James V Hill, attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC, is a lifelong Washingtonian and has spent time calling both sides of the Cascades “home.” Jim has devoted his law practice to helping people obtain the benefits and compensation they deserve, both in personal injury cases as well as social security disability claims. After graduating with academic honors from Seattle University School of Law, Jim went to work at a law firm that provided legal defense for multiple insurance companies. Working as a lawyer for the insurance companies provided valuable experience and insight into how insurance companies do business, how they value claims, and what they look for when litigating a claim against a plaintiff. In 2002, with the knowledge and information he learned to work as an insurance defense attorney, Jim transitioned his legal practice to focus solely on representing injured people against the insurance companies. Jim’s experience working for insurance companies has given him the knowledge to bring a successful claim for injury and the insight to avoid the pitfalls that exist in the settlement and litigation process. Jim has successfully represented thousands of Washingtonians in personal injury claims. In 2005, Jim Hill had a handful of personal injury clients ask him for help with their applications for Social Security Disability benefits. After successfully helping these clients obtain disability benefits, Jim noticed similarities between the two areas of legal practice. In both instances, injured people need help fighting for the compensation that they deserved against entities much larger than an individual – whether the fight was against an insurance company or the federal government. Out of that experience grew a passion to help people with disabilities obtain their rightful benefits. When a physical or mental health condition leaves a person unable to work on a full time, sustained basis, Jim represents the client in all proceedings with the Social Security Administration to get his clients the disability benefits they need and deserve. Most clients have a hearing in front of a federal administrative law judge, and Jim makes sure that his cases are prepared thoroughly and presented in a manner that will best deliver a favorable ruling. Jim Hill continues to be busy with his vibrant and growing law practice at Russell & Hill, PLLC. He splits his time representing hundreds of local people in both personal injury claims and disability claims.

Rich Barker is a partner at Singleton Schreiber’s Spokane office, where he focuses on personal injury, whistleblower and False Claims Act matters, tribal litigation, public entity law, and wildfire litigation. He brings more than a decade of experience as a federal prosecutor and litigator, having served in senior leadership roles in both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington and the District of Columbia. Most recently, Mr. Barker served as the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, where he led the prosecution of federal criminal and civil cases across twenty counties. Barker led high-profile prosecutions, including a double homicide trial on the Colville Indian Reservation, a dark web murder-for-hire case, and the conviction of a major drug trafficker responsible for distributing over 100 pounds of narcotics across state lines. A career prosecutor, Barker also oversaw major fentanyl trafficking cases and helped establish a dedicated federal role to combat the opioid crisis in Spokane. As First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Barker oversaw the Criminal, Civil, and Appellate Divisions and held several key positions, including Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Coordinator, Digital Asset Coordinator, Tribal Liaison, and Public Affairs Officer. Over the course of his government service, he was lead counsel in hundreds of federal matters, ranging from white collar offenses to violent crimes, and tried more than 40 cases to verdict in federal courts across Washington and the Nation’s Capital. Barker is widely recognized for his commitment to tribal justice and was instrumental in hiring the first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) prosecutor for the Northwest United States. In 2024, he received a Department of Justice Director’s Award for his work with Native American communities and leadership on public safety initiatives. Before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Barker was a litigation associate at a major global law firm in Washington, D.C., where he represented institutional and individual clients in complex investigations and regulatory actions involving the SEC, DOJ, and other federal agencies. Mr. Barker began his legal career clerking for the Honorable G. Murray Snow of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and the Honorable J. Clifford Wallace of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, where he teaches Trial Advocacy and Conflicts of Law. Barker also serves on the Executive Committee for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, where he works with appellate and district judges, as well as other legal professionals, to plan and organize the Ninth Circuit’s annual judicial conference.

