Nicholas (Cole) Douglas
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Tacoma, Washington
Cochran Douglas Attorneys at Law
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Civil Rights; view more
Licensed in Washington since: 2015
Education: Seattle University School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2018 - 2025 Call today:
253-352-2990
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2501 Fawcett AveTacoma, WA 98402 Visit website
Details
Nicholas (Cole) Douglas is a partner at Cochran Douglas, which has its offices in Tacoma, Washington. Concentrating his practice on personal injury matters, ranging from car accidents to product liability and wrongful death, he also takes on sexual abuse cases, serving clients throughout the state of Washington.
Douglas is a compassionate and empathic attorney, taking the time to listen to his clients and answering all their questions. He provides personalized solutions for each of his clients cases and understands the pain they must be going through, especially when they are injured by another person’s careless actions.
Graduating cum laude and with dean’s list honors, Douglas obtained his Juris Doctor from the Seattle University School of Law. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Willamette University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management.
Douglas is licensed to practice in Washington and before the United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. He has received much recognition for his contributions to the field of law, including being named to the Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 by The National Trial Lawyers, and receiving an Avvo rating of 10 out of 10. Douglas was also recently selected to the 40 Under 40 List by the South Sound Business Journal, and the On the Rise List by the American Bar Association, recognizing the top 40 young lawyers in nation.
Active in his affiliations with the legal community, Mr. Douglas is a member of the Honorable Robert J. Bryan American Inns of Court, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the King County Bar Association and the Thurston County Bar Association. He is also an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice and the past president of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association’s New & Young Lawyers Section.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Civil Rights, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Animal Bites, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Dram Shop Laws, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 70% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10% Civil Rights
- 10% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2015, Washington
Professional Webpage: https://www.cochrandouglas.com
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Washington State Bar Association, Litigation Committee, 2024
- Washington State Association for Justice, New Member Committee, 2024
- Washington State Bar Association, Litigation Committee, 2023
- Washington State Association for Justice, New Member Committee, 2023
- Washington State Association for Justice, New Member Committee, 2022
- Washington State Association for Justice, New Member Committee, 2021
- Washington State Association for Justice, New Member Committee, 2020
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, New & Young Lawyer Board Member - Immediate Past President, 2020
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Immediate Past President of the New and Young Lawyers Section
- The American Association of Justice, Member
- Washington
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 2019
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, New & Young Lawyer Board Member - President, 2019
- Washington State Association for Justice, EAGLE Member
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Member
- Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, New & Young Lawyer Board Member - Trustee, 2018
- Seattle University School of Law’s 1L Alumni Mentorship Program, Alumni Mentor, 2018
- Washington State Association for Justice, Pierce County Roundtable Chair, 2016
- King County Bar Association, Member
- Tacoma Plaintiffs' Attorney Roundtable (TPAR), Member
- Washington State Association for Justice, New Member Committee, 2019
- American Bar Association, Member
- Thurston County Bar Association, Member
- Robert J. Bryan American Inns of Court, Pierce County, Washington
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- $5 million judgment on behalf of motor vehicle collision victim and family, 2024
- $5.25 million settlement for a wrongful death occurring at a nursing home, 2024
- $1.7 million settlement against State of Washington for child sex abuse survivor, 2024
- $905,000 settlement for a motor vehicle accident victim shortly after trial commenced, 2024
- $875,000 settlement for a slip and fall victim who was injured at a construction site, 2024
- $800 global settlement for victims of a motor vehicle accident, 2024
- $350,000 settlement for a victim of police excessive force, 2024
- $1 million settlement for a motor vehicle accident victim, 2023
- $1 million settlement for a victim of sexual harassment at a rehabilitation treatment center, 2023
- $500,000 settlement for a medical malpractice case against a behavioral hospital, 2023
- $300,000 settlement for a motor vehicle accident victim, 2023
