Justice Faith Ireland (Ret.)
Justice Faith Ireland (Ret.) is highly sought after for her skills in arbitration, mediation and neutral analysis. Justice Ireland has a reputation for quickly getting to the heart of each matter by relating to all parties using empathetic listening skills. She helps parties assess risk and the financial and emotional costs of litigation, and is tenacious in achieving resolution. In addition to her experience as a justice, her tenure as a superior court judge qualifies her as a court- or party-appointed special master or discovery referee.
Justice Ireland’s 20-plus-year judicial background includes being a justice of Washington State Supreme Court for civil, criminal and constitutional matters, as well as matters relating to the administration of justice in all courts in Washington. While serving as a King County Superior Court judge, she dealt with matters involving criminal felony, civil litigation, juvenile offenders, child welfare and mental illness. Prior to joining JAMS, Justice Ireland spent nearly 15 years as a neutral, offering services such as mediation, arbitration and appellate neutral analysis. While in private practice, as an attorney, her experience included representing insurance carriers, individuals and corporations in tort litigation, business, tax, family law and real estate matters.
Representative Matters
- Business Commercial
- Breach of contract disputes regarding a membership platform that provides business tools for content creators to run a subscription service
- Business dispute involving automobile dealership
- Consumer credit dispute involving unreasonable account closure
- Partnership dispute that involves intellectual property and breach of fiduciary duties claims between two environmental non-profits
- Mediation of contract, business and investment disputes
- Scott v. Trans-System, Inc., Supreme Court 148 Wash.2d 701
- Trucking company dissolution and survival
- Labriola v. Pollard Group, Inc., Supreme Court 152 Wash.2d 828
Consideration in noncompete agreement - Kitsap County v. Mattress Outlet/Gould, Supreme Court 153 Wash.2d 506
Constitutionality of restriction of commercial speech - State v. WWJ Corp., Supreme Court 138 Wash.2d 595
Manifest error of constitutional magnitude in civil cases
- Construction
- Dispute of claims of defective roofing shingles resulted in damage to two properties
- Neutral analysis of indemnity agreement effect on judgment
- Employment Law
- Title IX education discrimination dispute
- Dispute over final paycheck claim alleging punitive damages and attorney fees
- Claims of employment discrimination
- Employment discrimination on basis of disability discrimination
- Employment discrimination on basis of gender & military discrimination
- Dispute between different govt agencies regarding overtime for employees
- Employment dispute over compensaton and severance pay
- Neutral analysis matters
- Wrongful withholding of wages
- Employment discrimination and wrongful termination
- Employment discrimination, intentional interference element
- ERISA constitutional issues
- Arbitrations in cases involving school employment, auto sales employment retaliation, medical employment wrongful termination and breach of contract
- Mediations of matters involving discrimination allegations, wrongful termination and wage disputes
- Retired Public Employees Council of Washington v. Charles, Supreme Court 148 Wash.2d 602Benefit plans; employer contribution rates
- Wingert v. Yellow Freight Systems, Inc., Supreme Court 146 Wash.2d 841Lost wages during overtime
- Drinkwitz v. Alliant Techsystems, Inc., Supreme Court 140 Wash.2d 291Minimum Wage Act; employees’ exempt status
- Estate Probate Trusts
- Trials involving probate including cases with torts litigation and competing heirs.
- Mediations in will contests or intestate succession where stock portfolios, real estate or business interests at issue
- Family Law
- Neutral evaluation of a CR 60 motion to vacate dissolution
- Mediations in dozens of family law cases involving high-net-worth estates, including disputed values for stock portfolios, real estate, family-owned businesses or professional practices
- Governmental & Public Agency
- Neutral evaluation in case involving disclosure of records obtained by agency from company
- Neutral evaluation in case involving prevailing-party attorneys’ fees under a public records request
- Neutral evaluation in case involving writ of prohibition against government agency
- King County v. Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Bd., Supreme Court 142 Wash.2d 543
Zoning and planning; prime agricultural lands - Benchmark Land Co. v. City of Battle Ground, Supreme Court 146 Wash.2d 685
Zoning and planning; conditions of development
- Insurance
- Dispute over distribution of life insurance proceeds
- Neutral evaluation in case involving duty of good faith to investigate as well as policy period condition
- Neutral evaluation in case involving refusal to defend and the Consumer Product Safety Act
- North Pacific Ins. Co. v. Christensen, Supreme Court 143 Wash.2d 43
