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Brendan Murphy

Partner

Brendan Murphy

Brendan litigates product liability and commercial disputes in both U.S. and cross-border matters.

Brendan Murphy defends aviation, automotive, industrial, high-tech, and consumer products manufacturers throughout the United States. He also litigates on behalf of uncrewed aerial vehicle operators and manufacturers.

In Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) concerns, Brendan represents manufacturers, importers, and sellers, including on reporting and recalls.

Brendan also counsels clients on contracts and helps them understand and manage product liability risk. As part of his counseling practice, he presents product liability, risk management, and CPSC compliance training.

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2000
  • Middlebury College, B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1995

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington
  • Alaska
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska

Related Employment

  • Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, Cambridge, Executive Director, 1999-2000
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Washington, D.C., Honors Paralegal, 1995-1997

Clerkships

  • Hon. A. Randolph, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Professional Recognition

  • Ranked in Chambers USA "America’s Leading Lawyers" for Product Liability: Regulatory, 2024

  • Listed in Washington Law & Politics, "Washington Rising Star," 2010, 2013

  • Recommended by The Legal 500: Litigation: product liability and mass tort defense - aerospace/aviation, 2015

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • Defense Research Institute
  • King County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Deputy Prosecutor
  • Presented product liability workshops and trainings for multiple clients
  • Regular judge for University of Washington moot court competitions
  • Presenter of deposition CLE course
  • Speaker at aviation conferences 

Community Involvement

  • Seattle Opera, Board Member

Professional Experience

Product Liability

International Arbitration in Montreal

Represented helicopter engine manufacturer in Montreal arbitration. Obtained judgment for client on product defect claims and indemnity and insurance provisions of contract.

Jett8 v. Boeing

Represented aircraft manufacturer in 747 hull loss claim. Obtained dismissal of claims under Singapore economic loss rule.

Basile & Varosi v. Precision Airmotive LLC

State Court of Florida
Represented fuel control manufacturer in wrongful death case in Gainesville, FL. Obtained summary judgment under the General Aviation Revitalization Act.

Little v. Precision Airmotive LLC

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Represented fuel control manufacturer in wrongful death case in Los Angeles, CA.

Hansen v. General Motors Company

Arbitration in Seattle
Represented transmission manufacturer in claim of defective motor home and obtained judgment for client following trial.

Von Ditter v. Allison Transmission Inc.

Arbitration in Seattle
Represented transmission manufacturer in claim of defective motor home and obtained judgment for client following trial.

ERA Helicopters LLC v. Turbomeca

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Obtained dismissal of hull suit based on economic loss rule. Dismissal affirmed on appeal. 536 F.3d 351 (5th Cir. 2008).

British Airways Plc v. ASI, et al.

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Summary judgment for manufacturer in Colorado; indemnity claim arising from product fire and wrongful death.

Cockrill & Voelker v. Various Defendants

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Represented aviation manufacturer in suit claiming kidney disease was caused by exposure to cadmium in aviation products. Obtained favorable settlement.

Imes and Ochandarena v. Cequent

Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Obtained summary judgment for manufacturer in separate lawsuits claiming injury from winch.

Litigation

State of Alaska Right-of-Way Litigation

Represented lessor of large commercial property in challenge to State of Alaska’s attempt to impose fees for encroachment permit on State right-of-way. Obtained summary judgment in Superior Court holding imposition of fees unconstitutional. Obtained judgment for client following trial on the State’s denial of encroachment permit.

King County Special Deputy Prosecutor

Served as Special Deputy Prosecutor in King County and tried several felony cases to jury verdict.

Stack Ash Discharge Arbitration

Represented car manufacturer in arbitration involving damage to approximately 8,000 vehicles stored at port caused by acidic stack discharge from passing ship. Following trial, the arbitrator adopted client’s interpretation of liability terms of the contract but held that force majeure clause applied.

Kauffman v. Terex

King County Superior Court (Washington)
Represented company and employee in negligence action. Obtained defense verdict following jury trial.

Copple v. General Motors Company

Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Represented car manufacturer in breach of warranty trial. Obtained unanimous defense verdict following jury trial.

Walston v. Boeing

Obtained an important decision from the Washington Supreme Court on workers’ compensation immunity. The plaintiff claimed that his former employer deliberately intended to injure him through exposure to asbestos. The Supreme Court held that Washington’s workers’ compensation exclusivity rule barred the claims because exposure to asbestos was not certain to cause injury to any employee. The decision is reported at 334 P.3d 519 (Wash. 2014).

Appellate

Stiner v. Amazon.com, Inc.

Ohio Supreme Court
Argued and obtained a 7-0 ruling on behalf of Amazon.com, Inc. regarding the cutting-edge issue of liability for third-party sellers on websites.

Amazon.com, Inc., Appellant, v. Morgan McMillan, Individually and as Next Friend of E.G., a Minor, Appellee

Texas Supreme Court
Obtained favorable ruling for Amazon.com, Inc. in a matter involving the third-party seller issue. The Texas Supreme Court issued a 5-2 ruling, holding that Amazon is not liable as a seller of products sold by a third party.

Corbitt v. Experimental Aircraft Association

State Court of Appeals of Washington
Appellate counsel for one of two defendants who had $10.5 million joint and several judgment entered against them in lawsuit arising from airplane crash at Arlington air show. Briefed and argued the appeal and obtained judgment as matter of law for client. 2008 Westlaw 4542871 (October 13, 2008).

Crow v. Boeing

State Court of Appeals of Washington
Represented Boeing in claim of workplace injury. Obtained summary judgment under Washington’s workers’ compensation exclusivity statute. Briefed and argued the appeal and judgment for Boeing was affirmed. 118 P.3d 894 (August 1, 2005).

Bennett v. Southwest Airlines Company

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Represented Boeing in Seventh Circuit appeal on issue of federal jurisdiction over claims arising from runway overrun. 484 F.3d 907 (7th Cir 2007)

Blanton v. Precision Airmotive LLC

Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Briefed new trial motion and appeal following adverse verdict in Pennsylvania state court. The case settled for substantially less than the verdict amount before argument.

Schine v. Precision Airmotive LLC

Court of Appeals of California
Briefed appeal following defense verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court. The court of appeals affirmed the defense verdict.

CPSC

Represented manufacturers, importers, and sellers in CPSC proceedings and recalls.

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