Melissa K. Habeck

Ms. Habeck is a shareholder with Forsberg & Umlauf.  Melissa practices general civil litigation with a unique emphasis on asbestos tort litigation.  She also represents client interests in personal injury and product liability litigation.  Melissa has handled a broad range of insurance defense matters including toxic tort litigation, premise owners, product liability and personal injury.  Ms. Habeck currently chairs the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Toxic Tort Section and regularly organizes Asbestos Continuing Legal Education seminars.  She is also a committee member of the Employment Law Section of WDTL and DRI.  Melissa has been named a Rising Star Attorney by Washington Law and Politics in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Melissa was recognized by the WDTL and was selected as Outstanding Litigation Associate for 2008.

Upcoming Events: 
  - "Reflections on 2009-2010 Asbestos Trials" - Date TBD
  - Asbestos Opinions Across the Country, WDTL, August 2010

E-Mail: mhabeck@forsberg-umlauf.com

Business Card: 

• Experience:
  Ms. Habeck has handled all phases of insurance defense, including toxic tort litigation, product liability and personal injury matters.  In 2000, prior to working as an associate handling asbestos tort matters, Ms. Habeck worked as an Extern in the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals working with the United States Sentencing Guidelines.  

• Education:
  Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2000
       - Law Review Symposium Editor
       - Winner of the American Bar Association, Law Student Division, National Appellate
         Advocacy Competition
  South Dakota State University, B.S., 1993

• Admitted To Bar:
  Washington State
  United States District Court, Western District of Washington
  

• Memberships:
  Washington State Bar Association
  King County Bar Association
  Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
   - Member, Board of Directors
   - Trustee, 2008-Present
   - Chair Toxic Tort Section, 2008 to present: including chair of monthly Washington
   - Employment Law Group
  Defense Research Institute
   - Employment Group Committee Member
   Asbestos Defense Meetings from 2005 to present.
  

• Lectures, Seminars and Publications:
  

• King County Asbestos Judicial Panel Discussion, Forsberg & Umlauf, October 23, 2009

• Alternative Dispute Resolution and Gearing up for Trial, NALS, April 2009

• Asbestos: A Year in Review, WDTL, February 10, 2009

• Asbestos Law Update (Full Day CLE), WDTL, January 21, 2009

• Organizer:  "Fiber Potency and Mesothelioma," WDTL (2008)

• Presenter:  "How to Pick a Jury," WDTL (2008)

• Organizer:  "Asbestos Pathology, Epidemiology and Industrial Hygiene Expert Panel," Forsberg & Umlauf (2007)

• Organizer:  "WDTL, Asbestos Law Update," WDTL (2007)

• Presenter:  " Taking and Defending Effective Depositions in Washington," Lorman (2007)

• Presenter:  " The Art of Settlement," National Business Institute (NBI) (2007)

• Presenter:  "Asbestos Brown Bag CLE:  Nuts and Bolts of Washington State Asbestos Law," Forsberg & Umlauf (2007)

• Presenter:  " Legal Writing and Analysis Workshop for Paralegals:  Brief Writing," National Business Institute (NBI) (2007)

• Presenter:  " The History and Current Status of Multi-District Litigation (MDL)," Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA) (2006)

• Organizer:  "Review of Radiology and ILO Forms," Forsberg & Umlauf (2006)

• Organizer:  "Asbestos Trial 101:  Exhibits, Voir Dire, Opening Statements and Closing Arguments," Forsberg & Umlauf (2006)

• Author:  "To Whom the Bell Tolls: Analysis of Clare v. Saberhagen Discovery Rule," WDTL Defense News (2006)