Darrell L. Cochran

08/20/2026

Darrell Cochran and Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC recently helped secure a $21 million settlement with the University Place School District on behalf of six former students who were sexually abused by a former substitute nurse and classroom assistant.

As one of the attorneys who stood with these survivors, my focus has always been on them: their voices, their safety, and their futures. This resolution is an acknowledgment that what happened to them mattered and was wrong, and it provides resources these former students will need for ongoing healing and support. The District confirmed in the attached article that the settlement will be fully funded by insurance.

Civil cases like this serve an important role beyond any single lawsuit. They shine light on what went wrong, help families get answers, and can prompt changes that better protect children in the future. That is the work my colleagues and I — including my co-counsel, Loren Cochran — are committed to doing.

To the survivors and their families in this case: your strength and persistence made this outcome possible, and your willingness to come forward will help protect other children you will never meet.

Read more at: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article316677627.html =cpy

https://darrellcochranlaw.com/
https://pcva.law/attorneys/darrell-cochran/

University Place School District agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by six former students against ex-instructor Michael Basse.

08/04/2026

My partner, Alex Dietz, together with co-counsel Ashton Dennis of Washington Law Center, has filed a class-action lawsuit representing women and girls who were secretly recorded inside restroom facilities at The Pokémon Company International’s Bellevue offices.

Their clients bring suit against Pokémon executive Ben Tsai who used hidden cameras to record children, employees, and members of the public, and that The Pokémon Company failed to take reasonable steps to protect them. The proposed class includes women and girls who used the restroom facilities from 2017 through July 25, 2026.

“Companies have a responsibility to protect the people who enter their workplaces—especially children,” Dietz said. “This lawsuit seeks answers, accountability, and justice for every person whose privacy was violated.”

https://pcva.law/attorneys/alexander-dietz/
https://darrellcochranlaw.com/about-us/our-team/alexander-g-dietz/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/ex-pokemon-exec-is-accused-of-hiding-cameras-in-bellevue-office-bathrooms/&ved=2ahUKEwiHk6iC8YWWAxUWLTQIHRCtHqwQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1uA1-fBWwEIC9IuZ7PrXhc

The proposed class-action lawsuit is the latest in ongoing litigation against the former Pokémon employee, who has been charged with voyeurism.

07/20/2026

Washington’s wildfire season is no longer something we prepare for “someday.” It’s here, and each year the risk to our families, homes, businesses, and communities continues to grow.

While we can’t control the weather, we can advocate for stronger prevention. Investing in healthier forests, expanding prescribed burns, improving early fire detection, supporting our firefighters, and preparing communities before disaster strikes can save lives and reduce the devastating impact of catastrophic wildfires.

At Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, we believe prevention should always come first. But when preventable tragedies occur, we’re also committed to standing beside individuals and families whose lives have been forever changed.

My partner, Ian Bauer, created this video to share why proactive wildfire prevention matters—and why we believe Washington must make it a top priority before the next spark becomes the next disaster.

If you agree, we encourage you to contact your elected officials and the Washington Department of Natural Resources and ask them to make wildfire prevention one of our state’s highest public safety priorities.

Protect our forests. Protect our communities. Protect our future.

07/20/2026

Three years ago, six lives were taken in a catastrophic, fiery crash at the intersection of SR 509 and Alexander Avenue. Families forever changed by unimaginable loss chose to honor their loved ones by fighting for something greater than themselves.

More than 100 prior crashes had devastated other lives over a short period of time leading up to this deadly crash - all because the government agencies responsible for the road refused to prioritize spending the money to make this intersection safe.

Because the families here summoned the strength to speak, demand answers, and seek accountability, meaningful safety improvements have now been made at this intersection. Those changes stand as a reminder that every life matters and that tragedy should never be ignored when it can help prevent future heartbreak.

Today, we remember those who were lost. We continue to keep their families in our thoughts, and we hope these improvements help spare others from experiencing the same devastating loss.

The agencies responsible for the intersection continue refusing to accept accountability for failing the motorists and public who needed this to be a safe intersection. There is no justice without accountability and atonement, and the grieving families here will never have closure without the government agencies accepting responsibility - or having it decided for them by a community of their peers - for their failure to act. The civil justice system is the true equalizer, giving victims and their families an opportunity to impose responsibility and a voice can create change that protects future generations.

Please take a moment today to remember the six lives lost and drive safely.

Darrellcochranlaw.com
Pcva.law.com

06/28/2026

As the Hamilton Fire near Winthrop forces urgent “go now” evacuations, our thoughts are with the families racing to protect their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.

Darrell Cochran and Ian Bauer of Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC represent families whose properties and lives have been devastated by wildfires that were preventable and caused by negligence. Their team is available as a resource for families working to pick up the pieces and rebuild after this kind of devastation.

darrellcochranlaw.com
https://pcva.law/

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/wildfire-fanned-toward-winthrop-prompts-go-now-evacuation-order/

A 50-acre wildfire fanned by winds led fire officials to order the immediate evacuation of Winthrop's main streets Sunday.

06/17/2026

We’ve been blessed this summer at the law firm to have a remarkable group of young college scholars in the office, champing at the bit for real world legal experiences so my superstar wife, Wendy, rounded them all up yesterday and took them down to see the Washington State Supreme Court in action down in Olympia at the Temple of Justice. Fascinating case with a “hot bench”!

