Representing two or more clients jointly in the same case is relatively common for defense counsel in a wide variety of practice areas. A manufacturer and a distributor in a product liability case or a manager and a corporate employer in an employment case are but two recurring examples.

The Seattle Police Department defines de-escalation as follows: “De-escalation tactics and techniques are actions used by officers, when safe and feasible without compromising law enforcement priorities, that seek to minimize the likelihood of the need to use force during an incident and increase the likelihood of voluntary compliance.”

Commercial establishments where alcoholic beverages are served (e.g., bars, restaurants) and social hosts who serve alcohol in non-commercial settings may find themselves potentially liable for damage, injury, and/or death caused by alcohol-related accidents involving individuals they have served.