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David S. Hatch

DUI and DWI Attorney at Montesano, WA

5.0   18 reviews

About David

Learn David’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. DUI and DWI
    35%
    Driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance is a crime in Washington that can carry serious consequences, beginning with jail, loss of your driving privilege which can lead to loss of employment, costly fines, etc.

    31 years

  2. Criminal defense
    30%
    Zealous representation at every stage of your case, from pre-arrest consultations through trial, and any subsequent litigation.

    31 years

  3. Wills and living wills
    15%
    Wills, Power of Attorney, Community Property Agreements, Living Wills, Advance Directives, Directive to Physicians.

    31 years

  4. Landlord or tenant
    10%
    I represent landlords only. Efficient and effective representation to solve your tenant problems.

    31 years

  5. Probate
    10%

    31 years

Attorney David Hatch is an aggressive and successful criminal defense trial lawyer with extensive experience with DUI  cases as well as all serious felony and misdemeanor charges.  He also helps people with their wills and represents landlords in tenant disputes. 

 

Attorney David Hatch is a 1988 graduate of Brigham Young University, earning a BA there.  He later attended the University of Idaho College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in May of 1991.  Mr. Hatch is certified to practice law in Washington and the United States District Court Western District of Washington.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
  • Mr. Hatch has been in practice since 1991 handling an extensive caseload involving both criminal and civil litigation. 
  • Mr. Hatch has personally handled in excess of 1,000 felony cases (including 8 Murder Cases) and countless gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors. 
  • Mr. Hatch is a Grays Harbor Superior Court Commissioner.
  • Mr. Hatch is a Judge Pro-Tem for Grays Harbor County District Court One I & II
  • Mr. Hatch is the former Judge for the City of Elma (9+ years).
  • Mr. Hatch is Judge Pro-tem or the former Judge Pro-tem in the following Cities:
  • Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Cosmopolis, Oakville, McCleary, Elma, Montesano, and South Bend.
Licensed for 31 years
State WA
Status Active
Acquired 1991
Updated 05/19/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact David

