Thomas M. Williams
Attorney
Phone: (206) 340-8834
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Email: Thomas M. Williams
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Thom represents contractors, developers, homeowners, associations, businesses and other commercial policyholders in insurance coverage, construction defect, and complex commercial litigation.
Thom’s focus is insurance coverage litigation. He primarily represents policyholders by helping them navigate a wide variety of insurance-related issues including analyzing policies and coverage correspondence, tendering claims, challenging denials of coverage, negotiating settlements, preparing for and participating in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and litigating declaratory judgment, breach of contract, and bad faith lawsuits against insurance companies. Thom has extensive knowledge relating to the unique issues that can arise in matters involving general liability, property, business interruption, builder’s risk, and professional liability insurance.
In addition to coverage litigation, Thom also represents business owners, contractors and developers in complex commercial litigation, including real estate development, construction defect, environmental issues, and business disputes.
Rated by Super Lawyers
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Areas of Practice
- Insurance Coverage Law
- Construction Defect Law
Education
- William & Mary School of Law (J.D., 2011)
- William & Mary Law Review
- University of Washington (B.A. with a Minor in Law, Society & Justice, 2007)
- Cum Laude
Professional Activities
Washington State Bar Association
Admitted to Practice
- Washington State and Federal Courts
- Hawaii State Courts
- Selected as a Washington Super Lawyer 2023 – 2024
- Appointed by the WSBA Board of Governors to serve for a two-year term as a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee responsible for WSBA’s publication, Washington State Bar News, effective October 2022 – September 2024
- Selected by Super Lawyers for inclusion into its Washington Rising Stars 2020-2021
- Published article “Weathering Coronavirus: How Business Interruption Insurance Could Help Businesses Survive the Pandemic” in the June 2020 issue of the WSBA publication “Washington State Bar News”
- Presenter at the National Business Institute’s seminar “Bad Faith Insurance Claims,” December 2019
- Conducted Lorman Education Service’s seminar on “Bad Faith Insurance Claims in Construction Disputes,” October 2019
- Presenter at The Seminar Group’s seminar “Washington Construction Law,” September 2018
- Published article “Fortune Favors the Insured: The Wide-Reaching Impact of Xia v. ProBuilders” in the December 2017 issue of the WSBA publication “NW Lawyer”
- Presenter at the National Business Institute’s seminar “Commercial General Liability Policy: The Complete Guide,” December 2017
- Favorable settlement in property insurance claim for ongoing hidden water damage at condominium from multiple insurers that had issued policies dating back to the 1990s
- Summary judgment ruling that insurer’s denial of its duty to defend pending satisfaction of a $500,000 self-insured retention was in bad faith and that the insurer was therefore estopped from denying indemnity coverage – Osborne Construction Co. v. Zurich American Ins. Co.
- Summary judgment ruling that insurer’s ten-month delay between tender and acceptance of defense obligation was in bad faith as a matter of law, and that insurer could not cure its bad faith through a belated defense offer – Rushforth Construction Co. Inc. v. Wesco Ins. Co.
- Secured multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of Condominium Association from roofer for the cost to replace defective roof and resulting water damage
- Negotiated seven-figure settlement from liability insurer for environmental cleanup claim under decades-old policies
Thom Williams News
Micro-Tunneling Contractor Nets Eight-Figure Recovery from Builders Risk Insurers and Other Sources
A large chuck of concrete broke off of an eight-foot internal diameter pipe segment during its installation into a contractor’s micro-tunnel underneath Seattle’s Ship Canal, allowing water to flood the tunnel. A later investigation revealed flaws in the broken pipe segment, as well as similar flaws with approximately 80 other…
Seattle-Based General Contractor Obtains Six-Figures from Liability Insurer after Denial of its “Supplementary Payment” Claim
A prominent Seattle-based general contractor was sued relating to roof issues at a mixed-use project in South Lake Union. The general contractor’s liability insurer defended the lawsuit and paid to resolve it, but denied the general contractor’s claim under the Policy’s “Supplementary Payment” provision for reimbursement of its own costs…
Liability Insurer Pays to Resolve Wrongful Death Action Against Builder of High-End Homes Notwithstanding Prior Denial of Insurance Coverage
A developer and general contractor of high-end homes in the Seattle area was sued by the estate of a worker who had died after falling at one of the developer’s projects. The developer’s liability insurer agreed to defend the lawsuit, but denied any indemnity obligation to pay the final judgment…
About Our Firm
Harper | Hayes PLLC is a business litigation law firm, focusing on insurance coverage and construction defect disputes.
Insurance Coverage
We represent policyholders in insurance coverage disputes, including cases involving property, casualty, professional liability, directors and officers, and pollution insurance.
