Since beginning his practice nearly 30 years ago, Kirk has engaged in complex civil litigation, which includes civil rights, police liability, personal injury, employment and municipal law.  He also advises public and private clients in matters related to personnel, labor and employment, business transactions, corporate affairs, and general business law. 

Areas of Focus

• Mediation
• Civil law
• Employment law
• Municipal law
• Labor law
• Business law

Kirk is a trained mediator and a graduate of the Northwest Institute for Dispute Resolution.  His employment law practice also regularly includes negotiating labor contracts, reviewing and drafting policies and procedures, and providing day-to-day guidance on employment issues concerning both state and federal law for many of the largest employers in Central Washington. Kirk is regularly retained and available to perform independent investigations concerning personnel matters.

Education

• Willamette University College of Law, Juris Doctorate
• Northwest Institute for Dispute Resolution at the University of Idaho College of Law
• Central Washington University, B.S. Economics

Representative Cases of Note

• Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation v. City of Toppenish, 963 F.3d 982 (9th Cir. 2020), cert denied 141 S. Ct. 2464
• Assenberg v. County of Whitman, 730 Fed. Appx. 429 (9th Cir. 2018);
• Hawkins v. Chelan County, 2017 WL 5709568 (E.D. Wash 2017)
• Cronk v. City of West Richland, 2015 WL 5306243 (E.D. Wash 2015)
• Sinclair v. City of Grandview, et al., 973 F.Supp.2d 1234 (E.D. Wash, 2013), aff’d 696 Fed. Appx 773 (9th Cir. 2017)
• Eriksen v. Serpas, et al., 2012 WL 1454590 (9th Cir. 2012)
• Guillen v. Contreras, 169 Wn.2d 769 (2010)
• Eriksen v. Washington State Patrol, et al., 308 Fed. Appx. 199 (9th Cir. 2009)
• Mendoza v. City of Mabton, Cause No. 20923-7-III (Division III Court of Appeals, 2003)
• Richland School District v. Mabton School District, 111 Wn. App. 377 (2002)
• Finke v. Ellner and Liu, Cause No. 15579-0-III (Division III Court of Appeals, 1997)