Dan Fruchter is a partner at Singleton Schreiber’s Spokane office and managing partner of the firm’s Whistleblower and False Claims Act practice group. Dan’s work is focused on consumer and financial fraud, environmental protection, personal injury, fire litigation, public entity, and civil rights law. Mr. Fruchter brings a wealth of experience from decades of Department of Justice service prosecuting False Claims Act, health care fraud, environmental violations, and other complex civil and criminal matters on behalf of the public. During a distinguished two-decade career prosecuting whistleblower and financial fraud cases on behalf of the public, Mr. Fruchter was repeatedly recognized by government and private bar colleagues. In 2023, Mr. Fruchter received the prestigious Director’s Award from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys; in 2024, the Anti-Fraud Coalition honored him with the “Honest Abe” Award for Integrity in Government for his False Claims Act work with whistleblowers on behalf of the public. Cases in which Mr. Fruchter has been lead attorney have returned billions of dollars to the public, held wrongdoers accountable, and protected vital public programs such as SNAP benefits, Medicare and Medicaid, veterans benefits programs, drug and food safety, housing programs, and public health and environmental priorities such as the vital environmental cleanup effort at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Eastern Washington. While with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington between 2017 and 2025, Mr. Fruchter served as Chief of the Fraud and White-Collar Crime Unit, prosecuting civil and criminal fraud, False Claims Act matters, health care fraud, environmental violations, civil rights abuses, and consumer protection cases. In addition to investigating and prosecuting violations of federal criminal and civil law, Mr. Fruchter partnered with whistleblowers, advocacy groups, community organizations, and federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to identify concerns and develop bold and innovative ways to address them by enforcing existing laws and increasing collaboration and communication. Before joining the Spokane U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2017, Mr. Fruchter served as Assistant United States Attorney and Health Care Fraud Coordinator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Madison, Wisconsin, and as a Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, handling False Claims Act matters involving government contractors, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, and banks and mortgage lenders. Prior to joining DOJ in 2009, Mr. Fruchter worked at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, handling high-stakes regulatory, contract, and tort matters. As a partner at Singleton Schreiber's Spokane office, Mr. Fruchter leads litigation for multiple cases in the Pacific Northwest region, including the Tunnel Five fire, Gray fire, and Rowena fire. Mr. Fruchter also lead’s Singleton Schreiber’s nationwide Whistleblower & False Claims Act practice group, investigating and litigating cases and coordinating with state and federal government investigators and prosecutors across the country on behalf of courageous whistleblowers who come forward to expose fraud and abuse of public programs and funds. These matters include health care providers, mortgage lenders, government contracts and grants, customs tariffs and duties, cybersecurity, and other high-stakes and sensitive matters requiring deep knowledge of government operations and investigations. Mr. Fruchter’s deep knowledge and experience in government investigations and enforcement strengthen Singleton Schreiber’s ability to hold corporations accountable and advocate for those harmed by corporate fraud and malfeasance. Mr. Fruchter is excited to bring this experience and passion to bear with Singleton Schreiber and to continue to work with whistleblowers to fight fraud and to advocate on behalf of individuals and communities that have been harmed by fraud, negligence, and wrongdoing. Mr. Fruchter received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Tulane University, and his J.D., with the highest honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law. He also serves on the Advisory Board and Membership Committee of the Federal Bar Association’s Qui Tam Section. When not practicing law, Mr. Fruchter enjoys cooking, making music, and spending time with his family outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, is a partner and founding member of Singleton Schreiber’s Washington office, focusing on environmental protection, wildfire litigation, public entity, consumer and financial fraud, personal injury, Tribal litigation, and civil rights. Ms. Waldref became the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington in October 2021, after being nominated by President Biden and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. Ms. Waldref was the first woman to serve in this role. As U.S. Attorney, Ms. Waldref worked tirelessly to deliver concrete results for residents of Washington, building strong partnerships between federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to make the community safer and stronger. A relentless advocate for clients and her community, Ms. Waldref successfully opened a new Tri-Cities DOJ branch office to better protect Southeastern Washington communities and fight fraud that impedes the environmental remediation of the Hanford Nuclear Site. Ms. Waldref was also a leader within the Department of Justice on Native American Issues, working closely with Tribal Nations to support Tribal sovereignty, protect treaty rights and Tribal homelands, reduce violent crime on Native American Reservations, and address the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Ms. Waldref is a nationally recognized leader in environmental enforcement. She was selected by the U.S. Attorney General to chair his Subcommittee on Environmental Justice & Environmental Issues, and she launched Eastern Washington's Environmental Task Force that tackled regional, national, and international cases under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and federal laws that protect public health and safety. She also spearheaded civil rights enforcement and hate crime prevention efforts across the district. Ms. Waldref continues this community engagement through her leadership as Board President of Human Rights Spokane. Before her appointment as U.S. Attorney, Ms. Waldref served within the Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington and a Trial Attorney in the Environment and Natural Resources Division. Under Ms. Waldref’s leadership, the Eastern District of Washington played a key role in the Department of Justice’s fraud-fighting efforts, where she and her Fraud and White-Collar team prosecuted civil and criminal fraud matters, launched an award-winning COVID Fraud Strike Force, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for taxpayers under the False Claims Act. Ms. Waldref has first-hand experience working with whistleblowers, as well as negotiating False Claims Act cases at the highest level of the Department of Justice. Ms. Waldref is passionate about mentoring the next generation of attorneys and has taught several courses at Gonzaga University School of Law, including Environmental Law, Labor & Employment Law, and Conflict of Laws. Before her federal service, she worked in private practice in Spokane and in Washington, D.C., representing Tribes, companies, labor unions, and individuals in employment, trade secret, and other high-stakes litigation. Ms. Waldref received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable John D. Bates on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Ms. Waldref is a proud Spokanite and loves raising her family in her beautiful hometown.

