Dean A. Messmer  Principal

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Practice Emphasis

Dean Messmer represents clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation of a wide variety of commercial disputes, including cases involving real estate transactions, government condemnations, sales of businesses, computer systems and software, non-competition and trade secrets agreements. His industry experience includes commercial real estate, technology, professional services, industrial distributorships and auto recycling.

Dean also negotiates and drafts business-related contracts for clients, especially those involved in technology-related transactions and business purchases and sales.  Utilizing his extensive city government experience, Dean assists clients with resolution of zoning, land use and related issues.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts (History, with distinction), 1971, Stanford University 
  • Juris Doctor (with distinction), 1974, Duke Law School

Representative Cases

  • Dean has achieved a number of successful outcomes for his clients, including a $1,100,000 settlement in a flood damage inverse condemnation lawsuit, a $1,125,000 arbitration award for sellers in sale of business dispute, and a $722,000 bankruptcy court judgment for debtor/borrower on a wrongful foreclosure claim, which was affirmed on appeals to District Court and Ninth Circuit. 
  • Additional notable cases were a $1,677,000 jury verdict for an owner in a real property condemnation action and a $564,000 jury verdict for an owner in a personal property inverse condemnation action, which was affirmed on appeal.
  • Currently, Dean is representing a number of commercial loan borrowers and guarantors in real estate foreclosure and deficiency actions.

Bar Admissions

  • Washington State Bar Association, 1974
  • King County Superior Court, Mandatory Arbitrator, 1992-present

Publications

  • Practical Uses of the Internet for Lawyers and Law Firms, Washington State Bar Association
  • A Lawyer’s Web Toolkit, Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference
  • A Lawyer’s Web Toolkit, Washington State Bar Association Law Office Management Institute
  • Creating Workable Technology Strategies for Your Law Firm, Washington State Bar Association Law Office Management Institute
  • Using the Internet for Legal and Business Research, Washington State Bar Association Law Office Management Institute

Professional & Civic

  • Named a "Super Lawyer" by Washington Law & Politics magazine, 2010-2012
  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Law Practice Management Sections
  • WSBA, Executive Committee, Law Practice Management and Technology Committee, 1995-2000 (Chair 1997-1998) 
  • Clyde Hill City Council, 1996-2007
  • Clyde Hill Board of Adjustment, 1994-1995
  • Medina Mayor, 1990-1991
  • Medina City Council, 1986-1991
  • Medina Planning Commission, 1983-1986