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Mark C. Wagner

Injury Attorney

I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a trial lawyer and native son of the Puget Sound area. My father was a Psychologist for the United States Army. My mother was a Social Worker for the Red Cross. By 1962, my father was offered a teaching position in Psychology at the University of Washington so we packed up and moved to Seattle, Washington.

Learn More About Mark C. Wagner

I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a trial lawyer and native son of the Puget Sound area. My father was a Psychologist for the United States Army. My mother was a Social Worker for the Red Cross. By 1962, my father was offered a teaching position in Psychology at the University of Washington so we packed up and moved to Seattle, Washington. My father had a sabbatical from the University of Washington in which he taught students in foreign countries. I had the opportunity to live a year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1967 and London, England in 1973 – gaining some valuable experience in humanity and diversity. I made it back to Seattle to graduate from Shorecrest High School in 1975.

Today, I am a lawyer in Tacoma, Washington specializing in Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Law. I have a Juris Doctorate from the University of Puget Sound (1984) and after passing the Bar Exam on my first try, was admitted to practice in November of 1984. I also graduated from the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, and have a B.A. in History from the University of Washington.

I have lived here and worked out of my own law office ever since.

Recognition

  • Graduate of Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College
  • WSAJ Board of Governors Award (2006-2013)
  • WSAJ Champion for Injured Workers on 1082 Campaign (2010)
  • Washington Law & Politics: Super Lawyer (2010-2018)
  • ABOTA Member (American Board of Trial Advocates)
  • Soccer Coach for Harbor Winning Whales (5 Seasons – 2007 – 2012)
  • Board Member Committee – Life Center Senior Living Center (2002)
  • President of Bridgewood Homeowners Association (1995)
  • National Association of Distinguished Counsel: Nation’s Top One Percent
  • American Academy of Trial Lawyers: Premier 100 
  • The National Trial Lawyer: Top 100
  • Worker’s Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG): Top Injured Workers’ Attorneys 2015

Feel free to ask me any questions about my professional history or philosophy by calling 888-279-2002 or emailing me at mark@markcwagner.com.

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I have the highest possible rating on the Avvo.com website, am a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and am also listed with Super Lawyers for 2010 through 2014.

Chances are that I have worked with or know the reputation of your adjuster, claims manager, vocational rehabilitation counselor, and physicians. In my twenty-plus years of practice as a self-employed attorney (January 1986 to the present), I have represented thousands of individuals who have been injured at work and/or due to the negligence of other parties; I have handled innumerable jury trials, appeals, and administrative hearings.

I also represented my clients, as a courtesy, in criminal courts and with their Social Security disability claims and helps the Public Defender by handling a couple of cases a year for them.

I have been involved with several community boards and taught pre-trial advocacy as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Seattle University’s School of Law (1999-2004).

I enjoy teaching and that has been a part of my career. For the past few years, I have also been on staff with Steve Fury and his Trial Skills Academy. This is a one per month, nine-month program to give young lawyers some trial experience. I have spoken at many different CLE’s (Continuing Legal Education seminars) over the years.

For the past eight years, I have taught at the Bob Dawson Trial Workshop. This is a four-day event with thirty students/lawyers, and two instructors, Bob Dawson and myself.  To find out more about how I can help you when you have been hurt at work or injured because of someone’s wrongful actions, contact me today.

