LUVERA LAW FIRM - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Washington State Association for Justice

Andrew (Andy) Hoyal joined Luvera Law Firm in 1999. His practice is concentrated on the legal issues arising out of the firm's extensive litigation practice, both in the trial court and on appeal, with a particular focus on product liability cases against pharmaceutical companies. After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School in 1980, Hoyal practiced in Tennessee for 12 years, primarily trying civil rights cases in federal court, and representing the state in major litigation on behalf of the Departments of Correction and Education. In addition, Hoyal has extensive appellate experience in state and federal courts, including three years as a staff attorney for the Tennessee Supreme Court. Since arriving in Washington in 1982, Hoyal has practiced personal injury law, exclusively on the plaintiff's side, and has tried successful product liability cases in both state and federal courts in Washington. Hoyal wrote the briefs and presented the oral arguments in the Washington Supreme Court on behalf of successful plaintiffs in Lowy v. PeaceHealth, 174 Wn.2d 769 (2012) and Youngs v. PeaceHealth, 179 Wn.2d 645 (2014). He was also the principal author of the winning briefs in Rufer v. Abbott Laboratories, 154 Wn.2d 530 (2005); Godfrey v. Hartford Casualty Insurance Col, 142 Wn.2d 885 (2001); and Schooley v. Pinch's Deli Inc., 134 Wn.2d 468 (1998). Hoyal is a member of the Washington State Association for Justice and has lectured at WSAJ seminars on product liability, discovery, open courts, protective orders, and dram shop liability. He co-authored the chapter on medical products in the Washington Product Liability Deskbook. He serves on the WSAJ Court Rules Committee, and was listed among U.S.News‘ Best Lawyers in America in 2024. Hoyal earned a bachelor's degree with high honors from the University of Tennessee, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He also has a Master's degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Born in Nashville, Tenn., he and his wife live in Seattle, with their son. Education Bachelor of Arts, high honors, University of Tennessee Master's Degree, University of Chicago Divinity School Juris Doctorate, Vanderbilt University

Job Titles:

• Member of the King County

Deborah Martin joined Luvera Law Firm in 1999, to devote her efforts exclusively to advocating for people with personal injury claims. Her practice focuses on the legal issues associated with the firm's extensive litigation practice, both at the trial court level and on appeal. Martin co-authored the WSAJ Medical Negligence Deskbook chapters on informed consent and loss of chance. Beginning her career with the Seattle law firm of Helsell Fetterman LLP, Martin became a partner in 1993. She remained there until 1998 as a member of the firm's general litigation department, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation and employment matters. Martin has been an active member of the King County and Washington State Bar Associations, and a longtime Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice. She was listed among U.S.News' Best Lawyers in America in 2024. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, as a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in 1981. She received her Juris Doctorate degree, with honors, from the University of Washington School of Law in 1986. Born in Torrance, Calif., Martin now resides with her husband in Seattle. Education B.A. in Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa, University of California at Berkeley Juris Doctorate, with honors, University of Washington School of Law

George Ahrend joined the Luvera Law Firm team in an of-counsel role in 2022, co-anchoring the firm's Spokane, Wash. office. Ahrend brings 25 years of trial and appeals experience in business and civil litigation, insurance coverage, and personal injury cases - many with the Luvera Law Firm team. For more than a decade, he practiced as the Ahrend Law Firm, holding wrongdoers accountable for injuries caused by negligent and drunk drivers, corporate and government misconduct, professional malpractice and abuse and neglect of vulnerable community members. With 195 reported decisions, including 118 precedent-setting published decisions, Ahrend's appellate work on behalf of clients and the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) has led to significant advancements for community members. In one of Ahrend's recent notable cases, Washington state courts adopted a new standard for premises liability, requiring commercial landowners to be proactive in making their properties safe for customers and tenants. Ahrend earned his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law, and also holds a master's in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Education Juris Doctor, Gonzaga University School of Law

Job Titles:

• Associate

Grant Gellatly joined Luvera Law Firm as an associate in 2017 after previously serving as a law clerk while earning his law degree. Gellatly supports case work across the firm's practice areas. In his role as a law clerk in 2015, Gellatly supported firm attorneys through mediations, depositions and focus groups, as well as preparing memoranda for pending cases, and analyzing opposing counsels' responses. In 2016, he worked as an extern for the Honorable David W. Christel, U.S. Magistrate Judge, United States District Court in Tacoma, where he drafted court orders and other materials, researched case and statutory law issues, and participated in chambers' meetings regarding cases before the Court. In 2014, Gellatly earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University, where he was consistently included on the Dean's List. He also played wide receiver and served as a captain on the school's Division I football team. In his senior season, he received the team's most valuable player award, was elected to First Team All-Ivy, and earned All-America recognitions, including Academic All-American. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 2017. A native of Issaquah, Washington, Gellatly enjoys alpine skiing, golfing and following local sports. He is also an active participant in community outreach and engagement, having served as a YMCA youth volunteer. Education Bachelor of Science, Cornell University Juris Doctor, University of Washington School of Law

