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David M. Beninger

David Beninger’s legal skill and tenacity has generated more than 100 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, including the largest results in the state for wrongful death, nursing home negligence, maritime injury, bicycle accident, electrical brain injury, post-concussive syndrome, injury to spousal relations/consortium, and three of the five largest insurance bad faith outcomes in Washington. Beyond the numbers, Beninger’s work has contributed to changes that protect the public through pipeline safety laws, domestic violence laws, and numerous company and industry-wide changes in insurance and construction.

Some of his notable cases include claims that arose from the Washington D.C. Sniper shootings; Tacoma Police Chief David Brame’s domestic violence murder-suicide; the Olympic pipeline explosion that killed two 10-year-old boys; and two Anacortes refinery explosions that claimed the lives of 12 workers. Most recently, David and Patricia Anderson obtained a $150 million jury verdict that included two families who lost loved ones in the deadly 2019 crane collapse in Seattle’s South Lake Union. Throughout the legal process, which concluded with a six-week trial, David and Patricia served as counsel for the family of victim Alan Justad. Of the $150 million, about $52 was awarded to the Justad family.

Beninger is a member of the Damage Attorneys Round Table (DART), an invitation-only group comprised of the top five percent of trial attorneys in Washington representing injured people. He is also a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) Amicus Committee, and a senior member of the WSAJ Judicial Selection committee. He was also the 2017 WSAJ Tom Chambers Trial Lawyer of the Year; learn more about that honor here. He was listed among U.S.News‘ Best Lawyers in America in 2024.

Beninger has also been selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics in each of its annual editions. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Washington, Beninger earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington School of Law. He often teaches, lectures and writes on trial advocacy and legal issues. He is also a participating faculty member for the International Justice Advocacy Africa trial training program for African lawyers.

Education

  • B.A. in Economics, University of Washington
  • Juris Doctorate, University of Washington School of Law

Professional Involvement

  • Damage Attorneys Round Table
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • International Justice Advocacy Africa – faculty member
  • Washington State Association for Justice – Amicus Committee
  • Washington State Association for Justice – Judicial Selection Committee

Featured cases

Corporate negligence

Veterans deserve better

The U.S. government and Cerner’s negligence delayed Charlie Bourg’s cancer diagnosis – essentially costing him his life. Now he’s fighting to keep it from happening to other veterans.  U.S. Army...
Charlie Bourg standing in front of the engraved wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC

Insurance misconduct

Holding Nationwide accountable for egregious bad faith

In a win for insurance consumers, a Spokane County judge and jury leveled more than $103 million in judgments against Nationwide Insurance, holding the insurance company accountable for egregious misconduct...
Nationwide headquarters: a gray concrete building against blue sky, with the blue N and white bird Nationwide logo.

Construction injuries

Crane collapse: Standing up for safety and accountability

In March 2022, a King County jury returned a $150 million verdict that included two families who lost loved ones in the deadly 2019 crane collapse in Seattle’s South Lake...
A large yellow rooftop crane over a city skyline

Railroad injuries

Pursuing justice for victims of the 2017 Amtrak derailment

In December 2017, an Amtrak train plunged off a railroad overpass onto Interstate 5, killing three people and injuring dozens more. The train was on its first paid passenger run...
An Amtrak train in the station.