Determining operator for purposes of UIM claim - Ellwein v. Hartford Acc. and Indem. Co., Supreme Court 142 Wash.2d 766
Bad faith and unfair practices; expert witness - Hayden v. Mutual of Enumclaw Ins. Co., 141 Wash.2d 55
Loss of use exclusion regarding loss of crop - Schwindt v. Commonwealth Ins. Co., Supreme Court 140 Wash.2d 348
Action against insurer; statute of limitations accrual - Harris v. Drake, Supreme Court 152 Wash.2d 480
Insurer work product; privilege for expert
- Personal Injury
- Personal injury dispute involving a dog attack
- Discrimination dispute involving treatment of a minor of Asian descent by a product demonstrator at a big box store
- Mediations of wrongful death and personal injury cases, including vehicle and aviation cases
- Neutral analysis matters
- Public property, licensees and liability of property owners to licensees employees
- Appellate court decision tolling statute; violation of separation of powers
- Damages in auto case where plaintiff died from unrelated illness
- Relief from judgment, alleging perjury
- Scope of new trial for juror misconduct
- Evidence admissible in childbirth suit
- Class action case under consumer protection; individual reliance element
- Consumer protection; apparent manufacturer
- Vicarious liability of sellers for defects caused by third parties
- Wagg v. Estate of Dunham, Supreme Court 146 Wash.2d 63
Action for recovery against insurance proceeds - Sackett v. Santilli, Supreme Court 146 Wash.2d 498
Constitutionality of court rule regarding jury trial - Thompson v. King Feed & Nutrition Service, Inc., Supreme Court 153 Wash.2d 447
Damages regarding destroyed building - Philippides v. Bernard, Supreme Court 151 Wash.2d 376
Wrongful death; financial dependence in loss of consortium action - Right-Price Recreation, LLC v. Connells Prairie Community Council, Supreme Court 146 Wash.2d 370
Defamation at government hearing
- Professional Liability
- Mediation of significant professional liability tort matters
- Neutral analysis matters:
- Medical malpractice, wrongful death and recovery by parent
- Legal malpractice attorneys’ fees for the subsequent lawsuit
- Miller v. Jacoby, Supreme Court 145 Wash.2d 65
- Need for expert testimony in malpractice claim
- Winbun v. Moore, Supreme Court 143 Wash.2d 206
Discovery rules in malpractice case
- Real Property
- Neutral evaluation in case involving liability of company for acts of agent
- Neutral evaluation in case involving redemption statute and former condominium lenders
- Neutral evaluation in case involving municipality and eminent domain
- Neutral evaluation in case involving the Washington State Deeds of Trust Act; liability of guarantors
- Grundy v. Thurston County, Supreme Court 155 Wash.2d 1
Seawater applicability of common enemy doctrine - Denaxas v. Sandstone Court of Bellevue, L.L.C., Supreme Court 148 Wash.2d 654
Escrow duties regarding legal description - Kim v. Lee, Supreme Court 145 Wash.2d 79
Equitable subrogation; priority of creditors - Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington v. State, Supreme Court 142 Wash.2d 347
Eminent domain regarding mobile home parks - Halverson v. Skagit County, Supreme Court 139 Wash.2d 1
Damage from levees owned by independent entities; county liability
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
Current Memberships and Affiliations
- Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, American Bar Association
- Member, King County Bar Association
- Member, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
- Member, Washington State Association for Justice
- Admitted to Practice
- Washington
- S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States
Professional Service and Training
- Advanced Mediation Practice, Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law, 2005
- Board Member, Law Fund (funding indigent civil legal services, 2004
- Executive Committee Member, Council on Public Legal Education, 2002
- Chair, Judicial Education Committee, Washington State Supreme Court, 2000
- President, Washington Chapter, American Judicature Society, 1997
- Founding Member, Judicial Education Leadership Institute, 1989
- President, Superior Court Judges Association, 1995
- Member, Gender and Justice Task Force, Washington Supreme Court, 1988
- Conference Chair, National Association of Women Judges, 1987
- Board Member, Washington Women Lawyers, 1974
- Board Member, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, 1972
Community Service
- Chair, TVW (statewide public access television), 2005
- Vice-Chair, Sheriff's Blue-Ribbon Panel (seeking performance improvements in King County law enforcement), 2006
- President (1998) and Advisory Board Member, Austin Foundation (enriching the lives of at-risk youth through free fitness training)
- Member, Board of Directors, Seattle No. 4 Rotary, 1999
- President, Wing Luke Asian Museum, 1970
Representative Awards and Honors:
- Carl Maxey Award (promoting diversity), Washington State Association for Justice, 2010
- Judicial Leadership Award, Access to Justice, 2005
- Passing the Torch Award, Washington Women Lawyers, 2004
- Woman of Distinction Award, Puget Sound Business Journal, 2004
