Thomas M. Williams
Attorney
Phone: (206) 340-8834
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Email: Thomas M. Williams
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Thom represents contractors, developers, homeowners, associations, businesses and other commercial policyholders in insurance coverage, construction defect, and complex commercial litigation.
Thom’s focus is insurance coverage litigation. He primarily represents policyholders by helping them navigate a wide variety of insurance-related issues including analyzing policies and coverage correspondence, tendering claims, challenging denials of coverage, negotiating settlements, preparing for and participating in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and litigating declaratory judgment, breach of contract, and bad faith lawsuits against insurance companies. Thom has extensive knowledge relating to the unique issues that can arise in matters involving general liability, property, business interruption, builder’s risk, and professional liability insurance.
In addition to coverage litigation, Thom also represents business owners, contractors and developers in complex commercial litigation, including real estate development, construction defect, environmental issues, and business disputes.
Rated by Super Lawyers
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Areas of Practice
- Insurance Coverage Law
- Construction Defect Law
Education
- William & Mary School of Law (J.D., 2011)
- William & Mary Law Review
- University of Washington (B.A. with a Minor in Law, Society & Justice, 2007)
- Cum Laude
Professional Activities
Washington State Bar Association
Admitted to Practice
- Washington State and Federal Courts
- Hawaii State Courts
- Appointed by the WSBA Board of Governors to serve for a two-year term as a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee responsible for WSBA’s publication, Washington State Bar News, effective October 2022 – September 2024
- Selected by Super Lawyers for inclusion into its Washington Rising Stars 2020-2021
- Published article “Weathering Coronavirus: How Business Interruption Insurance Could Help Businesses Survive the Pandemic” in the June 2020 issue of the WSBA publication “Washington State Bar News”
- Presenter at the National Business Institute’s seminar “Bad Faith Insurance Claims,” December 2019
- Conducted Lorman Education Service’s seminar on “Bad Faith Insurance Claims in Construction Disputes,” October 2019
- Presenter at The Seminar Group’s seminar “Washington Construction Law,” September 2018
- Published article “Fortune Favors the Insured: The Wide-Reaching Impact of Xia v. ProBuilders” in the December 2017 issue of the WSBA publication “NW Lawyer”
- Presenter at the National Business Institute’s seminar “Commercial General Liability Policy: The Complete Guide,” December 2017
- Favorable settlement in property insurance claim for ongoing hidden water damage at condominium from multiple insurers that had issued policies dating back to the 1990s
- Summary judgment ruling that insurer’s denial of its duty to defend pending satisfaction of a $500,000 self-insured retention was in bad faith and that the insurer was therefore estopped from denying indemnity coverage – Osborne Construction Co. v. Zurich American Ins. Co.
- Summary judgment ruling that insurer’s ten-month delay between tender and acceptance of defense obligation was in bad faith as a matter of law, and that insurer could not cure its bad faith through a belated defense offer – Rushforth Construction Co. Inc. v. Wesco Ins. Co.
- Secured multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of Condominium Association from roofer for the cost to replace defective roof and resulting water damage
- Negotiated seven-figure settlement from liability insurer for environmental cleanup claim under decades-old policies
Thom Williams News
The City of Burien sued the owners of a historic waterfront property after the homeowners removed plants that allegedly damaged an adjacent steep-slope hillside. The homeowners tendered the City’s claim to their liability insurer, which claimed it could not accept or reject the request for insurance benefits pending the insurer’s…
A home located on Perkins Lane in Magnolia was damaged by a large set of concrete stairs that was negligently dropped by a contractor on a steep hillside above the home. The homeowner’s property insurer paid for some, but not all, of the damage. When the homeowner sued to the…
A general contractor tendered a claim as an “additional insured” to its subcontractor’s liability insurer. The insurer denied any duty to defend or indemnify on grounds that the general contractor was not an additional insured and that the insurer had no coverage obligations until the subcontractor satisfied a $500,000 self-insured…
About Our Firm
Harper | Hayes PLLC is a business litigation law firm, focusing on insurance coverage and construction defect disputes.
Insurance Coverage
We represent policyholders in insurance coverage disputes, including cases involving property, casualty, professional liability, directors and officers, and pollution insurance.
