Shauna Martin Ehlert

Member

Shauna Martin Ehlert has a nationwide practice focused on professional liability claims and complex insurance coverage disputes. She regularly acts as coverage counsel, monitoring counsel and carrier representative and litigates declaratory judgment actions on behalf insurers and risk retention groups. Shauna's coverage experience includes professional liability, cyber liability, miscellaneous E&O, employment practices liability, directors & officers liability and bad faith avoidance. Her experience includes policy-drafting and coverage matters involving medical/health care facilities professional care homes, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. She frequently lectures on insurance coverage and bad faith issues. Shauna also has successfully defended professional negligence claims against attorneys, escrow agents, notaries, and financial advisers. Her 29 years of litigation experience includes trial practice in Washington, Oregon, Georgia, Hawaii, and California. Shauna prides herself on her ability to aggressively advocate for her clients while maintaining a strong sense of professionalism and collegiality.

Shauna acts as the pro bono coordinator for the Seattle office of Cozen O’Connor. She has represented many immigrants in asylum proceedings, has successfully recovered reparations on behalf of Holocaust survivors, and has assisted veterans in disability claims. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project has honored her with its Amicus Award for spearheading pro bono efforts on behalf of immigration and asylum clients. She has also been nominated as Outstanding Mentor by the Washington Young Lawyers for her efforts in mentoring young attorneys.

Shauna earned her Bachelor of Science and her law degree from the University of Washington in 1988 and 1992, respectively. She rowed for the women's crew team during her undergraduate career, and while in law school, she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Board and Order of Barristers. In her spare time, Shauna enjoys spending time with her family and traveling in the great Northwest and beyond.

Experience

Publications

Massachusetts: Third-Party Claim Handler Made Reasonable, Prompt Efforts to Settle Nursing Home Liability Claim, and Therefore Was Not Liable For $14 M Excess Verdict [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

April 02, 2019

On March 18, 2019, the First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a decision holding that Sedgwick Claims Management Services made reasonable and prompt efforts to settle a nursing home liability claim, and therefore was not liable for a $14M excess verdict despite the fact that the highest pretrial...

“Uncollectibility” Is An Affirmative Defense To Legal Malpractice Claims in Washington [Global Insurance Alert]

October 20, 2014

The Washington Supreme Court addressed two issues of first impression regarding legal malpractice claims in Schmidt v. Coogan, No. 88460-9, (October 9, 2014) and held: (1) that “uncollectibility” is an affirmative defense to a claim of legal malpractice, and (2) emotional distress damages are not available in a legal malpractice claim based upon a lawyer’s failure to timely file a lawsuit.

Court Invalidates Exception to Tolling Provision for Medical Malpractice Cases Brought by Minors [Global Insurance Alert]

February 10, 2014

In Schroeder v. Weighall, the Washington Supreme Court invalidated another portion of Washington’s medical malpractice reform legislation. Specifically, the court invalidated RCW 4.16.190(2), which had eliminated the tolling of the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims brought by those who alleged malpractice in their care as minors. The court held that the statute violated Article I, Section 12 of the Washington State Constitution, and reversed the trial court’s summary judgment order dismissing Jaryd Schroeder’s medical malpractice action.

Oregon Supreme Court Declines to Apply $500,000 Cap on Non-Economic Damages to Birth Injuries Claim [Global Insurance Alert]

October 09, 2013

In Klutschkowski v. Peacehealth, et al., No. 160615518 (Ore., Sept. 26, 2013), the Oregon State Supreme Court unanimously held that an Oregon statute capping non-economic damages at $500,000 was unconstitutional as applied to a case asserting common law claims for injuries sustained by an infant during labor and delivery.

Winter 2010 [Insurance Coverage Observer]

February 21, 2010

Winter 2010 - Insurance Coverage Observer -

Events & Seminars

Past Events

2019 NRRA National Conference

October 02, 2019 - Chicago, IL

NRRA National Conference 2018

October 03, 2018 - Chicago, IL

PLUS 2016 Professional Risk Symposium

April 20, 2016 - Chicago, IL

CLM 2015 Claims College

September 09, 2015 - Philadelphia, PA

Industry Sectors

Education

  • University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 1992
  • University of Washington, B.S., 1988

Awards & Honors

Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" - 2006

  • Washington
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Washington
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Washington
  • Washington Supreme Court
  • King County Bar Association
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Washington Women Lawyers