Jackee Walker

Representative Experience

• Transit Authorities Plus

  • Represents Sound Transit and provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of eminent domain and inverse condemnation, as well as litigating disputes when they arise. Successfully represented Sound Transit in obtaining settlements in hundreds of condemnation matters in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties, including acquisitions for the following light rail links:

    • South Link
    • Tacoma Link
    • University Link
    • Capitol Hill Link
    • Northgate Link
    • East Link
    • Lynnwood Link
    • Federal Way Link
    • Downtown Redmond Link
• Municipalities Plus

  • Regularly works with the City of Ferndale in connection with its capital projects to maintain and improve city infrastructure. Provides counsel on pre-project planning, pre-filing negotiations, ordinances authorizing eminent domain, final action requirements, eminent domain filings, and dispute resolution. Advised city or handled condemnation actions for the following city projects:

    • Washington Street, Main Street to Vista Drive Project—Represented City in a condemnation of property rights for a road-widening project. Case involved complex valuation issues and an adverse possession dispute. Settled at mediation for $120,000 less than the owner’s just compensation evidence. 
    • Thorton Street Overpass
    • Gateway Stormwater Improvement/Main Street LaBounty Drive Roundabout Project
    • Church Road
    • Main Street Improvement Project

  • Provided pre-condemnation and final action advice in connection with acquisition of right-of-way interests and construction easements necessary for the City of Federal Way’s Transportation Improvement Plan.

  • Provided pre-condemnation and final action advice on O&M Road Project and helped the City of Kennewick reach settlement in advance of filing an eminent domain petition.

• Oil & Gas Companies Plus

  • Represented Olympic Pipe Line Company navigating final action procedures and condemning demolition of an occupied residential structure illegally constructed above active pipeline. Advised pipeline though the entire eminent process and helped the pipeline reach settlement shortly after filing an eminent domain petition.

• Public Utilities Plus

  • Represented Clark County PUD in navigating final action procedures and pre-condemnation of transmission easement. 

• Fire Districts Plus

  • Represented King County Fire District #2 in condemnation of adjacent property for fire station expansion project. Jury returned a just compensation verdict matching fire district’s valuation and was less than its pre-trial settlement offer. No fees or costs were awarded to property owner.

• Property Owners Plus

  • Represented large commercial property owner in connection with the City of Bellevue’s NE 4th Extension Improvements.

• Trial Experience Plus

  • Jackee has been trying cases to juries and the bench for more than a decade. She is a skilled trial attorney and has first-chaired complex, multimillion-dollar cases helping shape eminent domain law in Washington. Because of her vast experience of trying cases, she understands it’s a completely different atmosphere, and is better able to make accurate jury-value predictions and assess settlement.

    • Successfully tried a six-week virtual condemnation bench trial for Sound Transit to acquire property rights needed to construct the Federal Way Link Extension. The trial involved ten experts, a number of complex legal issues regarding conversion of a motel to apartments, and a valuation dispute of millions in just compensation. The court awarded just compensation matching Sound Transit’s valuation evidence and was less than its pre-trial settlement offer. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2020, Bench Trial - Singh)
    • Successfully represented Sound Transit in a multi-day condemnation trial to acquire property rights needed to construct the Federal Way Link Extension. The trial involved a dispute over the highest and best use of the property and the court awarded just compensation matching Sound Transit’s valuation evidence of more than $1 million less than owner’s just compensation. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2019, Bench Trial - Ingersoll)
    • Member of trial team that successfully represented Sound Transit in a multi-week condemnation trial for the Lynwood Link Extension. The trial involved a dispute over whether or not Sound Transit’s light rail station specially benefited the property due to proximity and an upzone. The jury determined the property was specially benefitted by light rail and returned verdict matching Sound Transit’s valuation evidence and $1.4 million less than the owner’s valuation. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2018, 12-Person Jury Trial – Maxwell)
    • Member of trial team that successfully represented Sound Transit in a multi-week condemnation trial for the East Link Extension. The trial involved a dispute over whether or not Sound Transit’s light rail station specially benefited the adjacent property due to proximity. The jury determined the property was specially benefitted by light rail and returned a verdict that did not exceed Sound Transit’s pretrial settlement offer. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2018, 12-Person Jury Trial - Safeway)
    • Successfully represented Sound Transit in condemnation trial for the East Link Extension. The trial involved a dispute over project influence, capitalization rates, and special benefits. The court awarded just compensation that did not exceed Sound Transit’s pretrial settlement offer. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2015, Bench Trial – PS Business Park)
    • Successfully represented Sound Transit in condemnation of a tunnel easement for the Roosevelt Station. The court awarded just compensation matching Sound Transit’s valuation evidence and was less than its pre-trial settlement offer. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2014, Bench Trial – Tacey Miller)
    • Successfully represented Sound Transit in a 3-week condemnation trial for the South Link - Airport to 200^th Street light rail project. The trial involved a value dispute over damages to the remainder property, offsite impacts, and business damages. The jury returned a verdict for nearly $1.5 million less than the owner’s just compensation evidence. (2013, 12-Person Jury Trial – Hospitality First)
    • Member of trial team that represented Sound Transit in multi-week condemnation trial for its South Link - Airport to 200^th Street light rail project. The trial involved a number of complex legal issues regarding the valuation of temporary easements, franchise requirements, and reducing the scope of the acquisition at trial. The jury returned a verdict in less than two hours that matched Sound Transit’s valuation and did not exceed Sound Transit’s pretrial settlement offer. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2013, 12-Person Jury Trial – Airport Investment)
    • The property owner appealed this result to the Supreme Court. The Court ruled in Sound Transit’s favor concluding Sound Transit’s settlement offer was timely, which was not rendered ineffective by subsequent revisions to reduce the impact of its temporary construction easement.
    • Successfully represented King County Fire District No. 2 in condemnation of adjacent property for fire station expansion project. The jury returned a just compensation verdict matching King County’s valuation and was less than the fire district’s pre-trial settlement offer. No fees or costs awarded to property owner. (2010, 6-person Jury Trial)