Jeffrey T. Kestle

Full Profile

Jeffrey Kestle’s practice primarily focuses on defending professional liability claims. Jeff also has experience handling a wide range of matters, including personal injury, product liability, toxic torts, and premises liability. 

Before beginning his law career, Jeff served as a judicial extern to a federal appellate court judge in Buenos Aires, Argentina, gaining valuable insight into international legal systems.

As a recipient of the Washington State Bar Association’s Professionalism in Practice Award, Jeff has been recognized for his commitment to excellence and integrity in the profession.

Admissions

• Washington
• US District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
• US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

• J.D., University of Washington, 1999
• B.A., Pomona College, 1994

Memberships

• Washington State Bar Association
  • Washington State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics, Past Member
• King County Bar Association
  • Volunteer at King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinic
• Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
• Foundation for Washington State Courts, Trustee

Experience

Legal Malpractice Cases

• Obtained a defense verdict for attorney client and prevailed on a breach of contract counterclaim after a six-day King County jury trial. The jury determined that client appropriately handled an underlying neighbor dispute lawsuit and that the plaintiff improperly failed to pay his legal bills.
• Obtained a Washington Supreme Court ruling for attorney client. The Supreme Court ruled that the attorney’s court approved withdrawal from an underlying lawsuit precluded the former clients’ legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims based on the withdrawal.
• Defense verdict. The plaintiff alleged the client was negligent in his handling of an underlying medical malpractice lawsuit against a neurologist and interventional radiologist. The plaintiff ended up paralyzed on one side of her body after the doctors treated her for a stroke. After an eight-day trial, the jury ruled that the client was not negligent.
• Favorable jury verdict in admitted liability legal malpractice case. The plaintiff claimed he sustained a traumatic brain injury when he was hit by a USPS truck while riding his bike. The plaintiff asked for a verdict between USD 1.5-2 million. The jury awarded him USD 16 thousand.
• Jury verdict in favor of attorney client in fee dispute with former clients and defense verdicts on counterclaims.
• Defense verdict in bankruptcy adversary trial against attorney who acted as deed of trust trustee.
• Summary judgment dismissal of fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, and legal malpractice claims of client against litigation attorneys based on res judicata effect of prior fee arbitration award and California statute of limitation. Dismissal affirmed on appeal.
• Summary judgment dismissal of legal malpractice and Consumer Protection Act claims brought by parents of son who misrepresented his identity to attorney based on lack of duty. Dismissal affirmed on appeal.
• Summary judgment dismissal of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, securities act violation claims against attorney for one party to business transaction based on statute of limitations. Dismissal affirmed on appeal.
• Summary judgment dismissal of conversion claim brought by husband against wife’s divorce attorney based on “agent’s immunity rule.”
• Summary judgment dismissal of legal malpractice claim brought by criminal defense attorney’s former client based on lack of proof of actual innocence.
• Summary judgment dismissal of legal malpractice claim brought by bankruptcy attorneys’ former clients based on res judicata effect of bankruptcy court’s order affirming attorneys’ fee petition.

Other Cases

• Representation of joint compound manufacturer in multi-million-dollar asbestos exposure case, obtained a dismissal for client after filing motion for summary judgment.
• Representation of regional sporting goods retailer in case brought by customer beaten by other customers, obtained summary judgment dismissal.
• Representation of driver who backed into other driver in personal injury jury trial, obtained defense verdict.
• Representation of a national property management firm.

Presentations

• Presenter, “Personal Estate Planning for the 99%, Ethical Considerations,” King County Bar Association, March 2025
• Presenter, “A Year to Remember: Pandemics, Public Demonstrations, and Wildfires,” Washington State Bar Association CLE, December 2020
• Presenter, “Ethics During Global Pandemic,” Real Property Probate and Trust section of the Washington State Bar Association, June 2020
• Presenter, “Ethical Considerations During the Pandemic,” King County Bar Association, May 2020