- $250,000 settlement for a slip and fall victim at a grocery store, 2023
- $250,000 settlement in a product liability case against a tractor manufacturer, 2023
- $175,000 settlement for a slip and fall victim, 2023
- $140,000 settlement for a dog bite victim who was nipped on her right big toe, 2023
- $1.5 million settlement against a nursing home stemming from the sexual assault of a patient perpetrated by an employee., 2022
- $1,025,000 settlement against a Tacoma bar stemming from a dram shop action., 2022
- $435,000 settlement for a motor vehicle accident victim with soft tissue injuries, 2022
- $300,000 settlement for a motor vehicle accident victim with soft tissue injuries, 2022
- $250,000 settlement for a motor vehicle accident victim, 2020
- $95,000 verdict for a motor vehicle accident victim with less than $5,000 in special damages, 2022
- $1,575,000 sex abuse settlement against the State of Washington stemming from DSHS' failure to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect, 2021
- $500,000 trial verdict against the Bethel School District for failing to protect a cognitively disabled female student from ongoing sexual assault and harassment., 2021
- $8 million serious injury settlement for the victim of excessive force by the Tacoma Police Department., 2021
- $5.9 million judgment entered against a Parkland bar stemming from a dram shop action., 2021
- $3,800,000 sex abuse settlement against the State of Washington stemming from DSHS' failure to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect., 2020
- $3,250,000 sex abuse settlement against the State of Washington stemming from DSHS' failure to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect., 2020
- On August 8, 2015 and January 2, 2016, Plaintiffs were involved in two separate motor vehicle collisions that resulted in injuries ranging from a broken index finger to a mild concussion. After filing suit against the other drivers and filing a bad faith UIM claim against Plaintiffs' insurer, counsel was able to resolve all claims for a total of $546,000., 2019
- $1,100,000 serious injury settlement for the passenger of a drunk driving motor vehicle accident., 2019
- $1,000,000 sex abuse settlement against a school district for failure to protect a special needs student from a child predator with a history of assaultive behavior., 2019
- $3,100,000 settlement with the State of Washington for the abuse suffered by a little girl in Vancouver, Washington. DSHS placed the then state-dependent two-year-old girl into the custody of her biological father even though DSHS social workers knew about the father’s previous conviction for Child Rape in the Second Degree. Following termination of dependency by the State, the father had unfettered access to his daughter for a four year period in which he routinely sexually abused her. The little girl was finally removed from her father’s care after she disclosed her abuse to other children on her bus. PCVA filed suit against the State of Washington and DSHS in 2016 alleging that the little girl never should have been placed in the sole, unsupervised custody of her child rapist father. PCVA also argued that DSHS, who controls the flow of information to the court, failed to disclose and materially misrepresented other pertinent information about the biological father prior to the Court’s ruling on dependency. The case quickly settled after the State’s motion for summary judgment was denied., 2018
- $500,000 settlement for a teenage girl who was called derogatory names at her place of work., 2018
- Lawsuit against the University of Washington on behalf of three powerchair and manual wheelchair users over hundreds of Americans With Disabilities Act violations at the UW's Seattle campus’s parking facilities. After extensive litigation, the University agreed to entry of a 15-year consent decree under which, subject to attorney oversight, it will bring the parking facilities into full ADA compliance; create a full-time ADA coordinator position; conduct program access analyses subject to attorney approval for University services and programs served by parking facilities; maintain ADA grievance procedures compliant with law; provide parking-related ADA grievances to attorneys for their review; and use best efforts to train University employees regarding ADA compliance and enforcement of accessible parking requirements and regulations., 2018
- $1,000,000 settlement with an apartment complex where a seven-year-old girl drowned in the common area pool. The girl and her family were refugees from the war-torn country of Sudan. They had escaped genocidal violence in Darfur and relocated to an apartment community in Lakewood, Washington. On June 8, 2015, a swimmer bumped into the girl’s body lying at the bottom of the apartment complex’s pool. No witnesses saw the girl go into the water, and she was still wearing her street clothes and shoes when she was pulled out of the water. Lifesaving efforts by first responders and medical staff at Tacoma’s Mary Bridge Hospital and Seattle Children’s were unsuccessful. Filed suit under Washington’s wrongful death statute on behalf of the child’s estate and her parents alleging that the seven-year-old never should have been able to enter the pool area alone. The apartment complex opened the pool despite not having an adequate safety gate, any supervision in place or necessary emergency procedures in effect that would keep children safe in the pool area. The case settled prior to trial., 2017
