Background:
Avelin served as an attorney for
four years with the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General
Corps (last tour at Ft. Lewis) beginning in 1971. He
began private practice in Olympia in 1975. His practice
is focused on personal injury,
Social Security disability, and arbitration/mediation.
Arbitration and mediation are more economical methods
than litigation to resolve disputes. Avelin has been a
member of the Mandatory Arbitration Panels of Thurston
and Mason County since their inception. He has developed
a private practice mediating personal injury disputes at
the request of plaintiffs’ attorneys, defense attorneys,
the state of Washington and insurance companies. He has
also served as a Thurston County District Court Judge Pro-Tem
since 1976 conducting mediation and
pre-trial conferences for civil jury cases. However, the main focus of his
practice continues to be the representation of injured
people.
Education:
Trinity University, B.S. in
Business Administration (1968)
University of Texas School of Law, J.D. (1971)
Community:
Capital Bicycling Club member and YMCA Moot Court
Rater for statewide competition.
Avelin is a long-time member of the
American Association
for Justice (formerly ATLA), the Washington
Association for Justice (formerly WSTLA),
and the National Organization of Social Security
Claimants’ Representatives. He has received an “AV”
rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest
rating attainable for competence and integrity in the
practice of law. Avelin has been identified by the monthly publication
Washington Law and Politics as one of the 500 best
lawyers in the state of Washington.
Settlements and
Verdicts:
$ 3,000,000
- Vehicle v. "Cherry Picker"
$ 2,500,000 - Boat
Accident
$ 1,200,000 - Railroad
Crossing Collision (Co-Counsel)
$ 1,000,000 - Vehicle v.
Motorcycle Collision
$
373,000 - Intersection Collision
$
325,000 - Construction Accident
$
150,000 - Vehicle v. Bicycle
Areas of Practice:
•
Personal
Injury
•
Social Security
Disability
•
Workers'
Compensation
•
Arbitrator
•
Mediator