Dean Ralph Brett

I grew up on Badger Mountain, in Eastern Washington, on a dry land dirt farm in an area the locals refer to as "Poverty Point." No TV. No electricity. No inside plumbing. But we did have books -- lots of books. I talked before I could walk, and carried a book everywhere, so my dad used to pat me on the head and say "This one's going to be a lawyer." He knew what kind of a lawyer I would be: a lawyer for real people, not a lawyer for big corporations -- a lawyer for the little guy with a big case.

The administrators at Whitman College couldn't understand how a kid from Poverty Point could score so well on the college entrance exams, so they offered me a scholarship. Moving to Whitman in Walla Walla was a move to a bigger town for me, and like many kids my age, I wanted to move to an even bigger city. That took me to Stanford Law School near San Francisco, where most of my graduating class went on to large firms in New York, L.A., Seattle, or D.C. But by then I had realized I wanted to move back to the Pacific Northwest.

As an injury lawyer I started out in 1972 doing whatever came in the door, mostly trial work, and soon found that helping people who had been injured through no fault of their own and who were stuck dealing with a heartless insurance company was the perfect place to accomplish my three goals in life: to do good, to do well, and to have fun doing it.

My family has a long history in horse racing -- my Uncle Lloyd raced as a jockey for 25 years. You build a law practice just like you build a career as a jockey. At first you get only horses no one else wants to ride. If you can get a few of those horses to finish better than next to last, you get a mount that has a chance to finish in the money. And if you can ride a few of those horses into Win, Place or Show, eventually stables with fast horses looking for successful jockeys find you. So it has been with my personal injury law practice: good results in small personal injury cases brought larger claims, and eventually, after winning a few million dollar settlements and verdicts, I got the opportunity to choose exactly who I wanted to represent.

Ironically, it turned out to be the same people my dad thought I should fight for: the little guy with the big case. Real people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time and get injured because someone isn't being careful -- and who are stuck dealing with an insurance company that refuses to honor their injury claim.

If you'd like to talk to me about your personal injury claim, give me a call - (800) 925-1875.

Stanford University

J.D.

1970 - 1972

Whitman College

B.A.

1964 - 1968

Partner

Brett McCandlis & Brown PLLC

2015 - Current

Magistrate Judge

United States District Court for Western District of Washington

2005 - Current

Partner

Brett Murphy - Washington's Injury Lawyers

2011 - 2014

Partner

Brett & Coats Personal Injury Attorneys

2007 - 2011

Partner

Brett & Daugert

1972 - 2007

Washington Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2015

Washington Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2014

Washington Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers

2013

Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers

2013

Washington Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers

2012

Washington State Association for Justice

Eagle Member

Current

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Member

Current

Oregon State Bar

Member

2008 - Current

American College of Trial Lawyers

Fellow

2002 - Current

Washington State Bar Association

Local District Counsel

1980 - Current

Oregon

Since 2008

Washington

Since 1972

• Free Consultation
• Contingent Fees

• Wrongful Death Law