John Durkin

John J. Durkin is a 1980 cum laude graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law. John served as an associate editor of the Gonzaga Law Review and qualified for the National Moot Court Competition after winning the Northwest Regional Competition where John was recognized as presenting the best oral argument.

Upon graduation from law school, John was selected by United States Magistrate, Smithmoore P. Meyers, to serve as his judicial law clerk for the Eastern District of the United States District Court for the State of Washington.

In September of 1981, John entered private practice with the firm of Troup, Christnacht, Ladenburg & McKasy in Tacoma, Washington. In 1986, John became a partner in the firm and remained as such until Ladenburg, McKasy, Durkin, Inc PS ceased doing business in June 2020. In June of 2020, John became of Counsel to the law firm of Ladenburg Law in Tacoma, WA. John’s practice continues to focus primarily on personal injury claims, which include motor vehicle collisions, wrongful death, construction site accidents, pedestrian/vehicle collision, bicycle/vehicle collisions premises liability claims, and insurance disputes. John was both the trial court and appellate counsel in the case of Cox v Spangler (141 Wn. 2d 431, 5P.3d 1265 [2000]). Cox has been cited 120 times in published Washington appellate court decisions and numerous Federal court decisions.

John serves as an arbitrator in Pierce, King, and Thurston County disputes. For over the last 15 years, John has been routinely appointed by Pierce County Court Commissioners as a Settlement Guardian Ad Litem in injury cases involving minor children. John is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Membership in ABOTA is limited and by invitation only. John has been an EAGLE member of the Washington State Association for Justice (formerly known as WSTLA) since 1986 through 2020. John served on the WSTLA board for over 7 years. In 2011, John was honored and received the Professionalism Award from WSTLA. For over 15 years, John has actively served on Gonzaga University School of Law School Dean’s Board of Advisers. John continues to serve on the Gonzaga Law School Board in an emeritus position.

For the last several years, including 2022, Washington Law & Politics has designated John as a Super Lawyer. The Super Lawyer designation is limited to 5% of the attorneys practicing in the state of Washington and is awarded based upon peer review by practicing attorneys within the state.

Gonzaga University School of Law named John Durkin as the 2021 recipient of the Distinguished Legal Service Award. This top alumni honor is given to a lawyer who has demonstrated a lifetime of service and an active role in the judicial community.

John married his wife Allison in January of 1981. Together they have raised five wonderful children. Each of their children are successful in their own right, with one of them becoming a lawyer!