Our Attorneys, Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Daniel L. Hannula

Skills: Trial, negotiation, mediation, arbitration

Practice: Medical malpractice, personal injury (emphasis on diving and swimming accidents), products liability

Memberships: The American Board of Trial Advocates, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Washington State Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, the Washington State Bar Association, the Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.

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Vernon W. Harkins

Skills: Trial, negotiation, mediation, arbitration

Practice: Personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, workplace safety, fela / railroad injury claims

Memberships: Washington Sate Bar Association, Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association, American Bar Association, Washington State Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, the American Board of Trial Advocates, Designated Legal Counsel for the United Transportation Union.

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Daniel R. Kyler

Skills: Trial, negotiation, counseling

Practice: Personal injury, plaintiff insurance coverage, insurance defense, business tort litigation

Memberships: The American Board of Trial Advocates, the Washington State Association for Justice, the Washington State Bar Association, the Pierce County Bar Association

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Harold T. Dodge, Jr.

Skills: Writer, researcher, analyst, appellate work

Practice: Personal injury, products liability, inverse condemnation, real property damage, the thrift industry, business disputes, insurance defense

Memberships: Washington State Bar Association, Tacoma / Pierce County Bar Association, Washington State Association for Justice

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John R. Wilson

Skills: Trial, mediation, arbitration

Practice: All areas of personal injury (auto accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability, government liability), business litigation, insurance litigation

Memberships: Washington State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Tacoma / Pierce County Bar Association, Washington State Association for Justice.

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Michael J. Fisher

Skills: Trial, arbitration, mediation and negotiation.

Practice: Personal injury, wrongful death, worksite injuries, FELA/Railroad Injury claims, business torts and litigation, claims for and against general contractors.

Memberships: Washington State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, American Association for Justice and Washington State Association for Justice.

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William J. Rush

Skills: Trial, negotiation, mediation, arbitration

Practice: Significant personal injury and wrongful death cases

Memberships: American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates, Washington State Bar Association, Tacoma / Pierce County Bar Association (past president)

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Molly K. Crowley

Skills: Trial, arbitration and mediation

Practice: All areas of personal injury-auto accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, premises liability and government liability

Memberships: Washington State Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Washington State Association for Justice and Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

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D'Ann Graf

D’Ann Graf is a paralegal who has been with Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P., since 2002. She graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Justice. D’Ann works with attorneys Vern Harkins and Dan Kyler performing the duties of a litigation paralegal. In addition to scheduling and file organization and maintenance, D’Ann also drafts documents and pleadings, assists with trial preparation and assists clients in answering discovery. 

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Julie Mehegan

Julie Mehegan has been employed as a paralegal with law firms in the Tacoma Pierce County area for 19 years. Prior to coming to Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P., she was employed extensively in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. She currently serves as a litigation paralegal to Daniel Hannula and Harold T. Dodge, Jr.

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Cathy Valnes

Cathy Valnes started her legal career in 1988 in a small, yet very busy law firm where she wore every “hat” imaginable in providing a wide spectrum of pre-litigation and litigation support. She joined RHHK as a litigation paralegal in 2007 and assists John Wilson and Michael Fisher with monitoring client's medical care, summarizing medical records, preparation of pleadings, discovery responses and correspondence.

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Denise Johnson

Denise Johnson has been employed as a legal assistant with Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. for 25 years. In addition to answering client questions, Denise maintains and updates the calendar and schedules meetings, depositions and court hearings for attorneys Daniel Hannula and Harold T. Dodge, Jr. Denise also assists with typing documents and organizing and maintaining files.

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Vea Steppan

Vea Steppan has worked as a legal assistant in the Tacoma area for 36 years. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. was fortunate to have her join the firm in 2002. In addition to answering client questions, she helps attorney Daniel Kyler by typing documents, preparing motions and pleadings, organizing files, and scheduling.

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Kay Wetherbee

Kay Wetherbee has worked as a legal assistant in the Tacoma are for 20 years, spending the past 11 years here at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. Kay assists attorney Vernon Harkins with drafting documents, preparing pleadings, scheduling meetings and hearings, file organization and keeping the calendar.

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