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Speaking Engagements

Trial Work Shop The Bob Dawson Trial Work Shop 2014
Justice System – Assisting Teachers in Junior High and High School Atticus Goes to School 2014
Powerful and Effective Opening Statements Lunch Presentation 2012
Current Trends in Other States (co-authored with Michelle Pizzo) Washington State Association for Justice CLE 2010
Comments on Opening Statement Botswana trial advocacy 2010
Workers’ Compensation Update Washington State Association for Justice CLE 2009
Trial Lawyers College and the Art of Jury Selection Washington State Trial Lawyers Association CLE, Co-Chair 2007
The Jury Trial: Friedman and Ball in Workers’ Compensation Washignton State Trial Lawyers Association CLE 2007
Witness Preparation: Keys to Effectiveness The Second Annual Solo & Small Conference 2007
The Art of Jury Selection Washington State Trial Lawyers Association CLE 2006
Workers Compensation Washington State Trial Lawyers Association CLE 2005
The Law: Direct Exam of Physiatrist Washington State Trial Lawyers Association CLE 2003
Working Effectively With the Attorney General’s Office to Resolve Issues at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (with Lisa D. Kelley, AAG) Washington State Trial Lawyers Association CLE 2003
Bringing Passion and a Sense of Justice to Smaller Cases Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention 2003
Avoiding Deposition Disasters Washington State Trial Lawyers Association CLE 2001
Workers’ Compensation: Chronic Pain and Permanent and Total Disability Washington State Trial Lawers Association CLE 2000

Publications

WSAJ’s WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DESKBOOK Editor, Mark C. Wagner 2012
Powerful and Effective Statements Materials for Presentation to WSAJ Pierce County Roundtable 2012
Honoring our EAGLE’s for Decades of Service Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2011
Democracy in America: Why Do We Complain So Much and Do So Little… Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2011
Comments on Opening Statement Botswana, Africa teaching materials 2010
Workers’ Compensation – A System Under Fire Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2010
Workers’ Compensation Handbook Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2010
Current Trends in Other States (co-authored with Michelle Pizzo) CLE Written Materials 2010
Washington Workers Need Your Help Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2010
WSAJ’s WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DESKBOOK Editor, Mark C. Wagner 2009
Debut of Workers’ Compensation Deskbook Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2009
“History of Workers’ Compensation in Washington” WSAJ Workers’ Compensation Deskbook: Chapter 1 2009
Workers’ Compensation Update CLE Written Materials 2009
The EAGLE Program: It’s the Right Thing To Do Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2009
You Are Just a Comp Lawyer Trial News (Washington State Association for Justice) 2009
Another Great Learning Opportunity Trial News (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association) 2008
A Day with Paul Luvera Trial News (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association) 2007
Witness Preparation: Keys to Effectiveness CLE Written Matierals 2007
The Jury Trial: Friedman and Ball in Workers’ Compensation CLE Written Matierals 2007
The Art of Jury Selection CLE Written Materials 2006
Spence Trial Lawyer College Trial News (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association) 2006
Workers’ Compensation CLE Written Materials 2005
Board Approves Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial News (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association) 2004
Working Effectively With the Attorney General’s Office to Resolve Issues at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (co-authored with Lisa D. Kelley, AAG) CLE Written Materials 2003
Bringing Passion and a Sense of Justice to Smaller Cases CLE Written Materials 2003
The Law: Direct Exam of Physiatrist CLE Written Materials 2003
Avoiding Deposition Disasters CLE Written Materials 2001
Workers’ Compensation: Chronic Pain and Permanent and Total Disability CLE Written Materials 2000
Category 1 to Permanent and Total Disabiilty? It’s Possible! Trial News (Washington State Trial Lawyers Association) 1998

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in American History, 1981 – University of Washington
  • Doctorate of Law, June 1984 – the University of Puget Sound (Currently known as Seattle University – School of Law)
  • Admitted to practice, November 1984

Atticus Goes to Class

I am the co-founder of the WSAJ (Washington State Association for Justice) Atticus Goes to School Program. Lawyers attend a school anywhere from elementary school to high school, to inspire students to enter the legal profession and to educate future voters and jurors. Lawyers have the opportunity to earn CLE credits as well.
Personally, I have completed over 25 speaking engagements within this program.

Teaching in Africa

For the past six years, I have taken yearly trips to Botswana, Africa with JAA (Justice Advocacy Africa) to train lawyers in Botswana. This is very rewarding work.

Africa
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