Job Titles:

• Associate

Jack Gellatly is an associate at Luvera Law Firm, supporting case work across the firm's personal injury practice areas. Gellatly joined Luvera Law Firm after earning his law degree from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. During his time there, he served as a summer associate in the Washington, D.C. office of a large national law firm, primarily supporting the commercial litigation practice. He also worked as an extern in the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Additionally, Gellatly was actively involved with the student-led Political and Election Empowerment Project (PEEP), a pro bono public service organization geared towards voting rights, voting accessibility and democracy reform for historically marginalized and oppressed populations. He co-led the organization with his classmates and notes how eye opening the experience was, giving him an appreciation for the legal process when it comes to moving the needle on important issues. In the summer months between his undergraduate years, Gellatly gained a wealth of experience working in federal lawmakers' offices, including interning for Congressman Adam Smith in his district office in Renton, Wash. He also interned for Senator Patty Murray in Washington, D.C., where he says his experience assisting with constituent correspondence helped expand his client relations skills. Gellatly completed his undergraduate education at Cornell University, where he played on the university's Division I football team throughout his college career, serving as captain during his senior season. Education Bachelor's Degree, Cornell University Juris Doctor, University of California, Berkeley School of Law

Job Titles:

• Member of the Washington State Bar Association

John Gagliardi joined Luvera Law Firm in 2010, to focus on litigation for medical malpractice and other significant personal injury cases. Gagliardi began his legal career as an associate at Williams, Kastner & Gibbs in 1994. He then became an associate and a partner at Fain Sheldon Anderson & VanDerhoef, PLLC, representing health care providers in medical malpractice litigation. In 2002, he was recognized as the "Outstanding Litigation Associate" of the year by the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers organization. Gagliardi was also selected as a "Rising Star" by the Washington Law and Politics Journal multiple times. He was listed among U.S.News‘ Best Lawyers in America in 2024. Born and raised in Spokane, Wash., Gagliardi attended Gonzaga Preparatory School, graduating as a National Merit Finalist and one of the valedictorians of his class. In 1991, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Washington, as a Phi Beta Kappa member and magna cum laude graduate. He then earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1994. He was a Notes and Comments Editor for the Washington Law Review, and published "Back to the Future: Federal Mail and Wire Fraud Under 18 U.S.C. § 1345" in the Washington Law Review. Gagliardi is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Washington State Association for Justice. He currently lives in Bothell, Wash., with his wife and three children. Education B.A. in Business Administration, Phi Betta Kappa and magna cum laude, University of Washington Juris Doctorate, University of Washington School of Law

Patricia Anderson joined Luvera Law Firm in 1997. In February 2020, Patricia and David Beninger obtained a jury verdict in the United States District Court in Tacoma of over $10 million against Amtrak for a passenger injured in the 2017 DuPont derailment, and settled a second case against Amtrak for a significant sum just as trial was to begin. Patricia and David also 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, Patricia and David served as counsel for the family of victim Alan Justad. Of the $150 million, about $52 was awarded to the Justad family. For more case information and media coverage surrounding the verdict, click here.

Robert Gellatly joined Luvera Law Firm in 2000 to devote his practice entirely to injured people. He has been a trial lawyer for more than 30 years, handling a wide variety of personal injury, product defect, and medical malpractice cases. He was previously a partner at Helsell Fetterman LLP, where he defended lawsuits against hospitals, doctors, and product manufacturers. Recently, Gellatly's expertise won a $20 million settlement for a man who was paralyzed due to medical negligence while having his spine examined at Overlake Hospital Medical Center. He also served as trial counsel with Paul Luvera and Joel Cunningham in a product liability case that resulted in a $40 million-dollar verdict including punitive damages against a medical device company. Gellatly was named the Best Lawyers® 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation in Seattle, and received the same honor in 2017 and 2015. He also received the 2009 "Trial Lawyer of the Year" award by the Washington State Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a select group of plaintiff and defense lawyers. Consistently awarded an "AV Preeminent" rating by his peers, he holds the highest possible rating for ethical standards and legal ability in the Martindale-Hubbell Directory of Attorneys ©. Routinely included in top attorney guides, Gellatly is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America"© and "The Best Lawyers in Washington State" directories. He has also been selected as a "Super Lawyer"© for many years by fellow lawyers through annual statewide surveys conducted by Washington Law and Politics. In 2015, he was included in the "Nation's Top One Percent" of attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. He has also been chosen by judges and physicians to represent them in their own personal injury and medical malpractice claims. Gellatly has been elected as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is also a member of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group, American Board of Trial Advocates, American Association for Justice, American Bar Association, Washington State Association for Justice, Washington State Bar Association, and the King County Bar Association. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Puget Sound in 1982, Gellatly earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1985. Education Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, University of Puget Sound Juris Doctor, University of Washington School of Law