Hon. Patricia Aitken (Ret.)

T: 206-622-5267
F:206-292-9082

Locations

Available to hear cases nationwide.
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Hon. Patricia Aitken (Ret.) joined JAMS in 2000 upon her retirement from King County Superior Court. Judge Aitken handled all types of civil cases while on the bench including family law, employment, business/commercial, professional liability, personal injury, product liability, and real estate.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

  • Conducted settlement conferences on a weekly basis for 14 years on the King County Superior Court; served on the panel conducting settlement conferences in asbestos cases
  • Handled all types of civil cases while on the bench including commercial, professional liability, personal injury, family law, employment, product liability, and real estate

Representative Matters

  • Business/Commercial: Arbitrated and mediated business cases including collection issues, breach of warranty, breach of dealer agreement, breach of contract, and fair credit reporting; arbitrated claim regarding stolen and forged bank checks
  • Civil rights: Mediated claims of false arrest for shoplifting, and racial discrimination and negligent investigation by governmental agency
  • Employment: Mediated and resolved numerous employment cases involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, hostile work environment, constructive dismissal, breach of contract, and severance package issues
  • Family Law: Mediated and arbitrated marriage dissolution cases involving property division, business asset allocation, parenting, child support, and visitation issues;
  • Estates/Probate: Mediated and settled estate matter where beneficiary claimed fraud by the PR, the case involved funding of trust and pre-nuptial agreement

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

  • Member, U.S. District Court, Western District, Rule 39.1 panel of mediators and arbitrators
  • King County Election Task Force, appointed by King County Executive 2005
  • Member, Washington Women Lawyers
  • President’s Award, Washington Women Lawyers, 2000
  • Outstanding Judge Award, Seattle-King County Bar Association, 1996
  • Member, Seattle-King County Bar Association Court Congestion Committee
  • Judge Advocate General Corps, Washington Army National Guard, 1974-1988 (Captain, 1974-1982; Major, 1982-1988; Staff Judge Advocate, 81st Brigade, 1984-1988)

Background and Education

  • JAMS "Remedies in Arbitration" Training, 2009
  • JAMS Arbitration Training, 2004; JAMS Mediation Training, 2001
  • Judge, King County Superior Court, 1982-2000
  • Chief of the Criminal Division, Office of Seattle City Attorney, 1982
  • Assistant Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Office of King County Prosecuting Attorneys Christopher Bailey and Norm Maleng, 1971-1982
  • Deputy King County Prosecuting Attorney, Office of King County Prosecuting Attorney Charles O. Carroll, 1967-1970
  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA, 1965
  • B.A., Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 1957