Leonard Feldman

Leonard J. Feldman

Distinguished Professor from Practice

 Sullivan Hall 463

 206-398-4083

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EDUCATION

  • BS in Psychology, University of Washington, summa cum laude, 1987
  • JD, Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, 1991

Biography

Leonard Feldman was appointed to the Washington Court of Appeals in March 2023. He joined the law school in 2020 after almost thirty years practicing law in Seattle. He attended the University of Washington, where he graduated summa cum laude in Psychology in 1987. After college, he attended Harvard Law School, where he was twice awarded the Sears Prize (given to the top two students on the basis of grades) and graduated magna cum laude in 1991. He then served as a law clerk to Judge Jerome Farris of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Following his clerkship, Judge Feldman practiced as a litigation attorney at Heller Ehrman (1992-2008), Stoel Rives (2008-14), and Peterson Wampold Rosato Feldman & Luna (2014-23). As an attorney, Judge Feldman focused on appellate practice before the Ninth Circuit and the Washington appellate courts. He was counsel of record and argued in the United States Supreme Court in City and County of San Francisco v. Sheehan, Case No. 13-1412 (2015), and County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, Case No. 16-369 (2017).

Before he joined the Court of Appeals, Judge Feldman was Chair, Vice-Chair, and a member of the King County Bar Association's Appellate Section, a member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association, a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a District Coordinator for the Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Program, and a member of the Ninth Circuit's mentor program. He is a frequent writer and speaker on topics relating to appellate practice. Among other articles, he has co-authored three articles with Washington Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Dwyer regarding appellate brief writing, oral argument, and discretionary review.

Judge Feldman was previously selected as one of Washington's Top 10 Appellate Law Lawyers by Washington Law and Politics and has received two Certificates of Appreciation from the Ninth Circuit, one for his work as a Pro Bono Coordinator and the other for teaching an appellate practice course at the University of Washington School of Law that provided students with an opportunity to brief and argue a pro bono appeal in the Ninth Circuit. In 2006, he received the Washington State Bar Association's Pro Bono Award for his work in appeals that raise important civil rights issues.

Judge Feldman currently teaches torts and previously taught federal courts. He was nominated to receive the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2021 and 2023 and is a co-author of Keeton, Sargentich, Keating, Fleming, and Feldman’s Tort and Accident Law (5th ed. 2023).

