Defense Mechanism Med-mal attorney takes pride in defending doctors, hospitals By Tom Kirvan
A
s the daughter of health care providers, Seattle attorney Michelle Taft made her parents understandably proud when she joined a firm that specializes in medical-malpractice
defense work.
“My parents are thrilled that I’m defending doctors and not suing them,” Taft said with
Taft, who graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 2013, has spent the past decade with Johnson Graffe Keay Moniz & Wick LLP (JGKMW), becoming a partner of the firm last year. The oldest of four children, Taft had her mind set on pursuing a legal career from an early age and may have been influenced in its ultimate direction by the experience of her parents.
a smile.
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“My dad (Craig) is a retired P.T., while my mom (Pam) is a retired nurse, who worked for years as a labor and delivery nurse,” said Taft. “They placed a premium on working hard and getting a good education. They pushed us all to be the best we could be.” A native of Tacoma, Wash., Taft took the parental advice to heart, excelling academically in high school and at the University of Southern California, where