Howard Stein

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Mr. Stein has been practicing law in Washington for over three decades.  As a prosecutor, criminal defense and civil litigation attorney he has successfully tried hundreds of cases.  These include serious felonies, DUI, personal injury and appellate cases to the Washington Supreme Court.  This is the attorney for you if you have an important or difficult case!  Please see Mr. Stein's vitae resume for a more complete review of his outstanding work. 

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                                                       HOWARD S. STEIN JD, AAFS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                STEIN, LOTZKAR & STARR P.S., INC.

2840 Northup Way, Ste. 140, Bellevue, Washington 98004 • (425) 576-0026 • [email protected]

                                                                                

Education

 

            Seattle University School of Law (Formally, University of Puget Sound) 1980-1983

                        Juris Doctor; top of graduating class

                        Advanced Course Studies in Constitutional Law and Criminal Law.

 

            University of Colorado

                        Boulder, CO. 1978 B.A. English, Creative Writing Program

                        Advanced entry into freshman class; overseas study, Florence, Italy

                       

Professional Experience

 

            American Academy of Forensic Scientists

                        2017 to Present

                        Member, Jurisprudence Section.

                       

            Stein, Lotzkar & Starr, P.S. Inc., Bellevue, WA

                        2006 – Present

                        Shareholder, Eight Attorney Law Firm emphasizing 

Criminal Defense, Appellant  and Plaintiff's Personal Injury Representation

 

            Tucker & Stein P.S., Inc., Bellevue, WA

                        1986-2005

                        Shareholder, Six-Attorney Law Firm emphasizing

                        Criminal Defense, Plaintiff's Personal Injury, and Small Business Representation

 

            The Law Offices of Kirshenbaum & Combs, Renton, WA 1985-1986

                        Associate Attorney

                        Emphasis on Criminal Prosecution and Defense

                        Represented Cities of Buckley and North Bend

 

            The Law Office of Janet Jordan Dillon, Tacoma, WA 1984-1985

                        Associate Attorney

                        General Practice with emphasis on Federal Indian Law

 

            Pierce County Prosecutor's Office 1983

                        Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Intern

                        Criminal Prosecution

 

Admissions, Memberships, Awards & Activities

 

       Admitted to Washington State Supreme Court

            Admitted to U.S. District Court, Western Division

            Member of the American Academy of Forensic Scientists

            Member, Washington State Bar Association

            Member, Washington State Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

            Member, National Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers

            Member and Faculty, Washington Criminal Justice Foundation

            Member and Committee Member, National DUI Defense College

            Judge Pro Tem, King County District Court

            Former Member of the King County Judicial Screening Committee

            Former Faculty King County Trial Advocacy Program

            Champion of Justice, Washington State Criminal Defense Lawyers

 

Major Litigation

 

            Appellate Litigation

 

State v. Keller,  Case No 101171-7 (2023) Washington State Supreme Court. Co Author Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice, amicus curiae.

 

Blomstrom v. Tripp, 189 Wn. 2d 379, 402 P.3d 831 (2017) Washington State Supreme Court Co Author, Washington Foundation for Criminal  Justice amicus curiae 

 

State v. Baird, 187 Wn. 2d 210, 386 P.3 239 (2016).  Co Author, Washington Foundation for Criminal  Justice amicus curiae.   

 

State v. Flanigan, et al., Snohomish County District Cause No. 5303A-15D (2015) Litigation challenging the foundation and admissibility of the Drager breath testing instrument.

 

Bellevue v. Shin Lee, 166 Wn.2d 581, 210 P.3d 1011 (2009), of counsel in a challenge to the Dept. of Licensing suspension process, a follow-up challenge to the successful challenges to Department of Licensing driver's license suspensions in City of Redmond v. Moore, 151 Wn.2d 664, 91 3d 875 (2004)

 

Seattle v. Clark Munoz, 152 Wn.2d 39, 93 P.3d 141(2004), successful challenge to breath test admissibility: NIST traceability of measurement issue.  (Lead Counsel) Washington Supreme Court, successful challenge to the admissibility of a breath test result which lacked traceability to NIST standards

 

State, Dept. of Licensing v. Randhawa, Cause No. 48613-6-1 (2003)

Washington State Court of Appeals Division I, challenge to the jurisdiction of the Department of Licensing in an administrative appeal.

 

Grewal v. Dept. of Licensing, 108 Wn.App. 815, 33 .3d 94, Div. I (2001)

 Washington State Court of Appeals challenge to the Dept. of Licensing Jurisdiction

                                     

State v. Crediford, 130 Wn.2d 747, 927 P.2d 1129 (1996)

Of Counsel with the Washington Appellate Defender in this Washington State Supreme Court successful challenge to criminal statute (unpublished decision 1993)

 

Seattle v. Carnell, 79 Wn. App. 400, 900 P.2d 186 (1995) Discretionary Review of Dept. of Licensing action.  Washington State Court of Appeals

 

Guy Williams v. Dept. of Licensing, 46 Wn.App 453 (1986); 731 P2d 531 Substitute Counsel for Eric Hoyer.   Washington State Court of Appeals (1986)

 

            Significant Civil Trial Litigation

 

Seattle v. Millay, Successful multi-day DUI and Suspended Driver's License Trial with acquittals on all counts

                        Seattle Municipal Court  (2021)

 

State  v. Hamack, one week DUI Accident Trial

 Snohomish County District Court (2017)

 

Myers v. Lustino, Successful one-week personal injury trial

                        Snohomish County Superior Court (2009)

 

Fournet v. Providence Medical Center, Complex Medical-Legal Litigation,

                         Snohomish County Superior Court (1999)

 

Vaughn v. Christianson, Civil fraud/ sale of a business two-week trial

                        King County Superior Court (1992)

 

Lyons v. Stansberry, et al, Personal Injury Action one-week jury trial

                        King Superior Court (1991)

 

In Re Janette and Glenn Sampson, Removal of Guardians and Appointment of Custodian

                        King Superior Court (1989)

 

City of Kirkland v. Craig A. Salins, successful Writ of Habeas Corpus.

            King County Superior Court (1988)

 

James Hess, et. ux. v. Burlington Northern Railroad, Pierce County Superior Court Plaintiff's          Personal Injury/Multiple Tortfeasors Complex Litigation

          King County Superior Court (1988)

 

 

Flow Industries, Inc. v. Yie, King County Superior Court

Successful Defense of Employment Contract Violation Claim and Related Patent Assignment

            King County Superior Court (1987)

 

In Re:  Natasha Webb, Successful contested guardianship three-week trial.

            action litigated for three weeks

            King County Superior Court (1986)

 

Speaking Engagements

 

2023    WFCJ Subpeona Practice, Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue WA

 

2022    WFCJ Motions in DUI cases,  Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue WA

 

2020     AAFS  Conference; Moderator Digital  Forensics and Multimedia Sciences,  Los Angeles, CA

 

2016    NCDD Conference Metrology II Science as Our Best Defense,   San Diego, CA

 

2016    WFCJ Defending DUIs -  Blood Warrants, Seatac, WA

 

2015    NCDD Annual Metrology Seminar “Navigating the Legal Landscape” Atlanta, GA

 

2014    NCDD Annual Metrology Seminar “Navigating the Legal Landscape”   Phoenix, AZ

 

2014    National Chemical Dependency Professionals Conference, Lynnwood, WA

 

2013    Washington State Firefighter's Annual Union Conference, Bremerton WA

 

2012    Washington State Firefighter's Annual Union Conference, Yakima, WA