Publications

  • Keeton, Sargentich, Keating, Fleming, and Feldman’s Tort and Accident Law (5th ed. 2023)
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "‘Make My Day!' -- The Relevance of Pre-Seizure Conduct in Excessive Force Cases," 4 Howard Human and Civ. Rights L. Rev. 27 (2020)
  • Leonard Feldman and Ann Rosato, "The First-Party/Third-Party Debate under the Insurance Fair Conduct Act," King County Bar Bulletin - March 2018
  • Leonard Feldman and Nate Roberts, "Applying the Americans with Disabilities Act to Arrest Situations - Sheehan v. San Francisco," Washington State Association for Justice Trial News - March 2015
  • Judge Stephen J. Dwyer, Leonard J. Feldman, and Hunter O. Ferguson, "The Confusing Standards for Discretionary Review in Washington and a Proposed Framework for Clarity," 38 Seattle Univ. L. Rev. 91 (Winter 2014)
  • Leonard J. Feldman, W. Christopher Pooser, and Sara M. Berry, "Can Sigmund Freud Help Us Improve Our Trial Skills and Legal Writing?" The Advocate (Idaho State Bar Association) - March 2012
  • Hunter O. Ferguson and Leonard J. Feldman, "Claim Consolidation - Is One A Lonely Number?" King County Bar Association Bar Bulletin - March 2011
  • Malaika M. Eaton, Leonard J. Feldman, and Jerry C. Chiang, "The Continuous Ownership Requirement in Shareholder Derivative Litigation: Endorsing a Common Sense Application of Standing and Choice-of-Law Principles," Willamette Law Review (2010)
  • Leonard J. Feldman and P.K. Runkles-Pearson, "Looking Outside the Judicial Monastery: A Pragmatic Approach to Appellate Decision Making," Washington State Bar News - August 2010
  • James Verellen, Leonard J. Feldman, and Daniel A. Swedlow, "Partial Appeals in Multiple-Party and Multiple-Claim Cases: Tips and Traps from the Trenches and the Benches," Washington State Bar News - March 2010
  • Judge Stephen J. Dwyer, Leonard J. Feldman, and Robert G. Nylander, "Effective Oral Argument: Six Pitches, Five Do's, and Five Don'ts From One Judge and Two Lawyers," 33 Seattle Univ. L. Rev. 347 (Winter 2009)
  • Leonard J. Feldman and Jason T. Morgan, "Electronic Notice of Appearance: A Potential Nightmare," King County Bar Association Bar Bulletin - December 2009
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "The Ninth Circuit's Pro Bono Program: Making A Difference One Appellant At A Time," 55-MAY Fed. Law. 44 (May 2008)
  • Judge Stephen J. Dwyer, Leonard J. Feldman, and Ryan P. McBride, "How to Write, Edit, and Review Persuasive Briefs: Seven Guidelines from One Judge and Two Lawyers," 31 Seattle Univ. L. Rev. 417 (Spring 2008)
  • Leonard J. Feldman and Kenneth E. Payson, "The Clerks' Rules of Appellate Procedure," 27 Appellate Practice Journal 20 (Winter 2008)
  • Court of Appeals Commissioner James Verellen, Ryan P. McBride, and Leonard J. Feldman, "A Guide to Appellate Motions on the Merits," King County Bar Association Bar Bulletin - December 2007
  • Daniel A. Zariski, Leonard J. Feldman, Malaika M. Eaton, and Darin M. Sands, "Mootness in the Class Action Context: Court-Created Exceptions to the ‘Case or Controversy' Requirement of Article III," 26 Review of Litig. 77 (Winter 2007)
  • Leonard J. Feldman, Rima J. Alaily, and Chad D. Farrell, "Independent Ink At The Crossroads Of Antitrust And Intellectual Property Law - The Court's Holding Regarding Market Power In Cases Involving Patents And Implications In Cases Involving Copyrights," 30 Seattle Univ. L. Rev. 407 (Winter 2007)
  • Leonard J. Feldman and Charles Ha, "Avoiding Liability For Securities Fraud: The Legal Significance Of Integration (And Non-Reliance) Clauses Under State And Federal Law," Washington State Bar News - May 2006
  • Leonard J. Feldman, Daniel A. Zariski, and Malaika M. Eaton, "Limitation of Suit: A Call for Equitable Tolling," Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Insurance Law Section Vol. 12 Number 2 (Winter 2006)
  • Leonard J. Feldman, Daniel A. Zariski, and Malaika M. Eaton, "The Equitable Tolling Doctrine In First Party Insurance Coverage Matters: Analysis, Benefits, And An Illustrative Case Study," Tort Trial & Insurance Law Journal Vol. 41, Number 1 (Fall 2005)
  • Peter A. Danelo, Leonard J. Feldman, Malaika M. Eaton, and Aneelah Afzali, "Litigating in the New Class Action World: An Update on the Evolving Case Law Under the Class Action Fairness Act," Analysis & Perspective Vol. 06 Number 18 - September 23, 2005
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "The 9th Circuit Pro Bono Program: Public Service and Personal Satisfaction," Washington State Bar News - December 2003
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "Evidence Rule 408: Settlement Aid Or Potential Trap For The Unwary?" King County Bar Bulletin - January 2001
  • Mark S. Parris & Leonard J. Feldman, "The Year 2000 Litigation Explosion: Will Your Insurer Pay For It?" Washington CEO - June 1999
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "Duffy v. Riveland - Some Comments Regarding The Court's January 20, 1998 Summary Judgment Ruling," Prison Legal New - February 1999
  • Mark S. Parris & Leonard J. Feldman, "The Year 2000 Problem: A Business Attorney's Perspective," Business Law Newsletter - Fall 1998
  • David C. Fathi, Jeff B. Crollard & Leonard J. Feldman, "Deaf Prisoners in Washington Seek Class-Wide Relief," Prison Legal News - February 1998
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "Ninth Circuit Rules on Washington ADA Suit," Prison Legal News - January 1997
  • Leonard J. Feldman and Meryl Mackin, "Primer on Pricing Practices and the Antitrust Laws," 22 Antitrust Litigator 3 - September, 1994
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "Discovery of Attorney Bills," Washington State Bar News - September 1993
  • Leonard J. Feldman, "The Interstate Compact: A Cooperative Solution to Complex Litigation in State Courts," 12 Review of Litig. 137 (Fall 1992)