- William O. Douglas Award, Washington State Trial Lawyers, 2003
- President's Award, Washington Women Lawyers, 1994
- Distinguished Service Award, Judicial Education Leadership Institute, 1994
- Judge of the Year, Washington State Trial Lawyers, 1991
- Chinese Man of the Year, Chinese Community Service Association (for efforts establishing the Wing Luke Asian Museum), 1972
Representative Publications and Speaking Engagements
-
WSBA: Webinar, Sept. 2021Appellate Mediation and Fundamentals of Appeal
-
JAMS Sponsored Webinar: Dec. 2020Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation and ADR
- WSAJ: Auto Deskbook, Vol. II, Oct. 2019
Chapter 11: Successful Mediation: The Mediator's Perspective - Seattle University School of Law, Aug. 2019
Participatory Mediation Practical with Professor Ronald Clark - WSBA: Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, Dec. 2018
Ethics: Competence, Conflicts and Concealment - KCBA Appellate Section, Oct. 2018
Using an Appellate Coach to Win in the Supreme Court - WSBA: Legal Lunchbox, Jan. 2018
Sex Trafficking Justice: Aspiration, Inspiration, Risk and Reward in the “Impossible” Case
Ethics Program Originator and Panel Moderator - WSBA: Trial Advocacy Program, Oct. 2017
Effective Trial Court Performance: How to Stay Out of Trouble With the Judge and Staff - WSBA: Cutting-Edge Civil Rights Issues, Nov. 2016
Panelist: Police Misconduct, Homeless Rights and Prisoners’ Rights - WSBA: Senior Lawyers, June 2014
Identity, Learning Theory and the Law - WSAJ: Wow Conference, June 2011
Toward Eliminating Bias in the Courtroom - Rubric CLE, Oct. 2010
Democracy Under Citizens United - WSAJ: and Oregon Trial Lawyers Convention, Aug. 2010
Overcoming Implicit Bias - AARP: Diversity and Aging in the 21st Century, June 2009
Age Discrimination: Remedies and Resources - WSBA: Sidebar With the Bench, Dec. 2008
Effective Mediation Preparation - Washington Women Lawyers, Sept. 2008
Credibility and Gender in the Courtroom - WSTLA Conference, Aug. 2008
Finding Justice in Mediation - WSBA: Civil Settlement Strategies, Sept. 2006
Mediation: Distributive or Integrative Bargaining
Background and Education
- Owner, Faith Ireland, Just Results, 2005–2019
- Justice, Washington Supreme Court, 1999–2005
- Judge, King County Superior Court, 1983–1999
- Faith Enyeart and Associates, 1974–1984
- McCune, Godfrey & Emerick, 1970–1973
- M.S., with honors, Taxation, Golden Gate University, 1984
- J.D., Willamette University School of Law, 1969
- Editor, Law Review
- B.A., University of Washington, 1965
Home Office
HOME OFFICE
Seattle, Washington
1420 Fifth Ave., Suite 1650, Seattle, WA 98101
Available to Travel
AVAILABLE TO TRAVEL
Atlanta, Georgia
1230 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 2950, Atlanta, GA, 30309
Boca Raton, Florida
2500 N. Military Trail, Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Boston, Massachusetts
One Boston Place, 201 Washington Street, Suite 3300, Boston, MA 02108
Century City, California
1925 Century Park East, 14th Floor, The Watt Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Chicago, Illinois
71 S. Wacker Drive Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60606
Dallas, Texas
5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 1330, Dallas, TX 75225
Detroit, Michigan
150 West Jefferson, Suite 1600, Detroit, MI 48226
Houston, Texas
609 Main Street, Suite 3930, Houston, TX 77002
Inland Empire, California
Citrus Towers, 3390 University Ave., Suite 450, Riverside, CA 92501
Las Vegas, Nevada
7160 Rafael Rivera Way, Suite 400, Las Vegas, NV 89113
London, United Kingdom
1 Paternoster Lane, St. Paul's, London EC4M7BQ UK
Los Angeles, California
515 S. Flower St, Suite 4500 Los Angeles, CA, 90071
Miami, Florida
One Biscayne Tower, 2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 3600, Miami, FL 33131
Minneapolis, Minnesota
90 S. 7th Street • Suite 3875, Minneapolis, MN, 55402
New York, New York
NY Times Building, 620 8th Ave, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Orange County, California
5 Park Plaza, Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92614
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1717 Arch Street, Suite 3810, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Sacramento, California
1415 L Street, Suite 700, Sacramento, CA 95814
San Diego, California
401 B Street, Suite 2100, San Diego, CA 92101
San Francisco, California
Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111
Santa Rosa, California
50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 600, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Silicon Valley, California
160 W. Santa Clara St., Suite 1600, San Jose, 95113 CA
St. Louis, Missouri
190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 1450, Clayton, MO 63105
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
77 King Street West, Suite 2020, Toronto, ON M5K 1A1
Walnut Creek, California
1255 Treat Blvd., Suite 700, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Washington, D.C.
1050 K Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20001
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