Tara M. O'Hanlon

Representative Experience

• Trials & Arbitration Plus

  • Obtained a unanimous jury verdict matching our client’s valuation evidence exactly in a multi-week, 30-party, 100 percent virtual condemnation trial. The local transit authority client needed to acquire the right to amend restrictive covenants to allow it to construct and operate its light rail project and the total valuation dispute was more than $5.5 million in just compensation.

  • Successfully tried one of the first social-distanced pandemic jury trials in Washington over the condemnation of several permanent and temporary rights abutting the building frontage of one of the region’s largest airlines to allow the local transit authority to construct and operate its light rail project. The parties were over hundreds of thousands of dollars apart and the jury returned a verdict in our client’s favor.

  • Successfully tried a condemnation bench trial over the taking of an auto dealership to allow the local transit authority to construct and operate its light rail project after having successfully defeated a motion for summary judgment to expand claimed damages by more than $10 million and precluding an award of fees or costs to the owner.

  • Arbitrated multimillion-dollar construction defect dispute on behalf of hospital system resulting in successful resolution of claims.

  • Obtained a verdict exactly at our client’s valuation in a condemnation bench trial where the parties’ valuation was more than $9 million apart and precluding an award of fees or costs to the owner.

  • Represented owner client as insurance coverage counsel in trial over defective construction claims in parking garage project.

  • Multi-month wage-and-hour/"joint employer" class-action bench trial resulting in a finding of no liability for client national retail chain.

  • Represented national retail chain in jury trial against claims of sexual orientation discrimination, Equal Pay Act violations, and retaliation; plaintiff sought $426,000, verdict returned for $3,000.

  • Represented real estate owner in purchase and sale dispute trial involving $11 million dollar asset.

• Contract Negotiations & Dispute Resolution Plus

  • Preparation and successful negotiation of numerous complex master, template, and project-specific design and construction contracts on behalf of healthcare systems, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, and others.

  • Obtained a favorable settlement and insurance recovery near policy limits representing owner in multimillion-dollar construction defect action for a ski resort duplex project.

  • Preparation and negotiation of integrated project delivery (IPD) on behalf of healthcare client.

  • Resolution of numerous condemnation matters on behalf of cities, transportation authorities, and owners short of trial.

  • Favorable settlement resolution of multimillion-dollar condominium defect and warranty action representing general contractor in action involving more than 30 parties.

  • Successful settlement following complex mediations of lien foreclosure and contract dispute over hotel and office tower project on behalf of subcontractor.

  • Successful resolution of landlord/tenant dispute on behalf of industrial subcontractor client.

  • Resolved construction defect dispute on behalf of local transit authority without the need for engaging in a formal claim process.

  • Successful settlement resolution of party to residential real estate development dispute and litigation involving breach of construction contract, conversion, and Consumer Protection Act claims.