Alexandria Drake serves as Senior Counsel in Singleton Schreiber's Spokane, Washington office, where her practice focuses on personal injury, civil rights, employment discrimination/wrongful discharge, and public entity litigation. With substantial experience litigating cases in both federal and state courts, Alexandria is dedicated to advocating for those whose lives have been shattered by negligence or whose rights have been violated. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Alexandria served as a Principal at a highly respected litigation firm in Spokane, Washington, where she built a reputation as a seasoned trial attorney and civil litigator. Her courtroom experience and commitment to fighting for justice have made her a trusted advocate for clients navigating some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Alexandria's exceptional legal work has earned her consistent recognition from her peers and the legal community. She has been named a Rising Star by Washington Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2025 and has been recognized by Best Lawyers as "Ones to Watch" from 2021 to 2025. She was also honored by Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine as one of "Spokane's Best Lawyers" from 2018 to 2021. Alexandria's path to law was shaped by her service to her country. Born and raised in northern California, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Park University while serving enlisted in the United States Navy. Her time in the Navy reinforced her determination to attend law school and ensure that all people are afforded equal treatment and access to justice. After her discharge, Alexandria attended Gonzaga University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. When not in the office, Alexandria enjoys spending time with her husband and her two very active young sons. In between attending her kids' sports events, she can often be found baking or cheering on her favorite teams, the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Jesse Fruchter serves as Senior Counsel in Singleton Schreiber's Spokane, Washington office, where he focuses on Whistleblower & False Claims Act matters, Class Actions, Environmental Litigation, Consumer Protection Law, and Wildfire Litigation. He brings years of experience enforcing the law on behalf of plaintiffs against companies throughout the United States, combining legal acumen with a distinctive scientific background that enriches his approach to complex environmental and consumer protection cases. Since entering the legal profession, Jesse has been recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Star for five consecutive years for his work in complex plaintiff-side securities, antitrust, and consumer protection class actions. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, he practiced and argued in state and federal courts across the country, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the Delaware Court of Chancery. He has been appointed class counsel in numerous cases and has helped investors and consumers throughout the country recover millions of dollars from companies that violated the law. Jesse earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he received the Abner Brodie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Legal Study and Practical Application of the Law, and was recognized in the Terence T. Evans Humor and Creativity in Law Competition by the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association. Before pursuing his legal career, Jesse developed substantial expertise in environmental science and ecology. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, followed by several years working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He later obtained a Master of Science in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University, where his thesis research investigated the ecological impacts of large-scale hurricanes and fires on coastal areas, experience that now informs his wildfire litigation practice in meaningful ways. He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin, the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Outside of his legal practice, Jesse spends as much of his free time as he can outdoors with his wife and their son, two dogs, and three chickens (their cat stays indoors).

Washington estate planning attorney Matthew M. Luedke has become a trusted advocate for families seeking clarity, protection, and long-term security. Serving clients across the state as the managing attorney of Elevated Estate Planning, P.S., Matthew leads a respected, client-centered practice dedicated to helping individuals preserve what matters most: their assets, autonomy, and their loved ones' futures. For over a decade, Matthew has dedicated his career to guiding families through some of life's most significant legal decisions. His practice spans the full spectrum of estate planning and elder law, including wills and trusts, powers of attorney, estate tax planning, Medicaid and long-term care strategies, elder law matters, and probate and estate administration. His work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that every client receives a plan tailored to their unique goals and challenges. Matthew's legal journey is defined by his focus on protection, preparation, and peace of mind. He has helped countless families navigate complex issues, including rising long-term care costs, incapacity planning, wealth transfer strategies, and the intricate requirements of probate. Whether addressing elder law concerns or crafting comprehensive estate plans, he approaches each case with precision, empathy, and an unwavering dedication to doing what is right for his clients. Matthew earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association. He is additionally recognized as a Washington Super Lawyer, a distinction that reflects his professionalism, client focus, and excellence in the field of estate planning and elder law. Today, Matthew remains a respected presence in the legal community and a trusted resource for families seeking peace of mind in uncertain times. His dedication to thoughtful planning, client education, and personalized service continues to shape the strong reputation of Elevated Estate Planning, P.S.

John Stimson serves as Of Counsel in Singleton Schreiber's Spokane, Washington office, where his practice focuses on fire litigation. He brings to the firm more than four decades of distinguished service to the United States, transitioning from military and public sector leadership to advocating for individuals and families impacted by catastrophic wildfires. Mr. Stimson's career includes twenty years of active-duty service in the United States Marine Corps, followed by more than two decades as the civilian General Counsel for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. His extensive experience in complex legal matters, risk management, and high-stakes decision-making has equipped him with the strategic insight and discipline that now benefit the firm's fire litigation clients. Mr. Stimson earned his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a member of the Michigan Law Review and the Order of the Coif. He also holds LL.M. degrees from Georgetown University Law Center and the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, reflecting his commitment to legal excellence and continued professional development throughout his career. He is admitted to practice in Washington and Michigan.