Experienced Seattle and Tacoma Attorneys Handling Eviction Cases

When a tenant and landlord sign a lease agreement, both parties should have certain legal rights and responsibilities under the agreement. Unfortunately, some landlords may wish to evict a tenant because they believe the tenants have gone against provisions of the lease. This may include not paying rent, being overly disruptive to neighbors, destroying the property, using the property for illegal activity, and more. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant in an eviction case, it is imperative that you have an experienced Seattle & Tacoma eviction lawyer who understands Washington eviction laws standing up for your rights.

If you are party to an eviction suit in Seattle or Tacoma, contact the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess at (206) 621-1110 or (253) 572-1000 for a consultation with an experienced eviction lawyer today.

The Rights of both Parties in an Eviction

A landlord has the right to enforce the terms of a lease agreement—provided they were fair—and to have a tenant who refuses to comply with the agreement removed from the premises. A tenant, however, also has specific legal rights, and a landlord cannot simply force them out by removing their door, changing locks, or other such action. Landlords may not take the law into their own hands; instead, they must follow certain procedures set out by Washington law.

First, a landlord must notify the tenant of the default on rent or other issues so that they have a chance to resolve the problem or leave on their own. If the matter persists, a landlord must file a specific petition with the court setting out the reasons he is seeking an eviction. If a hearing is scheduled, the landlord must present evidence to support his allegations to the court.

If you are a tenant who receives notice that an eviction action has been initiated, you should never simply ignore it. Instead, you should always discuss your rights and any possible arguments you may present to the court on your behalf with an experienced eviction attorney. Landlords do not automatically win eviction cases, so you should always make sure that your rights are protected, as well.

Contact a Seattle and Tacoma eviction attorney for a consultation

If you are a landlord seeking an eviction or a tenant facing possible eviction, your first step should always be to call an experienced eviction attorney to discuss your case.

At the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, we offer phone consultations, so do not hesitate to call today at (206) 621-1110 or (253) 572-1000.

Attorney Robert Dickson

Attorney Robert DicksonThe core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners. His is a practical approach to law, which strives to balance the need for a successful legal outcome with a client’s financial goals (or constraints). Outside of his private practice, Rob serves as an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law where he teaches real estate litigation. [ Attorney Bio ]

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    Attorney Thomas L. Dickson

    Thomas L. Dickson

    Tom is an experienced litigator and the founding partner of the firm. For over 30 years, he’s helped clients prevail in their real estate, construction, and business law matters.

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    Attorney Heather Burgess

    Heather Burgess

    Heather represents property owners and developers in all phases of real estate development, from pre-acquisition due diligence through local permitting and appeals.

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    Attorney Robert P. Dickson

    Robert P. Dickson

    The core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners.

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    Attorney Daniel J. Frohlich

    Daniel J. Frohlich

    Dan’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate law, business law and probate law. He has more than 10 years of experience as an attorney serving clients throughout Western Washington.

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    Attorney Mark S. Johnson

    Mark S. Johnson

    Mark’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate law, business law and family law. He works tirelessly to help his clients achieve the outcome they are looking for.

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    Trevor A. Zandell

    Since graduating with honors from law school in 2005, Trevor has been serving the legal needs of businesses, individuals, and families across Southwest Washington.

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    Attorney Daniel E. Pizarro

    Daniel E. Pizarro

    As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Daniel is active in the firm’s civil litigation department. His practice is mainly centered around real estate law, landlord-tenant law, construction law, and probate law.

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    Attorney Alexander J. Wisbey

    Alexander J. Wisbey

    Alexander Wisbey comes to the firm with 5 years of experience as a litigator and trial attorney. He has first chaired several jury trials and has extensive experience handling arbitrations, mediations, depositions, and settlements.

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    Attorney Andrew Hata

    Andrew Hata

    Andrew is the head of our Transactional Department and focuses his practice on corporate governance, real estate transactions, commercial contracts, and corporate finance.

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    Kelley Duggan

    As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kelley practices in a wide range of areas, including estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and intellectual property law.

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    Attorney Cambria A. Queen

    Cambria A. Queen

    Cambria is an Associate with Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess in the civil litigation department, where she practices primarily real estate and probate law.

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    Attorney George Knight

    George Knight

    As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, George is active in the firm’s civil litigation and transactional departments. His practice is mainly centered around business law, real estate law, construction law, employment law, and probate law.

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    Attorney Chris Pierce-Wright

    Chris Pierce-Wright

    Chris comes to Phillips Burgess Tacoma from Seattle, where he served as an associate attorney focused on insurance litigation with Wilson Smith Cochran Dickerson.

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    Attorney Jennifer Yoo

    Jennifer Yoo

    Jennifer is an associate attorney at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess where her current practice focuses on real estate law, contract and commercial disputes, and business law.

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    Katherine E. Baals

    As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Katherine practices in a range of areas, including real estate, construction, business, and civil litigation.

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    Attorney Kenneth Chan

    Kenneth Chan

    As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, PLLC, Kenny is active in the firm’s civil litigation and transactional departments. Prior to working at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kenny was an in-house attorney for a Fortune 100 company.

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    Attorney Brian Buske

    Brian Buske

    Following his graduation from Lewis & Clark Law School, Brian garnered valuable client experience working on international compliance and intellectual property issues.

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    Attorney Kyla S. Bennett

    Kyla S. Bennett

    As an associate at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, Kyla practices in a range of areas, including real estate, land use, and civil litigation.

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    I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate this firm! These guys helped me through one of the most challenging legal situations I’ve faced in my life. Their skill and expertise literally saved my business. I’ve dealt with other counsel in the past but the Dickson firm was by far the most competent and tactful counsel I’ve ever received. I would recommend this group to anyone!

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