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John Merriam was an unlicensed seaman in the U. S. merchant marine for 12 years before becoming a lawyer, working his way through college and law school. He served aboard 17 freighters and tankers in 12 different job classifications for the deck, engine and steward departments.
Other employment included 19 full-time jobs in eight states ranging from carpenter to cab driver, from roustabout in the oil fields to factory hand on the line. John paid law school tuition with a scholarship from the Seafarers International Union.
Passing the bar in 1982, John practiced with a small firm through 1995 --- first as associate, then as partner. Cases handled ran the gamut of general practice with an emphasis on maritime personal injury.
In 1993-94 John was the Chairman of the Maritime Section for the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.
Starting his own firm in 1996, John now restricts his practice to representing seamen on wage and injury claims.
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Free Consultation
$0 first 30 minutes
State: Washington
Acquired: 1982
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4005 20th Avenue West, Suite 110, Seattle, WA, 98199-1290
www.merriam-maritimelaw.com
Other places you can find John online.
2 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Employment & Labor
Posted by Jamie | February 12, 2013 | Employment & Labor
Strongly Recommended
John has helped me get my pay. He REALLY went up to bat for me, I can't recommend him highly enough.
"I endorse this lawyer's work. John is a tireless and fearless advocate of mariners with injury and wage claims. He is the lawyer responsible for convincing the Washington Supreme Court that a manifestly inadequate maintenance rate set forth in a collective bargaining agreement is unenforceable."
"I have had cases with John and against John Merriam. He has the very highest ethical standards. I would hope law students would aspire to be like John Merriam. He is not afraid to make novel arguments for his clients, take them up on appeal, and challenge the system where he sees it is unfair. He has overcome long odds to make new law for the benefit of all Jones Act seaman. He is not intimidated by well funded insurance defense firms. But he is not unreasonable, and counsels his clients well when in negotiations."
"John Merriam is the most tenacious advocate I know for the rights of inury victims under marfitime law. From major damages cases to lesser wage claims, he is a veritable pit bull on behalf of his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. John has been helping maritime clients for the past 28 years. He is an excellent and compassionate attorney, who I have known and worked with for 20 years. He is well regarded by his clients and by the legal community."
"John is an authority on Maritime Law. I have worked with John on a few cases and found him to work extremely hard on his cases. On the cases we have worked on together, the end result was better than anticipated thanks to John's expertise. John places his client's interests far above his own."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. John is an outstanding maritime lawyer. He works hard for his clients and gets good results in cases other lawyers can not afford to litigate. He is an honest, professional practitioner with a sharp pen for nonfiction short stories. John’s stories appear frequently in the Washington State Trial News and the Washington Free Press."
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2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2013
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2011
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014 - Present
Attorney, Merriam Webb
1996 - 2014
Owner, Solo Practice
Member
Member
Member
Member
1993 - 1994
Washington State Trial Lawyers AssociationChairman
1982
JD - Juris Doctor
1978
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2012
Maritime Personal Injury in Washington
2011
Maritime Personal Injury in Washington
2009
Maritime Personal Injury in Washington
2008
Maritime Personal Injury in Washington
2014
2014
2014
2014
2008
1994
English