Our Attorneys, Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Our Attorneys

Daniel L. Hannula

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 Trial Lawyers Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.

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Vernon W. Harkins

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 Trial Lawyers Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, Designated Legal Counsel for the United Transportation Union.

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Daniel R. Kyler

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 Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the Pierce County Bar Association

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Harold T. Dodge, Jr.

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 Trial Lawyers Association

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John R. Wilson

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 Trial Lawyers Association.

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Michael J. Fisher

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 Trial Lawyers Association.

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William J. Rush

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

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 Trial Lawyers Association and Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

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Our Paralegals

The success of a case does not result from the work of the attorney alone. The attorney's staff is critical. Their dedication to a case or a client's cause is a significant factor in the results received. The attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L.P. are supported by a highly skilled professional staff of paralegals and legal assistants. For biographical and contact information for our staff, select a name below.

D'Ann Graf

D'Ann Graf is the newest addition to our professional staff and 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 Vernon Harkins and Daniel Kyler performing the duties of a litigation paralegal.

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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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Our Legal Assistants

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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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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