a belt manlift shaft at the Avis parking garage in Seattle.

$3.5 Million

$3.5 million settlement for a 97-year-old man who was neglected in a nursing home such that his genitalia fell off due to untreated penile cancer. 
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$3.5 Million

$3.5 million for wrongful death of a nursing home patient.

$3 Million

$3 million settlement for a diver working on the 520 bridge project who sustained a permanent back injury.  

$2.73 Million

$2.73 million verdict for a woman who had a wooden dolly dropped on her at Fred Meyer.
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$2.25 Million

$2.25 million recovery for the victim of an explosion at a scrap yard who suffered a brain injury to his pituitary gland as a result.

$2,000,000

$2 Million settlement for the wrongful death of a client caused by a T-bone car crash.

$1.65 Million

$1.65 million settlement for a 54-year-old woman who was rear-ended, causing cervical herniations and the need for a three-level cervical fusion.
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$1.53 Million

$1,535,000 settlement for a minor who suffered injuries on a playground.

$1.5 Million

$1.5 million settlement for an elderly nursing home resident who was given the wrong medication, killing her.
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$1.4 Million

$1.4 million for a man who was sprayed by hot concrete during a hose-whip incident on a job site injuring his back and knee.

$1.25 Million

$1.25 million settlement for a 26 year old woman who was hit while riding her bicycle, sustaining an ankle fracture.
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$1.1 Million

$1.1 million maritime settlement (with offset) for a seaman who fell into an open fish hold, injuring his neck, back, wrist, and shoulder, requiring surgery.

$1,000,000

$1 Million recovery for a nursing home abuse and neglect client.

$1 Million

$1,000,000 settlement for a minor who was injured in a trucking collision.

$1 Million

$1 million settlement for the wrongful death of a seaman (confidential facts).

$1 Million

$1 million policy limits settlement for the wrongful death of a 38-year-old man who had a wife and seven children.
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$1 Million

$1 million policy limits settlement for a truck passenger whose arm got crushed when the driver took a turn too fast, rolling the truck over onto the passenger side.

$886,000

$886,000 verdict for a woman who was in a car collision which caused dermatomyositis (an autoimmune disease). Defendant State Farm’s offer was zero all the way through trial.

$870,000

$870,000 verdict to a man who slipped on grease in the stairwell of his workplace, due to inadequate lighting, requiring surgery to his knee.
Read More Client Outcomes

WhatJim's Clientssay…

“I wanted to thank you for all your hard work and your excellent management of my case. I do indeed think we got a “shut the front door” amount of money. I think you are a very, very exceptional human being, a kind person, and a blessing on our planet.”
- Anonymous
“I cannot praise Jim Gooding enough. He is an exemplary lawyer and person. He is honest, compassionate and skillful at the same time. These are traits not often found in lawyers or people; yet alone together. Our family is forever grateful to Jim. He helped us when others had turned their backs. Without him, our Mother’s death would have been in vain. Jim is the lawyer you need if you sadly have an elder abuse or wrongful death in your family.”
- Anonymous
“Just a note of thanks to Jim for all you did to make [our] trial have such a positive outcome. [Our] story was compelling and you provided the framework for the jury to see its merits. I’m glad [we] had your guidance. It was pretty brave of her to even think about telling this story. [We] speak so highly of you in this process. She believes YOU made the results happen. For that I am grateful… You offer good counsel and I know that from my own experience.”
- Anonymous
“I just want to express my gratitude for your exquisite performance, research, and kindness over the last week during trial. I truly felt that I was in good hands, and the outcome is proof of that! The last five years has been quite a journey, at times very dark, but today things feel brighter than ever. Thank you for shining a light on my story, for never wavering from your belief in me, and for “bringing it home”. You, my friend, are the man. Thank you so very much.”
- Anonymous
“I had total confidence in Jim due to his professional and courteous demeanor as well as his knowledge. I really felt that he was in my corner fighting the good fight. I wouldn’t hesitate a second to use his services again.”
- H.C.
“To whom it may concern, James Gooding is very hard working an amazing attorney. When he takes on a case he gives it his all. I have recommended James to a number of my friends and fellow business associates and he has treated each of them like they were his only client and did an excellent job for them as well. If you are looking for an attorney you would be very lucky to get James Gooding on your legal team.”
D.J.
“Jim entered my complex case late in the game. He plowed through 10 inches of documents in a very short time period and then represented me at trial beautifully. I am forever grateful for the work he and Sara Maleki put into my case, treating me with compassion and like a human being.”
- Anonymous
“If you want a lawyer that is understandable and thinks of your welfare, you don’t have to look any more. Mr. Gooding has helped me with anything that I’ve needed, and plus he has worked with all of my friends because my friends trust me and my judgment. He is always working on your case to get things done in the right matter for you and your case.”
- S.J.M.
"I just want to thank you for having a great team. I'm serious when I say they honestly pulled me out of some of the hardest times I've experienced. So please know I appreciate everything."
- M.
"Excellent work! James Gooding is an amazing attorney. A great team of people who guided me through the legal process which lead to a great result."
- J.N.
Going to trial for my husband's brain injury was the last thing we wanted to do. This is what we experienced with Janelle, Jim, Rayna and the entire staff at GLP: Empathetic, detail-oriented, hard-working, resourceful, committed to the truth and a legal team dedicated to a high standard. They fought for us and we won! We couldn't be more grateful for their service.
- K.S.
My case is still ongoing, but my lawyer and his team have been great and helpful through these hardest of times. Thank you for what you do!
- W.F.
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