Jill D. Bowman
Experience
Jill Bowman is a partner of the firm practicing in the Litigation practice group. She
regularly handles federal and state court cases and appeals involving a broad range of
corporate and commercial matters, including claims brought under federal and state
securities laws, state unfair practices laws, business torts, and labor and employment
issues.
Representative Work
Representative Class Action Cases

Representing multinational corporation and subsidiary in putative class action
involving claim that defendants breached employment contracts. Class
certification vacated. (Lee v. ITT Corp., 534 F. App'x 626 (9th Cir. 2013).
Interlocutory appeal pending of second class certification order. (Ninth Circuit
Partner
Court of Appeals, Docket No. 14-35186).)

Representing defendant in putative class actions concerning genetically modified
wheat. (In re Monsanto Company Genetically-Engineered Wheat Litig., U.S.
Seattle, WA
(206) 386-7627 direct
(206) 386-7500 fax
District Court, District of Kansas, MDL No. 2473.)

Represented defendants in class action where named plaintiffs allege they were
improperly classified as independent contractors and denied employee benefits.
After class decertification, resolved in clients' favor on summary judgment.
(Babich v. Farmers Ins. Exch., King County Superior Court, State of Washington,
jill.bowman@stoel.com
Education

Law, J.D., 1981
Case No. 06-2-16860-7SEA.)

Represented defendants in putative class action involving claim that auto dealers
Whitman College, B.A., 1978, cum
clients' favor on appeal. (Johnson v. Camp Auto., Inc., Washington State Court of
Phi Beta Kappa
Represented defendants in multi-state wage and hour class actions and federal
Exch., King County Superior Court, State of Washington, Case No. 01-2-217992SEA; In re Farmers Ins. Exch. Claims Representatives' Overtime Pay Litig., U.S.
District Court, District of Oregon, MDL No. 1439.)
Defended telecommunications company in consumer class action lawsuit based
on allegations of deceptive billing practice. Obtained a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of
the case prior to class certification and affirmance of the dismissal on appeal.
(Hopkins v. GTE, 89 Wn. App. 1, 947 P.2d 1220 (1997).)


laude
wage and hour collective action. Resolved in clients' favor. (Petre v. Farmers Ins.

Moot Court Honor Board
unlawfully charged customers state business and occupation taxes. Resolved in
Appeals, Division III, Case No. 26667-2-111.)

University of Washington School of
Helped defend utility company in lawsuit brought by flood victims asserting
claims for negligent flood control, negligent failure to warn and breach of
Admissions

Washington

U.S. District Courts for the Western
and Eastern Districts of Washington

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth
and Federal Circuits

U.S. Supreme Court
Jill D. Bowman
contract. Class certification denied. (Rainey v. PacifiCorp, Clark County Superior Court, State of Washington, No. 96-2-00977-0.)

Worked with lead counsel in representation of Alaska's largest private employer, which was sued in federal and state courts for
alleged violations of federal and state wage and hour laws. Played key role in developing strategies and briefing, with resul t
that federal class was substantially diminished in size and cases eventually settled. (Clark v. Carr-Gottstein Foods Co., U.S.
District Court, District of Alaska, Docket No. A94 0587-CV; Kirby v. Carr-Gottstein Foods Co., Superior Court, State of Alaska,
Third Judicial District of Anchorage, Case No. 3AN-94-10873 CI.)
Representative Appellate Cases
Federal Court Appeals

Obtained vacatur of class certification order. (Lee v. ITT Corp., 534 F. App'x 626 (9th Cir. 2013).)

Obtained affirmance of summary judgment in defendant's favor on former employee's claim involving stock options. (Tuggle v.
Columbia Sportswear, Inc., 77 F. App'x 438 (9th Cir. 2003).)

Obtained affirmance of summary judgment in favor of employer in action brought by former employee for outrage and violation
of federal and state antidiscrimination laws, based on allegation that employer failed to accommodate former employee's
disability. (Jensen v. GTE Nw., Inc., 7 F. App'x 778 (9th Cir. 2001).)

Obtained affirmance of summary judgment in favor of employer in action involving Fair Labor Standards Act wage and hour
claims asserted by former employees. (Bruns v. Municipality of Anchorage, 182 F.3d 924 (9th Cir. 1999) (unpublished).)

Obtained affirmance of summary judgment in favor of employer in action brought by former employee asserting claims for race
discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and for constructive discharge. (Chiles v. Kaiser
Permanente Med. Care Program, 164 F.3d 629 (1998) (unpublished memorandum decision).)

Obtained reversal of judgment on appeal. Former CEO of company had obtained a judgment against his former employer for
allegedly violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) when it refused to pay him severance benefits he
claimed were due under the terms of his employment agreement. (Delaye v. Agripac, Inc., 39 F.3d 235 (9th Cir. 1994), cert.
denied, 115 S. Ct. 1402 (1995).) Appellate court held that severance pay provision in employment contract was not an ERISA
plan. Followed in Velarde v. PACE Membership Warehouse, Inc., 105 F.3d 1313, 1316 (9th Cir. 1997), and cited in Cvelbar v. CBI
Ill. Inc., 106 F.3d 1368, 1375 n.7 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 56 (1997).