David S. Hatch
105 N River St
Montesano, WA, 98563-3713

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  18 customer reviews
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Posted by Eric | February 11, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Definatly the right lawyer
When I called Mr. Hatch he responded immediately. He was extremely professional and knew exactly what to do and when to do it. He is trustworthy and a great Lawyer. I highly recommend him. He took care of my situation and made sure I knew what was expected.
Posted by J&J | March 29, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly Recommended
I called David Hatch's Office with a recommendation, he took 45 minutes to review the details of my case and struck me as incredibly knowledgeable and personable. Maybe it's because he's been or is a judge as well as a attorney for 20+ years. My case was unique in many ways and he found ways to work with those circumstances. I was facing a felony in a County that was known for throwing the book at you, but with a little time and patience my case was dismissed. I couldn't be more Thankful, this man literally saved my future. I recommend David Hatch 100%!
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Posted by Judith | August 6, 2015
David S. Hatch
I retained David Hatch as my attorney when I was charged with Hit and Run Unattended and a DUI. During the legal process David was on top of everything. All discovery was done and each document and the overall plan was explained to me in detail. Communication was great and Susan his paralegal was extremely helpful and supportive. When the final court date arrived David was prepared with a settlement offer he had negotiated with the District Attorney. Without going to trial David was able to have the Hit and run Unattended dismissed, and the DUI reduced to Reckless Driving with no jail time. I highly recommend David Hatch. He is honest, trustworthy, caring, respected by his peers and works totally for his client.
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Posted by anonymous | April 7, 2015
Couldn't have asked for better counsel
I came to Mr. Hatch after I was charged with a Gross Misdemeanor that ultimately would have ended my career and possibly prevented me from ever working in my field again. Due to the unique circumstances of my case, I needed the best representation and a source who I considered to be very reliable told me that Mr. Hatch was the best around. Upon the conclusion of my first meeting with Mr. Hatch I felt an immediate sense of relief due to his confidence and experience in this area of law. He was very straightforward and honest with me regarding the possible outcomes of my case and never led me on or gave me false hope. Over approximately 5-6 months, Mr. Hatch diligently worked on my case and despite him never saying so, I always felt that he was going to pull through for me. While in the beginning the prosecutor wasn’t offering any reasonable resolution to my case, by the end Mr. Hatch had came to me with what I thought was a very reasonable resolution that would have resulted in no criminal conviction. However, my employer wasn’t satisfied with this type of resolution and I wasn’t able to accept it. Mr. Hatch continued to fight for me and came back to me shortly with a resolution that satisfied my employer. Not only did I want to come out of this with no criminal record, I also wanted to keep my job. In the end, Mr. Hatch was able to achieve both of these things for me and I couldn’t be more grateful for his expertise and competence in his profession. He prevented what could have been a serious case of injustice and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone.
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Posted by anonymous | March 27, 2015
Mr. Hatch and staff are the best I have ever worked with
I found David Hatch on an internet search and happened to like what he had to say about his defense strategy and experience (of course). I had a lawyer at the time from an extremely highly regarded law firm in Seattle, but was increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of knowledge of my case after approximately 5 months and I was still awaiting my day in court. I called Mr. Hatch’s office and explained my situation and what I was looking for. He promptly called me back. After only one call and speaking with his assistant once, when I called back to arrange my first appointment, his assistant still remembered my name and my case. This was rather refreshing and only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the competent service I received. If you have ever been charged with something you haven’t done, it can change your world in the worst way (or at least feel like it). My case went to trial and while I would have loved to see my opponents ripped to pieces that day, he was extremely balanced in my defense which I still believe is a huge factor in the outcome of my case. He was aggressive at the times when he needed to be and acted with great finesse when that was needed. He is excellent in reading the prosecution and each witness and how to use that to your advantage in the courtroom. While inevitably not all cases are won, if you have David Hatch on your side, you can be assured and confident that no one else could have done any better for you. He always keeps your best interest in mind and more importantly takes the time to go through each and every step with you. He takes the time to find out what actually happened and to understand you and the situation. By the end of my trial, I was more than satisfied that I had received my day in court and there was nothing more that could have been done on my behalf. I had only one regret after this awful process was done; it was that Mr. Hatch had not been my attorney from the beginning. Instead of my case taking 9 months, I am sure it would have been done in a 1/3 of that time, had I had him representing me from the beginning. JP
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Posted by JTW | December 31, 2013
A review that doesn't speak enough of his character.
I was charged with a serious felony, and had the wonderful opportunity to work with Mr. Hatch (who was appointed my public defender). During the course of my interactions with him he was very articulate and helpful for me as I went through the court system for the first time. I can't begin to explain how thankful I was for him. Because of Mr. Hatch's earnestness, my serious felony was reduced to a misdemeanor and no jail time. I couldn't believe it!
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Posted by anonymous | October 24, 2013
Trust, integrity, and hope
When you hire an attorney you want someone who communicates with you clearly throughout the entire process. You need to know what’s happening and what you can expect. David Hatch is that attorney. He took legalese and turned it into English for me. I have never been in trouble with the law before, and after receiving my DUI, I needed a little kindness. He gave me that and more. He listened attentively to me. He made sure I understood everything and walked me through every step with his gentle nature. From the very start I realized that I had hired an attorney who is competent and very well versed in the law. Plus, he is someone who is highly respected within the legal community. What could have been a nightmare for me; David Hatch turned into an experience I will never forget. It woke me up to what’s truly important in life. Trust, integrity and hope are what he gave to me. The end result was something far better than I could have hoped for. Thank you, David, for not only what you did for me professionally, but also for who you are!
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Posted by anonymous | May 1, 2013
Felony charge
Mr Hatch is very good at what he does. I was charged with a serious felony and had the charges dismissed without going to trial. I am very thankful for him as this could have affected my life in a big way.
Posted by anonymous | March 14, 2013
Fantastic lawyer, worth the money. You get what you pay for: The best!
