About the Authors

An accomplished personal injury lawyer and national expert in foodborne illness litigation, William Marler has been a major force in food safety policy in the United States and abroad. He and his partners at Marler Clark have represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused serious injury and death. Bill's advocacy for better food regulation has led to invitations to address local, national and international gatherings on food safety, including recent testimony to US Congress Committee on Energy and Commerce. Marler Clark is considered the nation’s foremost law firm representing victims of foodborne illness and other serious personal injuries.

David Babcock graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1991. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington Law School, graduating with Honors in 1997. He is a member of the Order of the Coif, a national law honor society. Since joining Marler Clark in 2001, David's practice has focused on multiple party complex litigation, most commonly related to foodborne illness outbreaks. Representing children and the elderly is a central focus of his practice.

Drew Falkenstein received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Washington in 1999 and his Juris Doctor degree in 2002 from Seattle University School of Law, where he graduated with honors. In January 2004, Drew joined Marler Clark as its second litigation associate. Since joining the firm, he has concentrated his practice in the areas of products liability and general personal injury suits.

Colin Caywood received his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Washington in 1999. Colin worked at a number of Seattle-area law firms before joining Marler Clark as a paralegal in 2002. Over the years, he worked extensively on cases involving food borne illness litigation. In the fall of 2005, Colin left Marler Clark and returned to academia to pursue a legal education at Seattle University’s School of Law. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 2008, graduating cum laude.  In August 2008, Mr. Caywood returned to Marler Clark as its third associate.

Denis Stearns is one of the founding partners of the Marler Clark law firm, which for the last ten years has been the nation's preeminent law firm focusing solely on the representation of persons injured by unsafe food products.  Denis got his start handling food cases fifteen years ago as one of the lead defense attorneys for Jack in the Box. He is a frequent speaker on food safety issues, particularly those involving the history, economics, and politics of food law.

In 1993, Bruce Clark became involved in foodborne illness litigation as an attorney for Jack in the Box restaurants in its E. coli O157:H7 personal injury litigation. The Jack in the Box litigation spanned more than four years and involved more than 100 lawsuits in four states. Since that time, Bruce has been continuously involved in food and waterborne illness litigation involving bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents in settings ranging from large scale outbreaks to individual cases. He has extensive expertise in the medical, microbiological, and epidemiological aspects of foodborne illness cases gleaned from more than a decade of working with leading experts across the country. He also possesses practical insight into the functioning of corporations and their insurers.

Andy Weisbecker has been involved in the litigation and resolution of numerous significant personal injury claims since the foundation of Marler Clark in 1998. These claims were brought on behalf of persons injured in food product liability incidents, foodborne illness outbreaks, significant motor vehicle accidents, and workplace accidents. These legal claims have included wrongful death actions, a number of class action suits, and actions against insurance companies. Andy has been especially concerned with the representation of minor children, and with the presentation and resolution of their personal injury claims.

Patti Waller joined Marler Clark law firm in 2003 after working for twelve years in the Communicable Disease Program at the Washington State Department of Health.  At the health department, Patti investigated food and water borne illnesses and outbreaks.  She conducted food safety training courses, focusing on best epidemiologic practices in outbreak investigations.  At Marler Clark Patti uses her expertise to develop protocol, screen potential clients, and gather evidence for successful litigation. 

A frequent speaker, Patti appreciates the opportunity to serve as a liaison between the legal world and public health.  She earned a Masters of Science degree in Epidemiology at the University of Washington in 1990.

Dan Flynn is editor of the Food Poison Blog.   He is an independent journalist, writer, and editor with more than a decade of food safety experience.   His Cecil Paul Company has since 1998 helped clients with all sorts of editorial needs.  Previously Flynn worked as an editor and staff writer for newspapers throughout the West.  His on-scene reporting on the collapse of the Idaho’s Teton Dam and the suicide bombing of Washington State University’s Perham Hall was carried by newspapers around the world and was recognized both times by the Associated Press for Best Reporting on a Deadline.  Most of the disasters he attends these days involve food illnesses.