Patrick A Brown, General Attorney in Tacoma, Washington

Patrick Brown was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany, and moved to the United States at the age of 21. Three years before his move to the United States, he lost his father — his best friend — to a tragic auto accident, which thrust him into responsibilities far beyond his understanding. Not only was Patrick traumatized by his loss, he also had to plan his father’s funeral and decide what to do next. He faced a mountain of insurance issues and other legal and financial decisions, and didn’t know where to begin. Overwhelmed, he acted on a suggestion from a family friend to contact an attorney for help. That lawyer became his lifeline, guiding Patrick through the various processes and advocating on his behalf in every way. Looking back, Patrick sees that the care and knowledge the lawyer provided were critical to overcoming the hurdles he faced. He believes that no one should have to go through a traumatic experience and take on insurance companies without an advocate, and that is why he chose to become a lawyer and be a voice for the voiceless.

At PCVA, Patrick advocates for childhood sexual abuse survivors; vulnerable adults; and victims of traumatic, life-altering events. His practice extends to handling cases involving government liability, property damage, motor vehicle accidents, bad faith insurance claims and wrongful death. Although Patrick knows that he cannot undo the traumatic events his clients have experienced or bring back the loved ones his clients have lost, he can fight for justice and hold the wrongdoers accountable.

Patrick can trace his success as an advocate for injured people to his desire to help and take care of others. Before becoming a lawyer, he had a career in the medical field, working with children with disabilities, the elderly and individuals recovering from traumatic physical injuries. He learned that listening is critical when trying to arrive at a diagnosis and solution. Consequently, his law practice is very people-centered. When working with PCVA clients who have been traumatized in some way, Patrick knows that to help them, he must connect with them. He’s unguarded and upfront in his approach. He puts clients at ease by letting them know he understands how uncomfortable it is for them to tell their stories. Showing emotion does not make him uneasy; instead, he embraces the opportunity to provide guidance that allows clients to speak freely. He also assures them they are in safe hands and that he will advocate for them until justice is served.

Although the challenges of advocating for injured people are many, especially in childhood sexual abuse cases, Patrick feels privileged to serve others in his capacity as a lawyer. He ensures that his PCVA clients receive the most caring and competent counsel possible. He appreciates working with a collaborative team to fight for justice and having some of the brightest minds in the legal community on his team to take on insurance companies and large corporations. Patrick doesn’t care how wealthy or powerful the other side is; he doesn’t back down and won’t give up until PCVA clients get the best result possible.

Outside the office, Patrick is a husband and a father of three active boys. He enjoys traveling with his family and playing sports with his kids. Patrick is an avid snowboarder, so during the winter months, he takes every opportunity to head to the mountains. In the summer months, you can find him with his family at area lakes, camping and jet skiing.

Honors

• King County Legal Scholar, 2018–19

• CALI Award in Legal Writing, 2018

• CALI Award in Contracts, 2018

• Fredric C. Tausend Moot Court Finalist, 2019

• Cheney/Metzger Legal Writing Finalist, 2018

Community Involvement

• Darrell Cochran

• Thomas Vertetis

• Kevin Hastings

• Loren Cochran

Representative Cases

• $6 million settlement with Kiwanis International for failing to protect children from sexual abuse at Kiwanis Vocational Home

• $4 million jury verdict for a client who was severely injured in a train derailment

• $3.25 million settlement with the State of Washington for a client who was sexually abused while in a foster care placement

• $2 million settlement with the Aberdeen School District for a victim who was sexually abused by a teacher

• $1.35 million settlement for survivor of physical and sexual abuse in the Washington foster care system

• $1.1 million settlement with the Tacoma School District for a victim who was sexually abused at school

• 1 million settlement for a victim who fell down stairs during a real estate open house showing

• $450,000 settlement with the State of Washington for a juvenile who was sexually abused at Juvenile Rehabilitation Institute Maple Lane School

• $450,000 settlement with the State of Washington for a victim who was sexually abused while in a foster care placement

• $400,000 settlement with the State of Washington for a state employee who was sexually harassed by his supervisor

• $300,000 settlement with the State of Washington for a boy who was sexually abused while placed at a state-licensed group home

• $225,000 settlement with a skilled nursing facility for the death of a resident caused by nurses’ negligent handling of lifesaving equipment

• $125,000 settlement for a vulnerable adult who was abused and neglected at an assisted living facility

• $50,000 settlement for a client who was injured in a motor vehicle accident

• $45,000 settlement for a bicyclist who was hit by a car

Professional Associations

• Washington State Association for Justice, EAGLE Member, 2020–present

• Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, 2020–present

• Tacoma-Pierce County Young Lawyers, Member, 2020; Trustee, 2021–present

• Pierce County Minority Bar Association, Member, 2020–present

• Palmer Scholar, Mentor, 2020–present

• Tacoma-Pierce County Minority Bar Association, 2020–present

• University of Washington Legal Pathways Mentor, 2021–present

• Seattle University School of Law, Mentor, 2021–present

• American Association for Justice, Member, 2021–present