Mistee Verhulp

Counsel

Recent Publication:

Troung v. Sanders: Matter of First Impression by the Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeals on “Betterment Deductions” in Third-Party Property Damage Claims [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

In December 2024, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals rendered a significant opinion in Troung v. Sanders, et al., addressing the contentious issue of “betterment deductions” in third- party property damage claims.[1] Louisiana law allows for a betterment deduction, or credit, to the...

An accomplished litigator, Mistee concentrates her practice on handling first-party, third-party, and commercial insurance claims from inception to trial or settlement. With more than two decades of experience on both the defense and plaintiff's sides, she has handled a variety of matters in state and federal courts, including commercial liability, personal injury, property damage, wage loss, umbrella policies, workers' compensation, and subrogation. Clients seek out Mistee for her experience in claims investigation and evaluation, coverage opinions, coverage disputes, litigation strategy and management, discovery, depositions, arbitration, mediation, settlement negotiations, hearings, and trials.

Before joining Cozen O'Connor, Mistee was a partner with a Washington-based firm where she managed and grew the personal injury practice throughout the region. Most recently, Mistee served as a lead family adviser with a Washington-based financial institution, handling complex financial, legal, and business matters for bank clients.

Mistee earned her B.A. from Gonzaga University and her J.D. from Gonzaga School of Law, where she was an editor of the Gonzaga Law Review. She served as a law clerk with the Washington State Attorney General's Office from 1997 to 1999.

Publications

Troung v. Sanders: Matter of First Impression by the Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeals on “Betterment Deductions” in Third-Party Property Damage Claims [Avoiding Insurance Bad Faith Blog]

January 16, 2025

In December 2024, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals rendered a significant opinion in Troung v. Sanders, et al., addressing the contentious issue of “betterment deductions” in third- party property damage claims.[1] Louisiana law allows for a betterment deduction, or credit, to the...

Education

  • Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., 1995
  • Gonzaga University, B.A., 1999

Awards & Honors

ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2012

  • Washington
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Washington

Washington State Attorney General's Office, 1997-1999

 

Heads Up Tri-Cities, Executive Board Member, 2020-Present

Powerful Connections, Founding Executive Board Member, 2008-Present