My 16 year old son got into some serious (felony) legal trouble. My kid is a good kid. He just made some bad choices. To make matters worse, there was video evidence. David was able to get him a deferred sentence. Some community service and payment of restitution within a year and my son will have no criminal record. David was not cheap. But the results were worth it.
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Posted by Stacey L. | March 11, 2013
Grateful Client
Mr. Hatch handled my DUI case. I have never been in trouble with the law prior to this and I was terrified of what the possible outcome could be. The minute I met with him he was reassuring, professional, thorough and pleasant. He answered every question I had, in detail, giving me possible outcome scenarios and what to expect at various intervals along the way. I have heard horror stories of bad DUI attorney's and Mr. Hatch is not one of them, I highly recommend him. I could have been looking at jail time, heavy fines, years of probation and lengthly mandatory treatment. I am elated to say my outcome is something I can live with, which is zero jail time, no heavy fines and 12 months of probation. Having been through this, if there is any advice I can give, it is to not listen to what others may say, everyone's situation is different and unique and Mr. Hatch will do his best to fight for your unique situation.
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Posted by Julie | February 23, 2013
He will successfully fight for you with compassion and competence
Mr. Hatch represented our son recently and without his expertise and aggressiveness and compassion our child could easily have been convicted wrongly and excessively. Our son initially received a felony charge that left our family feeling helpless and full of despair. We weren't sure how it would work when our son decided to go with the public defender. But our son met with Mr. Hatch and after interacting with him decided that Mr. Hatch was extremely competent, a man of character and would choose to fight for him. And if our son wanted to hire a lawyer, Mr. Hatch is still the legal representation he would have chosen. We were not disappointed. In fact, our family decided that under any circumstance Mr. Hatch would be our choice for legal representation. Susan treated our son with respect and kindness in a situation where a young man (living far away from home) needed someone to show him some mercy and remind him there is hope. If you need the best legal representation - hire Mr. Hatch. I do not have words that can adequately express how grateful we are that he chose to do this line of work just to help people like our son - who acted out of self defense and chivalry only to be unjustifiably accused of an excessive crime.
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Posted by anonymous | July 9, 2012
Highly competent, compassionate attorney
Mr. Hatch represented our son. From the very beginning of our client attorney relationship it was obvious that Mr. Hatch cared for our son and truly was looking out for his best interest. He has a very clear understanding of the judical system.This understanding helps him to represent his clients confidently and with expertise. Mr. Hatch is very professional yet compassionate. Our son felt confident and was kept informed of all aspects of his case. Mr. Hatch and Susan treated us with respect and were always available to answer any questions that we had. Because of their wisdom, experience and compassion our son got a fair and resonable judgment. We would highly recommend Mr. Hatch and his staff for anyone needing help navigating the legal system.
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Posted by anonymous | May 9, 2012
Thank you to Mr. Hatch and his staff for the professional and compassionate service rendered during my trial.
Mr Hatch and his staff are amazing people. I cannot say enough about the quality and compassion of this law office. Mr. Hatch represented me on two very serious felony counts; and through hours of dedicated work meeting with the prosecuting attorney, he was able to come up with a plea agreement of two gross misdemeanor counts and limited jail time. He and his staff were willing to answer any and all questions regarding my case and Washington laws. This criminal case was the first one of my life and he helped me to understand all aspects of the case from the pretrial arrangement to trial and sentencing. After I was sentenced, Mr. Hatch took the time to help me set up court cost payments, when I was to begin jail time, and setting up probation services at the courthouse. He has also been available to answer all post sentencing questions. Mr. Hatch maintained a professional level but showed incredible compassion for my spouse, family, and myself during a very difficult time. Susan, at the office, was also very compassionate and caring when working with me to set appointments or getting questions to Mr. Hatch to answer. Mr. Hatch also took the time to relay information to family members that had questions before or after court appearances. This time was very helpful because I was unsure on how to explain some of the processes that took place, so he took the time to explain it to family and friends so that they would understand. He was able to help them understand what I could not explain. I was very grateful also for his standing with other members of the justice community. He is well respected in the justice arena and we had no problem securing a bail bond by just mentioning his name. Mr. Hatch does not believe in talking with the press or anyone else about my case with out my consent. I appreciated that during my case, because it was hard enough to face being my first offense and the possible repercussions to my family and/or friends. Mr. Hatch did all the little things that helped me to understand all the confusing law terms and what would be the best outcome of my case. He and his staff are the best. I would highly recommend Mr. Hatch to anyone.
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Posted by anonymous | April 2, 2012
Excellent Legal Expert
My family and I would like to highly recommend Mr. Hatch to anyone in need of the best defense possible in your time of need. He is very well versed in the latest laws. He takes time to know you, your case and your feelings. He listens attentively to his clients and takes time to educate them of the law, their rights and all of their options. He is knowledgeable, tough and cares about his clients. He will keep you informed every step of the way. We feel very fortunate to have had David Hatch represent us.
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Posted by Ryan | February 26, 2012
An attorny whom I know I can trust
David Hatch is a very professional and helpful attorny. He is very thorough in his explaination of the law and has a desire that his clients understand their rights. Our first impression of him is that he is very honest and handles his cases with integrity.
Posted by Lori | January 12, 2012
Miracle worker
I would like to thank Mr.Hatch for everything he has done for me. He saved my license,my job,my home and my life. I tell everyone i know that if they ever need a attorney to hire Mr. Hatch. He really listens to you, he treats you as a human being not just another client. He will help you in everway that he can. He was one of the best choices I've ever made. He is a decent human being. Once again i would like to thank you Mr.Hatch for everything you have done for me.
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Posted by Lori | January 11, 2012
Miracle worker
I would like to thank Mr.Hatch for everything he's done for me. He saved my license,my job, my home, actually my life. He really takes time to listen to you. He treats you as a human being not just another client. I would recomment Mr. Hatch to anyone who needs help. Thank you so much Mr. Hatch you are quite remarkable and also a very decent human being.
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Posted by Steve | January 6, 2012
David S. Hatch
Mr. Hatch was very helpful in assisting my wife and I prepare wills. Both he and his staff were very easy to work with - prompt and knowledgeable.
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 7.7 (Very Good)

