Christopher E. Love
Top rated Appellate attorney in Tacoma, Washington
Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC
Practice areas: Appellate, Insurance Coverage, Class Action & Mass Torts; view more
Licensed in Washington since: 2010
Education: Seattle University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2018 - 2022 Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC
909 A StreetSuite 700
Tacoma, WA 98402 Phone: 253-948-3199 Email: Christopher E. Love Visit website
For Christopher (Chris) Love, the more difficult the case and the higher the stakes, the better. He dives headfirst into the most-complex legal issues and thinks through all of the strategies needed to help secure a win for his clients. Chris focuses on appeals, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, class actions, and complex trial-level litigation throughout Washington State, New York, California, and New Jersey. He pushes the limits of the law to secure justice for the injured and victimized. Thanks to this impressive reputation and track record of results, Chris also provides legal and appellate consultation and expert witness services for other law firms in multi-million-dollar matters.
Chris has leveraged his years of experience to help his clients successfully take on billion-dollar insurance companies, school districts, educational institutions, state government entities, medical providers, and multinational corporations in their pursuit of justice. Victories for Chris's clients include: a $28,000,000 settlement of insurance bad faith claims on behalf of six sexually abused children; a $12,000,000 settlement on behalf of two women arising from their childhood sexual abuse and related claims for insurance coverage and insurance bad faith; the Washington State Supreme Court's decision in M.R. v. State of Washington holding that Washington's childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations allows claims for abuse continuing after age 18; the Washington State Supreme Court's decision in Preferred Contractors Insurance Co v. Baker and Sons Constr., Inc., only the fourth decision in Washington State history to strike down insurance coverage restrictions as violations of public policy; the Washington State Supreme Court’s landmark decision in W.H. v. Olympia Sch. Dist. holding that school districts are strictly liable for employees’ sexual abuse of students under the Washington Law Against Discrimination defending a $98,000,000 jury award of damages from post-trial motions attempting to overturn the verdict; and negotiating an $8,000,000 settlement and stipulated judgment in Harmon v. Diocese of Albany, the largest single plaintiff childhood sexual abuse settlement and first stipulated judgment with a New York Catholic Diocese.
Chris also helps spearhead PCVA's efforts in numerous institutional bankruptcies across the country involving thousands of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Working with and respected by nationally renowned bankruptcy, insurance, and tort attorneys, Chris innovates trailblazing strategies for ensuring institutions and their insurers cannot weaponize the bankruptcy system to avoid public accountability and financial responsibility for sexual abuse.
Chris also plays an integral role in PCVA’s Class Action, Multidistrict Litigation, and Complex Litigation practices, obtaining tremendous results for his clients, such as a $7.5 million settlement with MultiCare on behalf of patients victimized by improper medical services liens; PCVA’s Error 53 lawsuit prompting Apple to issue a software fix and an apology to consumers worldwide within days of filing; a $1.5 million class action settlement for over 900 restaurant workers wrongfully denied pay for overtime and missed meal and rest breaks, tip pool violations, and automatic service charge violations; and a consent decree requiring the University of Washington, subject to PCVA oversight, to bring all Seattle campus parking facilities into full ADA compliance for individuals with mobility impairments.
An Alabama native, Chris knew the “what” of his future—law school—but not the “where.” Armed with nothing more than a paper Rand McNally road atlas and the old adage, “Go West, young man,” Chris crossed the Mississippi, the Mojave and the Cascades in search of his destination. At his first glimpses of the Gorge, the Columbia, the Mountain and Puget Sound, Chris immediately knew he had found a home in Washington State. Although he is at home in the midst of intensely complex legal issues, Chris’s down-to-earth and effortless way of explaining the often-complicated legal process to his clients puts them at ease. Although he is at home in the midst of intensely complex legal issues, Chris’s down-to-earth and effortless way of explaining the often-complicated legal process to his clients puts them at ease.
Outside the office, Chris enjoys low and slow smoking on his pellet grill; back-country hiking; and supporting local industries by sampling from Washington’s farmers, fishermen, ranchers, brewers, vintners, coffee roasters and cheesemakers. His adventurous spirit leads Chris to travel the globe with his wife.
