Bergman & Frockt

View the profile as it appeared in Washington Super Lawyers 2008 (PDF)

View the profile as it appeared in Washington Rising Stars 2007 (PDF)

The attorneys of Bergman & Frockt are at the forefront of developing new legal ground to pursue asbestos manufacturers, employers and contractors. In early 2007, the firm secured the most decisive ruling in the country to date regarding asbestos. The ruling expanded victims’ rights to sue equipment manufacturers.

Bergman & Frockt is an industry powerhouse in asbestos litigation, with six attorneys and a talented team of experienced paralegals and legal assistants who work together to get results for each individual client. Through their efforts, thousands of asbestos victims receive compensation for their injuries.

Asbestos Watchdog As a result of his pioneering work in asbestos litigation, firm founder Matthew Bergman has been named to the Washington Super Lawyers® list from 2005 through 2008.

A watchdog for asbestos victims and their families, Bergman is a court-appointed advisor to several asbestos-bankruptcy trusts, which were created to compensate asbestos victims and their families. These trusts include the $5.1 billion Owens Corning Trust, the $1.1 billion Kaiser Aluminum Trust and the $800 million Combustion Engineering Trust. Bergman also serves on the Asbestos Creditors Committee in the GAF, AP Green and ACandS bankruptcies.

Considered an industry expert, Bergman has testified before the U.S. Senate and Washington Legislature on asbestos litigation issues, which increased awareness of the serious harm done to victims of asbestos-related disease. He has also led national seminars on the topic, with Bergman & Frockt chairing the recent International Asbestos Litigation Seminar in London. Although he practices in the Northwest, Bergman’s reputation extends internationally.

Working on behalf of thousands of asbestos victims, Bergman and his colleagues have helped negotiate multibillion-dollar settlements with major asbestos manufacturers and contractors. Their work yields tens of millions of dollars in payments to the firm’s clients.

Victims’ Advocates Bergman & Frockt’s success is due largely to its expertise in theories of liability, its knowledge of company defense tactics, its ability to spot trends in asbestos rulings, and its thorough understanding of the unique medical issues that arise with asbestos-related illnesses.

In addition to its strong asbestos litigation practice, Bergman & Frockt has an active consumer protection practice that focuses on sub-prime mortgage lenders who perpetrate predatory lending practices on Washington consumers. The firm recently obtained class certification for allegations of improper lending practices, which may lead to widespread changes in consumer lending practices.