Sunnyside, WA

Terry P. Abeyta

Although practicing in the most conservative area of the state, Terry P. Abeyta has earned recognition as one of the top plaintiff’s personal injury attorneys in Washington. He recovered $6.9 million on a bleacher fall case (the largest settlement in the history of Yakima County), $6.25 million on a car-truck crash (the largest settlement in the history of Franklin County), $4.1 million on a car crash case (the largest settlement in the history of Kittitas County), $3.5 million on a school playground case, the highest settlements in the history of Grant County ($2.5 million), Klickitat County ($2.5 million) and Stevens County ($1.3 million). In addition, Terry achieved the largest recovery on an uninsured motorist case in Yakima County history, the largest jury verdict on a cervical soft-tissue case in Yakima County, and obtained a $700,000 settlement for the children of a 39-year-old Native American man who committed suicide in the Yakima Tribal Jail. Terry has tried 50 jury trials and arbitrated hundreds of cases. Terry was the first plaintiff’s attorney from Central Washington chosen for The Best Lawyers in America, the first in Central Washington named to the Super Lawyer list, has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 1999, and has been named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America. The National Association of Distinguished Counsel has included Terry in their Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys list. From 2022-2024, Terry was named Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year for Central Washington by The Best Lawyers in America. Terry is a member of Damages Attorney Round Table, a small, exclusive invitation-only group of the top personal injury lawyers in Washington state. He is past president of the Washington Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, has served in many leadership roles for the Washington State Association for Justice, and is a past president of the Yakima County Bar Association. He has received WSAJ’s Alvin Anderson award for outstanding contribution to building WSAJ’s Eagle membership. Terry was born and raised in Yakima, Washington. He graduated at the top of his class from Yakima Valley College, at the top of his class from Whitman College, and in the top 15 percent of his class at University of Washington School of Law. He worked his way through college as a newspaper reporter for the Yakima-Herald Republic, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (owned by the Seattle Times), and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In his non-lawyer life, Terry enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, working out, playing guitar, listening to music, hiking, gardening, and trying to keep up with the activities of his eight grandchildren. He’s blessed that all of them live in Yakima.

Bill Pickett

Since 1997, Bill has been a licensed attorney practicing in personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights (police misconduct), and medical malpractice matters. He is a 20-year member of the bar, born and raised in Yakima, and proud to serve this community as a solo practitioner focused on trial advocacy in matters of personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights, police misconduct, and medical malpractice. He also teaches mock trial in local high schools and is an adjunct faculty member in the LL.M Trial Advocacy Degree Program for Temple University School of Law. He has served as WSBA President (2018-2019) and Board of Governors (2015-2018).

David P. Abeyta

David P. Abeyta is a second-generation personal injury lawyer and a partner at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law. He works in the areas of plaintiffs’ personal injury and wrongful death claims, including auto accidents, workplace injuries, and school injuries. David is a life-long resident of Yakima, Washington. After graduating from West Valley High School, David went on to study at Washington State University and graduated in 2005 with a degree in Political Science. He continued his education at the California Western School of Law, graduating in 2009. David joined Abeyta Nelson Injury Law in March 2010. David is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), and the American Association for Justice. He serves on the Washington State Association for Justice Board of Governors. David was awarded the “Ready to Soar” New Lawyer Award by WSAJ in 2014. From 2016-2023, David was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine, an award given to only 2.5% of lawyers in the state of Washington who are under the age of 40 or in practice for less than 10 years. In 2024, David was named a Super Lawyer. David is active in the community, serving on the board of directors for the Yakima Valley Community Foundation for nine years. He served as co-chair of the Pillars Campaign for United Way, and was also named a Campaign Volunteer of the Year. David is proud father to Beauchene, Penelope, and Margaux. In his free time, David enjoys skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, watching his children play sports, and going to concerts year-round.

Brett N. Goodman

Brett N. Goodman is a trial lawyer specializing in personal injury and civil litigation. He has served clients in personal injury, commercial, estate, and real property litigation. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and has provided pro bono legal services to low-income clients.

Dick Johnson

Dick Johnson is the Firm Founder and Partner at Johnson & Johnson Law Firm. He has over 30 years of experience practicing law in Yakima, serving as lead counsel in over 150 jury trials, 30 cases before the Washington State Court of Appeals, and six cases before the Washington State Supreme Court. He also argued five cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He holds an 'AV' rating from Martindale - Hubbell Legal Directory for over 20 years and was recognized as the Outstanding Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer in 2015 by the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association.

Jeff R. Johnson

Jeff R. Johnson is a personal injury lawyer at Johnson & Johnson Law Firm, specializing in serious personal injury, medical negligence, civil rights violations, and wrongful death claims. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Washington State University (2005) and a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law (2009). He previously served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office for three years and is an active member of several bar associations.

Rodney K. Nelson

Rod Nelson grew up in Selah, Washington. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington in 1975, followed by graduating from the University of Washington School of Law in the top 10% of his class. He began his law practice in Alaska in 1978 before returning in 1979 to practice in Central Washington. Rod was named Volunteer Attorney of the Year in 2009 by the Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services. He has been named a Super Lawyer and a Top 100 Super Lawyer by Washington Law & Politics nearly every year since 2001. According to AVVO, an independent online lawyer rating service, he is one of the top rated attorneys in Yakima County. Rod is a published legal author and frequent lecturer who has litigated hundreds of cases. His current practice emphasis is wildland fire claims. He was the lead plaintiff’s counsel in the Taylor Bridge Fire litigation which resulted in a 60 million dollar settlement for fire victims. Rod has personally recovered over 25 million dollars for fire victims in Washington.