Courting Publicity, Attorney Makes Safe Food His Business

"Some call Seattle attorney Bill Marler a knight in shining armor, some call him an ambulance chaser," begins this profile of the 42-year-old Bremerton native who built a thriving practice from undercooked hamburgers. The piece explores Marler's multiple roles: lawyer whose cases changed food-handling nationwide, adviser to Gov. Gary Locke who raised $2.3 million for his 1996 gubernatorial campaign, and Democratic politician-wannabe who considered spending $2 million to unseat Sen. Slade Gorton. Marler's journey began when he talked his way into WSU three weeks before fall semester without having applied, then at 19 won a Pullman City Council seat "on a lark" in 1978. His breakthrough came in 1993 when Brianne Kiner's mother hired him to sue Jack in the Box; he earned over $10 million representing 100 plaintiffs in the $15.6 million settlement. When his firm refused to guarantee partnership, he left—and most clients followed. The article captures both admiration and criticism. "Everything is genuine with him," says client Terry Beverly, whose toddler he represented against Odwalla. "He's seriously dedicated to helping children." Republican consultant Brett Bader counters: "Clearly, this is a guy who's made a few dollars chasing ambulances, and he wants to become somebody in politics." Marler's response: "I really believe strongly that we should stop people from poisoning kids. If people want to criticize me for that, I'm willing to take it."