Practice Areas:

• Litigation

Education:

• LL.B., Stanford University, 1965
• M.B.A., Columbia University, 1962
• B.A., Georgetown University, 1960, cum laude

Boards & Memberships:

• RiverBank, Chairman of the Board

William D. Symmes, Principal

Spokane

P: 509.624.5265

F: 509.458.2717

wds@witherspoonkelley.com

Legal Assistant: Janet Ferrell

Mr. Symmes has established a legacy of success with over 40 years of trial practice devoted to business, condemnation, real estate, lender liability cases, medical negligence, professional liability, and products liability defense. Mr. Symmes started his legal practice in Los Angeles and relocated to Spokane after three years. His expertise has been and continues to be a crucial component in a broad range of trials, many of which have involved economic development issues impacting the Spokane and Inland Northwest communities.

• Licensed to practice in Washington and California.
• Joined Witherspoon Kelley in 1968.

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat
• Best Lawyers in America, listed in Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Business Litigation and Antitrust, 1987-present
• Who’s Who in American Law
• Argued before U.S. Supreme Court

20 Representative Reported Decisions:

• Spokane Airports v. RMA, Inc., 149 Wn.App. 930 (2009) (Real estate).
• Sterling v. USA, 53 Fed. Cl. 599 (2002) (Banking).
• Green v. McAllister, 103 Wn.App. 454 (2001) (Business and Real estate).
• State v. Wandermere Co., 89 Wn.App. 369 (1998) (Eminent domain).
• Buffets, Inc. v. Klinke, 73 F.3d 965 (9th Cir. 1996) (Trade secrets).
• Pelton v. Tri-State Memorial Hospital, et al., 66 Wn.App. 350 (1992) (Medical negligence).
• Sterling v. Ryan, 751 F.Supp. 871 (E.D. Wash. 1990); 959 F.2d 241 (9th Cir. 1992) (Banking).
• Daly v. U.S., 946 F.2nd 1467 (9th Cir. 1991) (Fed. tort claim).
• University City, Inc. v. Price Development, 937 F.2d.614 (9th Cir. 1991) (Business and Antitrust issues involving a shopping center).
• George v. Parke-Davis, 107 Wn. 2d 584 (1987) (Product liability).
• Strickland v. Storey, 47 Wn.App. 262 (1987) (Medical negligence).
• Huntington v. Samaritan Hospital, et al., 101 Wn.2d 466 (1984) (Medical negligence).
• O’Brien v. SEC, 704 F.2d. 1065 (9th Cir. 1982); 467 U.S. 753 (1983) (Securities).
• State of Washington v. Comptroller of the Currency, Old National Bancorporation, et al., 633 F.2d 886 (9th Cir. 1980) (Branch exchange).
• Warren v. Washington Trust Bank, 19 Wn. App. 348 (1978), 92 Wn.2d 381 (1979) (Lender liability).
• Swift v. American Assurance, 22 Wn.App. 777 (1979) (Insurance).
• Old National Bank v. Rainier Bank, 18 Wn. App. 353 (1977) (Corporate banking).
• Witherspoon v. St. Paul, 86 Wn.2d 641 (1976) (Insurance).
• Howell v. Kraft,10 Wn.App. 266 (1973) (Real estate).
• Williams v. Western Surety, 6 Wn.App. 300 (1972) (Suretyship; UCC Art. 2).