George Kargianis joined the law firm of Elvidge, Watt, Veblen, and Tewell following his graduation from the University of Washington Law School and was assigned principally to antitrust and general tort litigation. After serving as the Chief Administrative Law Judge (Chief Legal Examiner) for the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in Olympia, he returned to private practice in Seattle becoming a partner in the firm of Rutherford, Kargianis, and Shinn.His peers recognize Mr. Kargianis as being one of the nation’s pre-eminent trial attorneys. Over the years, he has handled a number of landmark cases, including highway design claims, catastrophic injury cases, medical negligence suits, and product liability litigation. Such cases have included adverse drug reaction injuries, failed medical devices or appliances, improperly designed or manufactured vehicles and component parts thereof as well as unsafe and/or improperly manufactured consumer products.
Mr. Kargianis has successfully challenged drug-testing protocols utilized by several major drug manufacturers and has established that their testing procedures were inadequate and unsafe.
Mr. Kargianis pioneered the toxic shock syndrome cases having filed the first of such lawsuits in the United States. In addition, he handled a number of IUD injury cases. Recently he has been instrumental in obtaining record settlements for E-Coli victims; the so-called “Jack in the Box” cases.
He specializes in complex litigation and has obtained a number of record multi-million dollar recoveries on behalf of his clients. He has also handled injury and wrongful death claims arising out of highway accidents and railroad train collisions as well as airline crashes. In addition, he has successfully handled a number of landmark suits against various agencies resulting in, among other things, the removal of the tolls from the Hood Canal Bridge.
Mr. Kargianis is recognized as being a specialist in class action, having handled a number of record judgments since the early 1980s. He has experience acting as both lead and co-lead counsel in cases in state and federal jurisdictions within the State of Washington. Such cases have included contract disputes, actions for compensation for nursing home providers, and actions for various medical trust funds for reimbursement from the tobacco industry.
Mr. Kargianis has served on a number of civic corporate and bar boards and committees; is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a fellow in the International Society of Barristers, a member of and past president of the Damage Attorneys Round Table, is listed in “Best Lawyers in America”, is a past member of the board of governors of the Washington State Bar Association, and served two terms as Vice Chairman for the Washington State Department of Transportation.
George Kargianis is a member of the following organizations:
American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL)
The American College of Trial lawyers is regarded by lawyers as the most prestigious legal organization in the country. It's membership is limited to one percent of trial lawyers in the state who are invited to join on the basis of demonstrating high standards of ethical conduct, trial skills and administration of justice
Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ACTLA)
This organization is dedicated to promoting and protecting consumer safety, the right to trial by jury, and America's civil justice system.
Best Lawyers in America (BLA)
Best Lawyers in America is widely regarded as the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Best Lawyers is compiled through an exhaustive peer-review survey in which thousands of the top lawyers in the U.S. confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, Best Lawyers has gained the respect of the legal profession, the media, and clients as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.
Trusted legal counsel having represented Brotherhood associations for many years.
Damage Attorneys Round Table (DART)
Members of this organization must possess skills in placing that individual in the upper five percent of all trial lawyers in Washington state. These attorneys must be engaged in the representation of claimants seeking damages for bodily injury. There are only 16 members in the State of Washington. Membership is by invitation only.
International Society of Barristers (ISB)
This organization is limited to those advocates who by virtue of their resourcefulness, courage, and other professional qualities, have distinguished themselves as outstanding in the field of advocacy. Membership is by invitation only.
Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ)
WSAJ, established in 1953, commands nationwide respect as one of the most active and effective trial lawyer associations in the country.
Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)