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Meet Ray Kahler
About half of Ray Kahler’s time is spent researching and writing briefs for a variety of cases at both the trial court and appellate levels. His thorough and thoughtful approach ensures that he and the firm’s attorneys are well prepared for every case. Ray says the most rewarding aspect of his work is building relationships with clients.

At Harvard Law School, Ray received the Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law from the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law and the Bureau of National Affairs.

Practice Areas
Plaintiff's personal injury, auto collision, medical negligence; legal research and appeals

Examples from Ray’s Case Files
Ophthalmologist Negligence

Lori and Michael Dilio v. Wang Su Jang, O.D., Focus Eye Care, Lexington Eye Institute, Gregory Hay, M.D.

Confidential settlement

Lori Dilio elected to have LASIK eye surgery performed in British Columbia, Canada. A few days after surgery Lori’s eyesight was worse. Ray was part of the legal team to help Lori in her claim against the clinic. Canadian law complicated the case. A Bellevue eye clinic also was cited in the claim; pre-surgery exam staff at the Bellevue office should have diagnosed Lori as a poor LASIK candidate because of her large pupil size and other factors. With help from Ray and the legal team, Lori won her settlement.

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Premises Liability

Vahn and Sue Linnabary v. City of Seattle

$400,000 settlement

While disposing of household items at a City of Seattle garbage dump, retiree Vahn Linnabary slipped and fell 14 feet onto the concrete floor of the garbage pit. He fractured his hip and pelvis in the incident, which brought attention to the facility’s lack of protection from falls. The stall Vahn was using had only a single loose chain to prevent people from falling into the pit. Ray helped represent Vahn in his claim against the City of Seattle for inadequate safety practices.

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Brain Injury

Robert & Luann Whitmer v. Chin S. Yuk, City of Lakewood, Pierce County, City of Tacoma

$6.35 million settlement

Complicated liability issues were factors in this automobile collision case. Two young women suffered serious brain injuries when their vehicle was struck in an intersection, spun and hit a utility pole. The legal team handled a number of liability factors: the intersection had no traffic signal, road widening had brought lanes too close to the utility pole, and county/city jurisdiction had changed. The settlement will help the sisters – one of them a young mother – live as “normal” as possible. Additionally, the legal team took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court to overcome a federal law that would have kept secret the government records needed to get justice for the Whitmer sisters.

Case Archive

Memberships
• Grays Harbor County Bar Association (president, 1999-2001)
• Grays Harbor Roundtable, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (chair, 1997-2002)
• Washington State Bar Association
• Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1996 (Harvard Law Review, 1994-96)
University of Puget Sound, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1993

Outside the Office
In his spare time, Ray plays the clarinet. He also serves on boards of directors for the local 7th Street Theater and the Evergreen Counseling Center.