Work Experience

  • Lead Attorney
  • Law Office of David S. Hatch, Inc.
  • 2012 - Present
  • Partner
  • Hatch & Keehan, Inc.
  • 2006 - 2011
  • Lead Attorney
  • David Hatch Law Office
  • 1996 - 2006
  • Associate Attorney
  • Stewart & Stewart Law Office, Inc.
  • 1992 - 1996
View all work experience

Education

  • The University of Idaho
  • Juris Doctor
  • 1991
  • Brigham Young University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1988

Legal Cases

  • State of Washington v. Ehrlund
  • Felony DUI DISMISSED with prejudice
  • State of Washington v. Hartford
  • Arson First Degree verdict NOT GUILTY
  • State of Washington v. Dehart
  • Murder Second Jury Verdict NOT GUILTY
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 1996 - Present
  • Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
  • Member
  • 1996 - Present
  • District and Municipal Court Judges' Association
  • Member
  • 1996 - Present
  • Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity International
  • Member
  • 1986 - Present
  • Idaho Law Review
  • Lead Article Editor
  • 1989 - 1991
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Dean's List
  • University of Idaho
  • 1989

Publications

  • Idaho Law Review
  • Developments in Idaho Case Law
  • 1990

Speaking Engagements

  • Montesano High School Career Education Day
  • Judges and Lawyers in the Community
  • 2005
  • LDS Church Fireside
  • Wills, Community Property Agreements, Power of Attorney, Living Wills
  • 1995

Attorney endorsements

Received (7)
Given (6)
Endorse David
Criminal defense Attorney | Apr 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I am pleased to endorse David Hatch. David is an outstanding criminal defense attorney and trial lawyer. When I have clients in criminal trouble my first choice is David because he cares about his clients, gives his all but is also highly ethical. Over the decades that I have known David, and referred clients to him I have never been disappointed. David has earned my complete trust and highest recommendation."
Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I am familiar with Dave Hatch and have been impressed with his abilities and results in court. If I have a conflict of interest or am consulted in an area of law that I don't handle I feel confidant referring them to Dave!!"
Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 07
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Dave and I have consulted repeatedly on cases, and now we're working on a case together. Our client is being prosecuted on allegations he molested a child in Dave's county and also in the county where I have my office. Dave has already won the trial in his county, and he did so with a combination of keen judgment and gutsy calls. I have been very impressed with the caliber of his lawyering. Also, our client tells me he chose Dave because the corrections officers in the jail told him Dave was the best in town; corrections officers see many trials, so their opinion means a lot."
General practice Attorney | Jan 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. David is an experienced and capable lawyer who enjoys an excellent reputation in our community. I often refer cases to David, knowing they will be handled with skill and professionalism. Tom Brown"
Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the privilege of working with Dave Hatch for over five years and can say first hand that Dave is one of the hardest working and successful attorneys one will ever find in the courtroom. Dave's intimate knowledge of the law, court rules, the judges, and his opponent make him an incredibly effective trial lawyer. His long list of "Not Guilty" verdicts is a testament to the time, effort, and preparation that he devotes to each case that he accepts. Should you find yourself or a loved one in need of an attorney, I strongly recommend David Hatch."
General practice Attorney | Jan 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have enjoyed practicing with David the last twelve years. He is a hard-working and tenacious attorney who can deliver successful results for his clients. I believe David is well-respected by the court and his colleagues in the community."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"David is one of the technically proficient, hardest-fighting, never quit lawyers you will ever meet. When he takes on a case, one thing becomes certain: In the courtroom he will know both the law and the facts better than anyone else--including the judge! David is on my list of attorneys that I would allow to represent me, should I ever need one. I am very please to recommend him to anyone who needs an attorney."
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Personal injury
Personal injury
Criminal defense
Criminal defense