Michael T. Pfau, Attorney

Professional History

• Partner PFAU COCHRAN VERTETIS KOSNOFF, PLLC
• Previously a Partner with Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson & Daheim in Seattle, Washington since 1996
• Attorney with Baker & McKenzie, Chicago, 1991-94
• As a trial lawyer, Mr. Pfau has tried in excess of 50 cases to juries, the bench and arbitration panels. He has obtained multiple verdicts in excess of $1 million and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements for his clients in a variety of cases. He has represented both individuals and businesses in disputes.
• Mr. Pfau specializes in representing victims of childhood sexual abuse against perpetrators and the institutions that employ and protect sexual predators. Mr. Pfau has represented hundreds of victims of childhood sexual abuse and as lead counsel has recovered in excess of $85 million in cases against the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormon Church), the State of Washington, the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the Boy Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, and a variety of schools, religious organizations and other corporations and employers.
• Mr. Pfau has represented victims in sexual abuse cases in Washington, California, Idaho, Illinois, New Jersey, Alaska and Louisiana.

Representative Cases

• Catholic Diocese of Spokane
  Mr. Pfau was co-lead counsel representing 75 victims of childhood sexual abuse in multiple lawsuits against the Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Mr. Pfau and his clients were instrumental in negotiating a $48 million settlement for more than 100 sex-abuse victims from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane who were molested by priests and other church officials. The settlement incorporates concessions requested by victims, including a written apology from the church, places for victims to speak and write about their ordeals, and a promise from Catholic officials to stop calling them "alleged" victims.
• Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and other Catholic entities
  Mr. Pfau has represented hundreds of victims of childhood sexual abuse by priests and employees of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and other Catholic entities in Seattle, including the Society of Jesus, the Christian Brothers of Ireland, and the Benedictines. Mr. Pfau has recovered over $45 million in settlements for victims of childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by the employees of these entities.
• Jane Doe v. Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , 141 Wash.App.407, 167 P.3d 1193 (2007). Mr. Pfau acted as co-lead counsel in this case that was tried to verdict in 2005. Following trial, a jury awarded two young women $4.2 million for sexual abuse perpetrated by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints {a.k.a. the Mormon Church). The verdict is believed to be one of the largest verdicts against a religious organization for the sexual abuse of children in the state of Washington.
• B.B. v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, et al , King County Superior Court Cause No.: 06-2-14120-2. Mr. Pfau obtained a $1.1 million settlement on behalf of a victim of childhood sexual abuse by a Christian Brother employed as a principal at a Catholic grade school in Seattle. This is believed to be one of the largest single victim, Catholic clergy settlements involving the Archdiocese of Seattle.
• Briscoe School / Christian Brothers litigation
  Mr. Pfau has represented 30+ victims of sexual and physical abuse at the now defunct Briscoe Memorial School and at O'Dea High School. These cases have settled in the aggregate in excess of $16 million.
• Loomis, et al. v. City of Puyallup Police Department, et al, U.S.D.C. Cause No.: C02-5417. Mr. Pfau tried this case as lead counsel against the Puyallup Police Department on behalf of the parents of a mentally ill man who was killed by a Puyallup Police Officer.
  After obtaining a favorable verdict on liability, the case settled in the middle of trial for $940,000.
• R.C. et al. v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archbishop of Seattle, et al., King County Superior Court Cause No.02-2-16505-2. Mr. Pfau represented 16 victims of abuse by Seattle priest Father James McGreal. The case settled for $8.6 million.
• Kenneth Fleming, et al. v. Church of Latter Day Saints, U.S.D.C. Cause No.: C04-2338. Mr. Pfau represented four victims of sexual abuse by a Mormon scout master. Three of the cases settled for a confidential amount. Mr. Pfau tried a fourth case to verdict against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormon Church) in 2006. The jury returned a gross verdict of $1.4 million. Related cases against a Mormon High Priest have settled for $ 1 million.
• PI, P2, P3 v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archbishop of Seattle, et al., King County Superior Court Cause No.: 04-2-15884-2. Mr. Pfau represented two victims of abuse by Seattle priest Father John Cornelius. The cases settled for $ 1,075,000.
• J.S. v. The Corporation of the Catholic Archbishop of Seattle, Cause No.: 04-2-40947-1. Mr. Pfau has represented three brothers abused by Fr. Ed Boyle, a priest of the Seattle Archdiocese. The cases have settled for $2.4 million.