Practice areas
Appellate, Insurance Coverage, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, General Litigation, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFirst Admitted: 2010, Washington
Professional Webpage: https://www.pcva.law/attorney/love-christopher-e/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Washington State Association for Justice Amicus Committee, 2025
- Washington Pattern Instruction Committee, 2025
- Served on Washington State Supreme Court workgroup researching and implementing proposed amendments to the Washington State Rules of Appellate Procedure, 2018
- Supreme Court of the State of Washington , Rules of Appellate Procedure Workgroup, 2018
- Supreme Court of the State of Washington , Court Recovery Task Force – Jury Trial Alternatives and Six Person Jury Incentives Subcommittee, 2020-present
- Supreme Court of the State of Washington , Court Recovery Task Force – Civil Litigation Subcommittee, 2020-present
- Supreme Court of the State of Washington
- King County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington
- American Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- Washington State Association for Justice , Court Operations Task Force, Legal Subcommittee, Chair, 2020-present
- Washington State Association for Justice
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
- Washington Bar
- Local Rules Committee, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, 2018
- Chair, Court Rules Committee, Washington State Association for Justice
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- $2,100,000 settlement with insurer, insurance agent, and insurance underwriter for claims of insurance coverage and professional negligence , 2024
- C.C. v. Kiwanis Int'l, 32 Wn. App. 2d 1017, 568 P.3d 677 (2024), 2024
- $8,000,000 settlement with NY Catholic Diocese arising for claims of childhood sexual abuse, 2025
- Preferred Contractors Ins. Co. v. Baker & Son Constr. Inc., 200 Wn.2d 128, 131, 514 P.3d 1230 (2022), 2022
- M.R. v. State, 4 Wn.3d 702, 568 P.3d 299 (2025) , 2025
- $12,000,000 settlement with insurer arising from claims of childhood sexual abuse, insurance coverage, and insurance bad faith , 2025
- $28,000,000 settlement of insurance bad faith claims against insurer, 2024
- Twede v. University of Washington - Consent decree requiring University of Washington to remediate, subject to Plaintiffs' oversight, numerous Americans With Disability Act violations in numerous parking facilities and lots located on its Seattle campus, 2018
- Confidential class action settlement that included full reimbursement and additional payment for 169 clients whose Apple devices were made inoperable by the Error 53 bug
- $1.5 million class action settlement for more than 900 restaurant workers wrongfully denied pay for overtime and missed meal and rest breaks, tip pool violations and automatic service charge violations
- $6 million settlement with Kiwanis International for failing to protect children from sexual abuse at Kiwanis Vocational Home
- $7.5 million consumer protection class action settlement with MultiCare on behalf of thousands of motor vehicle accident victims who suffered deceptive collection practices regarding their medical bills and improper medical services liens
- Ralph v. State of Washington Department of Natural Resources (Ralph I), 182 Wn.2d 242 (2014)
- Gutierrez v. Olympia School District, 184 Wn. App. 1059 (2014)
- Walker v. Hunter Donaldson, LLC, 196 Wn. App. 1037 (2016)
- Steel v. Olympia Early Learning Center, 195 Wn. App. 811 (2016)
- Ralph v. State of Washington Department of Natural Resources (Ralph II), 187 Wn.2d 326 (2016)
- Hamaker v. Highline Med. Ctr., 8 Wn. App. 2d 1012 (2019)
- W.H. v. Olympia Sch. Dist., ___ Wn.2d ___, 465 P.3d 322 (2020)
- Successfully represented plaintiff’s law firm to preserve its $91 million verdict in a personal injury case after defendant attempted to overturn or reduce the verdict.
- $25 million covenant judgment settlement arising from sexual abuse at the Olympia Early Learning Center
- Walker v. Hunter Donaldson, LLC, et al. - $7.5 million settlement with MultiCare Health System re: unlawful medical services liens practices, 2014
- Blasco v. El Gaucho Tacoma, LLC - $1.5 million class action settlement for over 900 workers wrongfully deneid pay for overtime and missed meal and rest breaks, tip pool violations, and auatomatic service charge violations, 2017
Honors
- Top 25 Verdicts & Settlements of the West, The Recorde, 2020
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award®, Comparative Juvenile Justice and Criminal Law, Seattle University School of Law, 2007
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award®, Advanced Constitutional Law: First Amendment and the Internet, Seattle University School of Law, 2008
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award®, Federal Courts, Seattle University School of Law, 2008
- Appellate Externship Service Recognition Award, Honorable J. Robin Hunt
- Washington Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters
- Washington Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2023
- Ones to Watch® in America, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Best Lawyers
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2024
Educational Background
- University of Alabama, 2004
- Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, Washington, 2009
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Authored/presented written materials regarding the record on review, preservation of common types of issues in civil trials, effective utilization of motions for reconsideration or for a new trial, and practical and legal considerations in pursuing an appeal in Washington State courts, Playing the Long Game: Trial and Beyond from An Appellate Perspective, Washington State Bar Association, 2018
- Offers of Judgment, Employment Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, October 2017, Offers of Judgment, Employment Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, 2017
- Boyer v. Morimoto: Ensuring Your Nonresident Medical Experts Are Up to Washington’s Standards, WSAJ Trial News, Washington State Association for Justice, Boyer v. Morimoto: Ensuring Your Nonresident Medical Experts Are Up to Washington’s Standards, WSAJ Trial News, Washington State Association for Justice, 2020
- Foreign Products, Products Liability Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, Foreign Products, Products Liability Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, 2020
- Covenant Judgments, Insurance Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, May 2022, Covenant Judgments, Insurance Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, 2022
- Authored Chapter 29, "Offers of Judgment" , Washington Employment Law Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, 2017
- Authored Chapter Seven, "Medical Provider Liens", Washington Subrogation Deskbook, Washington State Association for Justice, 2016
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Judicial law clerk to the Honorable Thomas Bjorgen of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III
- Judicial law clerk to the Honorable Elaine Houghton (Retired) of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III
- Judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lisa Worswick of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, 2010
- Judicial law clerk to the Honorable Marywave Van Deren of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III
- Judicial law clerk to the Honorable David Armstrong of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, 2012
- Judicial law clerk to the Honorable C.C. Bridgewater (pro tem) of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, 2012
- Washington State Association For Justice; American Association For Justice
Office location for Christopher E. Love
909 A Street
Suite 700
Tacoma, WA 98402
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2018 - 2022