PCVA interns Chaney Wampold, Audri Mungia, and our daughter Skylar Cochran, plus Connelly Law Offices Intern, Luke Connelly, along with friends from NYU and the University of Washington, were treated to a special tour of the Court led by Justice Mungia’s law clerk and the wonderful staff who support our Supreme Court Justices every day.

We are deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity to inspire and educate the next generation of lawyers. Your hospitality, generosity, and kindness made a lasting impression on these future legal professionals and meant the world to them.

Thank you for investing in our future.

06/01/2026

Lawsuit Filed: Pierce County failed to protect kids at Remann Hall.

Our firm has now filed a lawsuit on behalf of five survivors of sexual abuse at Remann Hall, a youth detention center in Tacoma. Their stories are part of a larger, long‑running pattern at local juvenile facilities.

For more than 30 years, youth locked in that juvenile detention center were sexually abused by the very staff who were supposed to keep them safe. County officials knew a culture of sexually abuse pervaded Remann Hall and did not stop it. Reports were ignored, investigations were cursory and quickly closed, and a culture of permissiveness and indifference took root.

All of the local juvenile facilities seemed to have a pervasive problem with staff sexually abusing residents that were placed there. It is baffling how officials allowed this to happen.

These survivors deserve accountability, transparency, and meaningful change so no child is ever again subjected to this kind of abuse in government custody.

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article315937083.html

www.darrellcochranlaw.com
https://pcva.law/tacoma-law-office/

Remann Hall suffered from “a culture of permissiveness and indifference to claims of abuse,” according to the complaint alleging abuse between the 1990s and 2015.

05/28/2026

This Fourth of July, fire danger is real, and the legal consequences are too.

PCVA attorneys Darrell Cochran and Ian Bauer have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lincoln County homeowners whose cabin and property were destroyed in the Western Pines Fire. That fire burned 5,781 acres, destroyed 51 structures, and caused millions of dollars in damage.

This fire happened because two property owners chose to ignore a county burn ban and a fireworks ban over the Fourth of July weekend. Investigators ruled out other causes and concluded the fire started on their property, likely from fireworks they lit or embers from their campfire. The property owners tried to hide what they had done and mislead investigators while the fire was still burning and threatening other people’s homes.

This case is about basic responsibility:

When there’s a burn ban or fireworks ban, breaking it is not harmless “fun.”

If your fire or fireworks start a wildfire, you can be held legally responsible for all the damage that follows—homes, land, timber, personal property, and more.

Under Washington law, this kind of conduct can lead to multiple claims, including negligence, nuisance, trespass, and strict liability, and can result in very large civil judgments.
Fire officials have been clear: one spark can destroy a community. Ignoring burn bans and fireworks restrictions doesn’t just risk your own property; it risks your neighbors’ lives and homes—and the law allows those neighbors to hold you accountable.

As we head into another dry season:

Follow all burn bans and fireworks restrictions.

Be absolutely sure any campfire is allowed, fully out, and never left unattended.

If you’ve lost property or been harmed in a wildfire you believe was caused by someone else’s careless or illegal behavior, Darrell Cochran and his team at PCVA is available to talk with you about your legal options.

www.darrellcochranlaw.com

05/27/2026

BREAKING NEWS:
According to the Seattle Times, multiple workers were killed and many more badly hurt in a “major chemical explosion” at the Nippon Dynawave mill in Longview, while families wait anxiously for news and responders continue recovery efforts.

This follows closely on the heels of a similar horrific industrial explosion in Southern California, a grim reminder of how suddenly workers’ lives—and their families’ lives—can be shattered, regardless of what the investigation ultimately finds.
What the public often doesn’t see after a disaster like this is the hidden reality for those directly affected: complex medical decisions, long-term rehabilitation, the sudden loss of income, and the stress of trying to understand technical safety issues and official findings—all while grieving and supporting injured loved ones. Navigating that is a nightmare under the best of circumstances.

My thoughts are with the injured workers, the families of those who are still unaccounted for, and the first responders who ran toward danger. In the weeks and months ahead, I hope every family touched by this tragedy is able to access the medical, financial, and legal support they need to begin rebuilding their lives.

www.darrellcochranlaw.com
253-948-0250

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/major-chemical-explosion-injures-multiple-people-at-longview-paper-mill/

The implosion was reported at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview. At least one person had been killed, and nine were missing.

05/26/2026

LAWSUIT FILED: Olympia Massage Therapist Sexually Assaulting female clients at “The Well”

Olympia massage clinic “The Well” has been served with a lawsuit after one of its massage therapists sexually assaulted a woman in Lacey during a massage session. This was not the first time Ignacio Ramirez had been accused of sexually assaulting clients. Attorneys Darrell Cochran and Bridget Grotz of PCVA have filed the case, alleging the clinic failed to protect female clients from a known sexual predator and massage therapy provider. The State has revoked Ramirez's license after allegations of misconduct were founded during its investigation.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault or inappropriate conduct by a massage therapist at The Well or another clinic, contact attorney Darrell Cochran to discuss your options.

Read more at:

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/jul/24/state-health-officials-suspend-massage-therapists-/

https://www.kxro.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ingnasio-Ramirez-Statement-of-Charges.pdf

📞 (253) 948-0250
🌐 www.darrellcochranlaw.com