Attorney
Matthew J. Wurdeman
Attorney
Matthew J. Wurdeman
Matt’s practice focuses primarily on cases involving medical malpractice, civil rights, personal injury, and wrongful death. While working at Connelly Law Offices, Matt's case results have been outstanding, even obtaining recognition for winning the Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in the United States in 2021. Before joining Connelly Law Offices, Matt worked as a law clerk for Chief Justice Barbara Madsen of the Washington Supreme Court and the Honorable John C. Coughenour at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Matt worked with developmentally disabled adults in San Diego, was a hiking and sea kayak guide in Alaska, taught English in Mexico and Korea, was a mountain bike instructor and camp director in Switzerland, and taught high school science and math in Bellingham. He also founded a theatre company in Korea.
In his free time, Matt enjoys mountain biking, fishing, and backpacking with his wife, Christina. Matt and Christina are passionate Coonhound dog rescuers, and have adopted four Coonhounds so far: Daisy May, Olivander, Georgia Fawkes, and Cruz, and they do not plan on slowing down.
Education
- JD – University of Washington, 2015
- Order of the Coif, Order of the Barristers, Commencement Speaker, Washington Law Review, Moot Court Honor Board, AAJ National Mock Trial Team, Innocence Project NW President
- BA , Drama and History – The Colorado College, 2001
Admissions
- Washington State Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Memberships & Community Involvement
- Foundation for Washington State Courts, Board Member
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project – Providing pro bono attorney representation to detained asylum seekers
- University of Washington Moot Court Honor Board Alumni Advisory Board, Board Member
- Tacoma Refugee Choir, Board Member - External Committee Chair
Awards & Recognition
- Top Verdict.com
- Best of the Bar: Top 100 Settlements Nationwide (2022)
- Top 10 settlements for Wrongful Death in the United States (2020, 2021)
- Top 10 settlements for Medical Malpractice in the United States (2020)
- Top 50 Settlements for Motor Vehicle Collisions in the United States (2020)
- Top 55 Settlements for Personal Injury Settlements (2021)
- Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ): 2020 New Lawyer Award "Ready to Soar"
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association
2018 Community Service Award: For exemplary service as a TPCBA member who volunteers his time in both legal and non-legal community service to improve the circumstances of others.
American Institute of Trial Lawyers:
- Top 40 Under 40
Representative Cases
- Woodring-Thueson v. University of Washington (2018) WL -------- (Wash.Super.)
- $25.3 million jury verdict for woman who experienced delay in diagnosis of basilar artery occlusion after being admitted to Harborview Medical Center
- Confidential v. Confidential (2023) -
- $15,000,000 settlement in a medical malpractice case.
- Estate of Stringer v. Confidential (2021)
- Obtained a $12 million settlement for wrongful death of construction worker who was buried alive in jobsite accident
- Richardson v. Harborview (2022) -
- $10,000,000 settlement on behalf of a woman who suffered ischemic strokes from vasospasm following a hemorrhagic stroke.
- Harding v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of WA, Oral Heath Specialists (2021)
- Obtained a $10 million global settlement for a woman who suffered a stroke as a result of improper discontinuation of blood thinner
- Confidential Plaintiffs v. Confidential Hospital and Confidential Anesthesiology Group (2020)
- Obtained a $8.25 million settlement for the family of a 28-year-old woman who died from a postpartum hemorrhage following a Caesarian section
- Kim v. Binex Line Corp (West. Dist. WA 2022)
- Obtained a $7,462,500 settlement on behalf of a man who was paralyzed by a drunk driver. At fault company only had $5 million in insurance
- Pope v. United States (2020)
- Obtained a $4.5 settlement on behalf of a woman who suffered bilateral phrenic nerve injury during a mediastinal mass removal, and required mechanical ventilation for the rest of her life
- Goseer v. Confidential Hospital (2023)
- $3,000,000 settlement on behalf of a pregnant woman who spent four hours in the waiting room and lost her baby.
- Confidential Plaintiff v. St. Joseph Medical Center (2021)
- Obtained a $3 million settlement for a man whose rectum was perforated by an improperly administered enema
- Confidential Plaintiff vs. Confidential Defendant (2020)
- Obtained a $2.75 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit arising out of a motor vehicle accident in which the decedent survived for an undetermined amount of time before succumbing to their injuries
- Estate of E.K. v. Confidential Defendant (2020)
- Obtained a $2 million policy limits settlement on behalf of the family of a young man who drowned during a camp activity
- T.W. v. Boys and Girls Club (2018)
- $1.5 million jury verdict for client who was sexually assaulted by staff members at the Boys and Girls Club
- Cash v. Harborview Hospital
- Obtained a $1.3 million settlement on behalf of a woman who died after being allowed to pull out her hemodialysis catheter
- Shuler v. Confidential Wound Care Clinic
- Obtained a $900,000 settlement on behalf of a 82-year-old woman who lost her leg as a result of a poorly treated infection
- Fox v. Reality Management, LLC (2019)
- Obtained a $375,000 settlement for a woman who broken her leg in several places as a result of a noncompliant premises
- Tyson v. Confidential Hospital (2019)
- Obtained a $300,000 settlement for a man who suffered a severe kidney injury as a result of medical malpractice
- McKay v. Confidential (2020)
- Obtained at-fault and UIM policy-limit policies totaling $300,000 for the passenger in a rear-end collision in California
- Harper v. PEMCO and Ameriprise (2018):
- Obtained policy limits of $200,000 between 3rd party insurer and UIM insurer in a motor vehicle accident claim
- Confidential Plaintiff v. Lakewood Police Department (2021)
- Obtained $190,000 settlement on behalf of a 14-year-old girl who was assaulted by a Lakewood Police Officer
Publications
- Defending Against the Martian Virus, Published in Trial News May 2023
- It Needs to Be Done: Representing a Refugee, Published in Trial News March 2019
- Loss-of-Chance Doctrine in Washington: From Herskovits to Mohr and the need for clarification, 89 Wash. L. Rev. 603 (2014)