Obtained affirmance of summary judgment in favor of employer in action brought by former employee asserting claims for race
and sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Love v. Harsh Inv. Corp., 983 F.2d 1076 (table), 1993 WL
4811 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 114 S. Ct. 401 (1993).)
State Court Appeals

Obtained discretionary review of adverse negligence verdict; settled after briefing and oral argument. (Aurdal v. Huntingford,
176 Wn.2d 1011, 297 P.3d 707 (2013) (table).)

Represented lender involved in mechanic's lien dispute; obtained reversal of adverse summary judgment. (Olson Eng'g, Inc. v.
KeyBank Nat'l Ass'n, 171 Wn. App. 57, 286 P.3d 390 (2012).)
Jill D. Bowman

Obtained reversal of summary judgment on claims for violation of state tax and consumer protection laws. (Johnson v. Camp
Auto., Inc., 148 Wn. App. 181, 199 P.3d 491, review denied, 166 Wn.2d 1019 (2009).)

Represented insurer in dispute with former agent, in connection with termination of contract for personal services. Obtained
affirmance of summary judgment in insurer's favor. (Pearson v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., Docket No. 58550-9-1 (Wash. Ct. App.
2007), review denied, 164 Wn.2d 1002 (2008).)

Obtained affirmance of summary judgment dismissal of action for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and
indemnity. (Donald B. Murphy Contractors, Inc. v. King Cnty., 111 Wn. App. 1017, 49 P.3d 912 (2002).)

Obtained affirmance of dismissal of putative consumer class action. (Hopkins v. GTE Nw., Inc., 89 Wn. App. 1, 947 P.2d 1220
(1997).)

Obtained reversal of judgment holding shareholder jointly and severally liable for corporation's debt. (Treuter v.
Christopherson, Docket No. 39173-9-I (Wash. Ct. App. 1997) (unpublished), review denied, 134 Wn.2d 1026 (1998).)

Obtained affirmance of dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction. (Geo-Culture, Inc. v. Siam Inv. Mgmt. S.A., 147 Or. App. 536,
936 P.2d 1063 (1997).)

Obtained affirmance of order regarding claim of third party to garnished assets. (Boers v. Payline Sys., Inc., 145 Or. App. 1, 928
P.2d 1010, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (CBC) 895 (1996), review denied, 936 P.2d 987 (Or. 1997).)

Obtained affirmance of dismissal of action on judicial estoppel grounds. (Presley v. Skiver Constr. Co., Docket No. A98430 (Or.
Ct. App. 1998) (affirmed without opinion).)

Obtained reversal of denial of motion for partial vacation of dissolution decree. (In re Marriage of Vazquez, Docket No. 18210-6II (Wash. Ct. App. 1996) (unpublished).)
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Obtained affirmance of dismissal of tort action. (Hadley v. Cowan, 60 Wn. App. 433, 804 P.2d 1271 (1991).)
Representative Trial Matters

Represented employer in lawsuit arising out of employee's termination. Obtained summary judgment on claims of age
discrimination and wrongful discharge, and a unanimous jury verdict on former employee's claims of disability discrimina tion,
breach of promise of specific treatment and interference with state Family Leave Act rights. (Willhite v. Farmers Ins. Grp., et
al., King County Superior Court, State of Washington, No. 12-2-23827-8SEA.)

Represented limited liability company and remaining LLC members in lawsuit filed by former LLC member. Obtained summary
judgment in defendants' favor on all of plaintiff's claims, including claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty,
breach of duty of loyalty, and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing. (Kim v. ACS Nw. Properties, LLC, et al., King County
Superior Court, State of Washington, No. 10-2-21896-3SEA.)

Represented ERISA plan defendant in lawsuit over medical and disability benefits. Case settled after defendant obtained order
setting aside default. (Osborne v. Recreational Equip., Inc. Grp. Life & Med. Plan, U.S. District Court, Western District of
Washington, Case No. 12-cv-01309-TSZ.)
Jill D. Bowman

Represented ERISA plan defendants in lawsuit over pension benefits. Case settled after defendants moved for summary
judgment. (Bianchi v. Med. Serv. Bureau of Idaho Inc. Employees' Defined Benefit Plan & Trust, U.S. District Court, District of
Idaho, Case No. CV 08-267-S-EJL.)

Part of team that represented plaintiff in a lawsuit over ownership and management of a limited liability company. Case
settled. (Dempsey v. Avenatti, King County Superior Court, State of Washington, No. 13-2-29955-1SEA.)
Professional Honors and Activities
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Volunteer, King County Housing Justice Project

Intake Committee, Legal Voice

Cooperating attorney, American Civil Liberties Union
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Cooperating attorney, Northwest Women's Law Center, 2002-2009

Speaker, University of Washington School of Law Continuing Legal Education Program: Ninth Circuit Appellate Practice, 1994,
1997
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Member, Litigation Section and Business Law Section, Washington State Bar Association
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Member, Appellate Section, King County Bar Association
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Cooperating attorney and joint recipient of 1990 Founder's Award, Northwest Women's Law Center
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1990 Member of the Year (joint recipient), Seattle-King County Chapter, Washington Women Lawyers
Publications
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Update to Washington section of Chapter 33, A Practitioner's Guide to Class Actions, ABA, 2012 Supplement

Washington section of Chapter 33, A Practitioner's Guide to Class Actions, American Bar Association, 2010
Civic Activities
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Former Trustee, Executive Committee, Chair of Issues Management Committee, Municipal League of King County
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Former chair and executive board member, Metropolitan Guild, Seattle Art Museum
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Volunteer for the Arboretum Foundation