Business Details
Trusted Legal Advocates for Personal Injury & Abuse Survivors
Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC offers experienced, caring legal advocacy dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims and their families. Our attorneys combine excellence with community involvement, actively participating in organizations like Habitat for Humanity and legal associations. We prioritize a human touch, ensuring clients feel confident throughout litigation. With over 175 years of combined experience, we handle complex cases including personal injury, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse, recovering over $1 billion in settlements. Recognized by Super Lawyers, we focus on justice, not just legal outcomes, and mentor other practitioners while advocating for clients against powerful entities. 
Services
Personal Injury Law
Medical Malpractice
Sexual Abuse Cases
Product Liability
Wrongful Death Claims
Construction Site Accidents
Consumer Protection
Natural Disaster Recovery
Highlights and features
- Over 175 years of combined legal experience
- $1 billion+ recovered in verdicts and settlements
- 23 attorneys listed in Super Lawyers
- Community-focused with national trial capabilities
- Trauma-informed approach for sexual abuse survivors
What people say
Million-dollar settlements
Compassionate advocates
Trauma-informed support
Super Lawyers recognition
Nationwide impact
Services
Personal Injury Law
We represent clients injured by negligence in construction accidents, vehicle collisions, and premises liability cases. Our attorneys prove liability against employers, property owners, and manufacturers to recover medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. With national trial experience, we handle catastrophic injuries including paralysis and traumatic brain damage.
Medical Malpractice
Our team holds healthcare providers accountable for birth injuries, surgical errors, and misdiagnoses. We collaborate with medical experts to prove negligence caused preventable harm, securing compensation for lifelong care needs. Cases include hospital-acquired infections, Erb's palsy, and emergency room mistakes that result in permanent disability.
Sexual Abuse Litigation
We advocate for survivors of institutional sexual abuse in schools, foster care, religious organizations, and youth programs. Our attorneys expose systemic failures by institutions like the Boy Scouts and Catholic Church, recovering damages for psychological trauma while maintaining client confidentiality throughout the legal process.
Product Liability
We investigate consumer harm caused by defective vehicles, exploding batteries, and unsafe medical devices. Our firm has recovered millions from manufacturers for injuries caused by design flaws, manufacturing defects, and inadequate safety warnings in products ranging from children's toys to industrial equipment.
Wrongful Death Claims
We help families pursue justice when loved ones die from medical errors, workplace accidents, or institutional negligence. Our attorneys prove causation against hospitals, employers, and government agencies to recover funeral costs, lost income, and emotional damages for surviving family members.
People
Michael T. Pfau
Partner
Co-founder with 30+ years of experience in personal injury litigation. Recognized by Super Lawyers for complex trial work in catastrophic injury cases. Leads mentorship programs for emerging attorneys.
Darrell L. Cochran
Partner
Award-winning trial attorney with $10M+ verdicts in brain injury cases. Specializes in holding government agencies accountable for systemic failures in child protection services.
Thomas B. Vertetis
Managing Partner
National leader in sexual abuse litigation. Developed trauma-informed protocols for client interviews. Instrumental in multi-million dollar settlements against religious institutions.
Elizabeth P. Calora
Partner
Medical malpractice specialist with focus on birth injury cases. Collaborates with top neonatologists to prove delivery room negligence. Advocate for hospital safety reforms.
Jason P. Amala
Partner
Product liability expert with landmark cases against automotive manufacturers. Leads national investigations into defective medical devices and consumer electronics.
Questions
What types of cases do you handle?
We specialize in personal injury, medical malpractice, sexual abuse litigation, product liability, and wrongful death claims across Washington and nationally.
How much does legal representation cost?
Our work is contingency-based—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Costs are advanced by us and recovered from settlements.
What is your success rate in trials?
We've recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including 100+ cases taken to trial with a 95% success rate in favorable outcomes.
Do you handle out-of-state cases?
Yes, while based in Seattle and Tacoma, we represent clients nationwide in complex litigation against corporations and institutions.
How do you support sexual abuse survivors?
Our trauma-informed team provides confidential consultations, collaborates with mental health professionals, and pursues institutional accountability to prevent future harm.
