Derek Moore has been an Associate at Bishop Legal for nearly 20 years. He is a leading attorney in Washington State in workplace injury tort liability law. He argued Gildardo Crisostomo Vargas v. Inland Washington LLC et al. before the Supreme Court of Washington and prevailed. The Vargas case established that general contractors are responsible for making sure WISHA workplace safety regulations are followed on their construction sites, and that they are responsible for injuries caused by their subcontractors’ failures to comply.

Derek was also trial counsel in Afoa v. Port of Seattle along with Raymond Bishop and did much of the appellate briefing on this case, which went to the Supreme Court of Washington twice. In the Afoa cases, the Supreme Court found the Port of Seattle could be held responsible for injuries caused by unsafe work practices and WISHA violations on the tarmac or “ramp” area on Sea-Tac airport, and that entities that have the right to control the “manner and instrumentalities” of a workplace have responsibilities to make sure that workplace is safe. He has litigated other airport injury cases against the Port of Seattle as well as against King County, who owns and operates Boeing Field.

Education and Early Career

Derek Moore graduated from the University of Florida in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Business Administration. He was attracted to the world of finance early and subsequently graduated with an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida in 1998.

Prior to graduating magna cum laude from Seattle University School of Law in 2006, he had over eight years’ experience as an insurance adjuster working for big insurance companies. His insurance experience includes a wide range of work ranging from auto damage appraisals, home and commercial property damage claims, liability investigations, subrogation recovery, and negotiation and settlement of personal injury claims on behalf of the insurance companies.

Derek’s insurance industry experience exposed him to the inner workings of an industry that, while essential to society’s smooth functioning, often places profit above people and harms many honest folks in the process.

Legal Experience and Expertise

Derek has prevailed and obtained substantial recoveries for clients at all stages of litigation, including arbitration, mediation, jury trials, and appeals. Currently his largest practice area is in construction site injury claims and other workplace injury tort litigation. In addition to workplace injury litigation, his practice includes medical malpractice, product liability, municipal and government liability claims, school injury and assault claims, claims against insurance companies for “bad faith” and Insurance Fair Conduct Act violations, maritime claims, railroad collisions, motor vehicle collisions with catastrophic injuries, and all other practice areas handled by the firm.

Derek is also experienced in wrongful death cases including establishing probate estates, obtaining court orders appointing personal representatives, and managing the disbursement of final recoveries to the beneficiaries.

Professional Qualifications

Derek is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and admitted to practice in Washington State courts. He is also admitted to practice in federal court including both the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

If you are a seriously injured accident victim in Washington State who wants a dedicated, experienced, personal injury lawyer on your side, call Derek at Bishop Legal.