V. L. Woolston
With more than 40 years in practice, V. assists clients with matters involving aviation law and complex product liability.
V. Woolston represents manufacturers in state and federal courts throughout the United States. His principal clients include Honeywell International Inc., The Boeing Company, Hitachi Zosen, and REI. He regularly counsels clients in loss prevention and lawsuit avoidance issues.
V. has tried numerous aviation cases to defense verdicts, including claims arising from the crash of a corporate aircraft that claimed the life of a former Winston Cup champion, Alan Kulwicki, and claims alleging toxic poisoning of flight attendants by contaminated aircraft cabin air.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- Duke University School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1979
- Amherst College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1976
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Professional Recognition
Named Corporate INTL Global Awards, "Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Washington," "Mass Tort Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Washington," "Class Actions Lawyer of the Year in Washington," 2022
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2007-2024
Listed in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyers" for Transportation: Aviation: Litigation, 2014-2024
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Washington's Super Lawyers," 2003-2012, 2014-2023
Named Best Lawyers' Seattle, "Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year," 2015, 2017, 2019; "Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year," 2015, 2018
Listed in Who's Who Legal: Transport, 2015
Recommended by The Legal 500: Litigation: product liability and mass tort defense - aerospace/aviation, 2015
Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Product Liability Advisory Committee, 2010-2022
Community Involvement
- Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2010-2014; Executive Committee, 2011-2014
News
Professional Experience
Product Liability: Aviation/Aerospace
Boeing 727 Crash at Morealia, Mexico
Defense of The Boeing Company in multiple actions arising out of a Mexicana Airlines Boeing 727 crash in Morealia, Mexico.
Boeing 747 Crash at Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Defense of The Boeing Company in action arising out of an El Al Airlines Boeing 747 crash in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Boeing 747 In-Flight Explosive Decompression
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Defense of The Boeing Company in actions arising out of the explosive decompression of a United Airlines Boeing 747 over the Pacific Ocean. Three jury trials to verdict in USDC for Northern District of California.
Honeywell International Inc.: Cessna Conquest II Crash at Palm Beach, FL
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a Cessna Conquest crash in Palm Beach, FL.
Honeywell International Inc.: Fairchild 300 Crash at Blountville, TN
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a Fairchild 300 crash in Blountville, TN, involving Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki. Defense verdict following three-week jury trial.
Honeywell International Inc.: Lear 35 Crash at Mina, SD
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a Lear 35 crash in Mina, SD, involving PGA professional Payne Stewart.
Honeywell International Inc.: MU-2 Crash at Carolina, Puerto Rico
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in multiple actions arising out of a MU2 crash in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Honeywell International Inc.: MU-2 Crash at Centennial, CO
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a MU2 crash in Centennial, CO.
Honeywell International Inc.: MU-2 Crash at Columbia, SC
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a MU2 crash in Columbia, SC.
Honeywell International Inc.: MU-2 Crash at Rock, KS
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a MU2 crash in Rock, KS.
Honeywell International Inc.: Twin Otter Crash at Sullivan County, MO
Defense of fuel control manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in action arising out of a Twin Otter crash in Sullivan County, MO.
Honeywell International Inc.: AS-350D Crash on Catalina Island, CA
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in multiple actions arising out of helicopter crash on Catalina Island, CA.
Honeywell International Inc.: AS-350D Crash near Bernick Lake, Saskatchewan
Defense of turbine engine manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in litigation in Ontario, CN, Phoenix, AZ, and Charleston, SC arising out of helicopter crash in remote lake in northern Saskatchewan.
MD-80 Crash at Machiques, Venezuela
Defense of The Boeing Company in multiple actions in France and the United States arising out of a West Caribbean MD-80 crash in Machiques, Venezuela, including two 11th Circuit appeals.
V-22 Osprey Crash at Quantico, VA
Representation of The Boeing Company in military inquiry into the causes of a V-22 Osprey crash in Quantico, VA.
Product Liability
Johnson v. Recreational Equipment Inc (REI)
Defense of retail seller of carbon fiber bicycle in action brought under Washington Product Liability Act (WPLA) 159 Wash. App. 939 (2011).
AMVAC Chemical Corporation
State Supreme Court of Washington
Defense of manufacturer in pesticide poisoning litigation, through oral argument in Washington Supreme Court. 7 P.3d 795 (Wash. 2000)
Barbanti v. W.R. Grace
Defense of consumer protection/product liability class action involving vermiculite insulation products. Preliminary injunction denied.
Bradford v. McDonnell Douglas Corporation
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defense of The Boeing Company and McDonnell Douglas Corporation in litigation involving alleged neurotoxin exposure associated with the cabin air supply on Alaska Airlines MD-80 aircraft. Defense verdict received following 11-week jury trial.
Delta Airlines
Defense of Delta Airlines in “sick building” litigation.
Strom v. Boeing Company
Defense of The Boeing Company in toxic tort class action litigation involving non-ionizing radiation.
Troy Corporation
Defense of Troy Corporation in statewide class action involving additives used in paints and coatings.
Consumer Protection
Baker Hughes Inc.: Skinner v. ARCO
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Defense of petroleum additive manufacturer Baker Hughes, Inc. in 10,000-customer class action alleging defective high sulphur diesel fuel oil.
Leonard, et al. v. Nintendo of America Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Defense of Nintendo in putative nationwide class action alleging consumer protection, products liability, and breach of warranty violations.
Litigation
Ou Kullasadu Invest v. Kask
Representation of Estonian creditor Ou Kullasadu Invest in action to enforce foreign judgment.