- In October 2011, the Department of Social and Health Services (“DSHS”) received a report that a man had punched a seven-month-old baby in the face. Despite multiple opportunities to intervene, DSHS instead chose to perform a cursory investigation of the alleged abuse and leave the infant child in the care of his alleged abuser. Ten days later, the baby was rushed to the emergency room at Mary Bridge Hospital by his mother and her boyfriend. The baby had suffered skull fractures, broken limbs, and retinal hemorrhaging. Emergency life-saving procedures were required to stop a brain bleed and treat the badly injured baby boy. In September, 2014, a court appointed advocate for the infant child filed suit against the State of Washington and DSHS arguing that the State negligently failed to protect the infant child from foreseeable harm. Trial commenced in February 2017 and lasted over three weeks. On March 10, 2017, before closing arguments, Plaintiffs settled the case for $1,500,000., 2017
- In February 2014, mother and daughter plaintiffs were attempting to make a left turn onto State Route 410 in Enumclaw, WA under the protection of a green light. Suddenly, and without any warning, defendant’s truck struck plaintiff’s vehicle in the right front passenger door. The defendant driver had not been paying attention and blew through a red traffic signal. He did not see plaintiffs’ vehicle until impact. The mother sustained injuries to her back, shoulder and left ankle. The daughter sustained injuries to her neck, back and hip. Plaintiffs filed suit in April 2015 and placed the case into mandatory arbitration. On December 11, 2015, the arbitrator issued and filed the Arbitration Award in favor of plaintiffs. Because of the significant award, defendant appealed, via trial de novo. Trial commenced in August 2016. Attorney Cole Douglas, in association with Rod Ray of Margullis and Ray, convinced a jury to award a substantial verdict in favor of plaintiffs. The verdict amount surpassed the arbitration award., 2016
- Seven clients whose Apple devices were rendered inoperable (“bricked”) by Error 53 and who bought replacement devices brought suit against Apple for the cost of their replacement devices, their lost data, and other damages. After Plaintiffs survived three attempts by Apple to get the case dismissed, the parties reached a comprehensive settlement providing full replacement costs and additional compensation to all clients in the case., 2016
Videos:
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2023
- United States District Court – Eastern District of Washington, 2017
- United States District Court – Western District of Washington, 2016
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Volunteer Legal Services: Tacoma Pierce County Housing Justice Project, Volunteer Attorney, 2015
Honors/Awards:
- The On The Rise Award program provides national recognition for ABA young lawyer members who exemplify a broad range of high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service., On The Rise—Top 40 Young Lawyers Award, American Bar Association, 2024
- Selected by peers in both practice area and metropolitan region through a highly esteemed and globally respected peer-review voting process. This recognition is reserved for the top 6% of practicing attorneys in the nation., Best Lawyers - Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Selected as one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Washington, Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers, 2024
- Selected to the 2024 Rising Stars list, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Selected as one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Washington, Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers, 2023
- Selected to the 2023 Rising Stars list, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2023
- Top Attorney, Avvo Rating 10.0
- Selected to the South Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40 List for 2022, 40 Under 40, The South Sound Business Journal, 2022
- Selected to the 2022 Rising Stars list, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2022
- Selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Washington, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers, 2022
- Selected to the 2021 Rising Stars list, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Washington, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers, 2021
- Selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Washington, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers, 2020
- Selected to the 2020 Rising Stars list, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2020
- Selected to the 2019 Rising Stars list, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2019
- Selected to the 2018 Rising Stars list, Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2018
- I earned the highest possible grade in Client Counseling and Negotiation for the Fall Semester Client Counseling and Negotiation class at Seattle University School of Law., CALI Excellence for the Future Award - Client Counseling and Negotiation, 2015
Educational Background:
- Seattle University School of Law, Dean's List, Cum Laude, 2015
- Atkinson Graduate School of Management - Willamette University, M.B.A., 2012
- Willamette University, B.A., 2011
Selections
8 Years Rising Stars
- Rising Stars: 2018 - 2025
