• David L. Tift
  • Member and Executive

    Committee Member

 

    


Practice Area(s)

Education
  • Seattle University School of Law (formerly University of Puget Sound School of Law) (J.D., 1982)
  • Washington State University          (B.A., cum laude, 1979)

 

Admitted to Practice
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Washington

 

Dave's practice involves both commercial and healthcare litigation. He has defended numerous long-term care facilities involved in lawsuits claiming professional negligence. His practice also involves commercial litigation, including anti-trust, non-competition and unfair competition disputes in state and federal courts. Dave also has a growing aviation practice. His aviation work has included serving as local counsel for several national and international airlines, prosecuting and defending crash litigation and representing individuals and companies in disputes with the FAA, DOT and NTSB.
Representative Experience

Between his three years at Continental Airlines and 16 years in private practice, Dave has litigated the full spectrum of aviation crashes, from single-engine general aviation aircraft crashes to commuter and commercial airliner disasters, and from fixed wing to helicopters.

Professional and Community Activities
  • Co-Chair, Aviation Section, King County Bar Association (1998-1999)
  • Chair, Aviation Section, King County Bar Association (1992-1993)
Speaking engagements
Honors and Awards
Background

Dave (born Wenatchee, Washington) joined Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland in 1988 after practicing law in Houston, Texas, as corporate counsel for Continental Airlines, and as a former trial lawyer.

High-Altitude Challenges Part of Dave’s Life

Being a litigator is a challenging profession. But then challenges are nothing new for Dave. An avid climber who co-owned a local mountain guide service in the early 1980s, Dave scaled Mt. Rainier numerous times. He’s also climbed throughout the Cascade range, including Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker, the Price Glacier on Mt. Shuksan near the Canadian border, as well as Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Blanc in the French Alps.