BRENNEN JOHNSON

Brennen joined Johnson, Graffe, Keay, Moniz & Wick in 2018. His practice covers a broad range of areas including professional and commercial liability, consumer protection law, employment law, class actions, civil rights, and personal injury. His practice also includes a special emphasis on health care litigation and disciplinary investigations. Brennen is passionate about serving the legal needs of the local Puget Sound area. He was born and raised in Pierce County, obtained his undergraduate degree at University of Washington Tacoma, and attended University of Washington School of Law. He began his legal career defending Pierce County in civil litigation with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office while completing law school. Prior to joining JGKMW, he completed a two-year clerkship with U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle in the Western District of Washington.

Brennen also serves in numerous public service and volunteer roles. He serves as a panel attorney representing indigent defendants in connection with the Federal Public Defender under the Criminal Justice Act. He also serves as a staff attorney with the Federal Civil Rights Legal Clinic in its Tacoma office, providing free legal assistance to clients with employment discrimination, disability, housing, prison misconduct, and excessive force claims. In 2022, he was appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to serve a three-year term as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit. He also serves on the Western District of Washington’s Pro Bono Panel and its Local Rules Committee.

Brennen lives in Port Orchard with his wife, Alexandra, and their two children.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Defense verdict in jury trial for otolaryngologist, emergency physician, nursing staff, and hospital in medical malpractice lawsuit alleging wrongful death from an ear infection resulting in meningitis. Plaintiff claimed $25,000,000 in damages.

• Link v. MultiCare Health Sys., et al., 26 Wn. App. 2d 1022 (2023) — Obtained summary judgment and successfully defended appeal on behalf of a pediatric primary care provider and clinic. Plaintiff claimed $110,000,000 in damages on a theory that negligent management of an aberrant left subclavian artery had resulted in catastrophic injury and disability in an infant.

• Roberson v. CHI Franciscan, et al., 25 Wn. App. 2d 1011 (2023) — Obtained summary judgment and successfully defended appeal on behalf of hospitalist and inpatient physician group. Plaintiff claimed that misdiagnosis of a dislodged percutaneous endoscopic tube led to sepsis and associated bed sores.

• Favorable settlement of nationwide class action for consumer protection, products liability, and breach of warranty claims on over $5,000,000 wholesale cost of dog food product allegedly tainted with pentobarbital due to conduct of former ingredient supplier.

• Summary judgment and defense on appeal of wrongful death claim alleging misdiagnosis of lung cancer incidentally observed on CT imaging.

• Obtained trial court dismissal of claim that radiologist misinterpreted CT head imaging that had resulted in removal of child from parental custody by Child Protective Services.

• Obtained trial court dismissal of claim that pediatrician wrongfully reported false suspicions of child abuse to law enforcement that had resulted in removal of child from parental custody by Child Protective Services.

• Successful defense at administrative trial and on judicial review of Adult Protective Services action under Washington’s Vulnerable Adult Act against adult family home after a resident left the locked facility at night and was struck by a vehicle.