Tara M. O’Hanlon

Tara O’Hanlon represents municipal agencies and property owners in their eminent domain/condemnation acquisitions. She has successfully tried numerous multimillion-dollar cases, including obtaining successful verdicts in several of Washington’s largest eminent domain decisions. 

Tara represents all segments of the design and construction industry, including owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals and helps them build hospitals, infrastructure and road projects, casinos, hotels, office buildings, condominiums and other commercial and residential projects. She negotiates public and private design and construction contracts, including projects with alternative delivery methods, design-build and integrated project delivery (IPD). Tara advises clients on how to avoid claims and disputes and, if needed, helps them navigate arbitrating or litigating payment, delay, defect and warranty claims.

Experience

Successfully represented local transit authority in a significant multi-day arbitration surrounding larger parcel valuation issues tied to loss of parking. The arbitration awarded at client’s valuation evidence and was approximately $11 million less in just compensation than argued by the property owner.

Obtained a unanimous jury verdict matching our client’s valuation evidence exactly in a multi-week, 30-party, 100-percent virtual condemnation trial. The local transit authority client needed to acquire the right to amend restrictive covenants to allow it to construct and operate its light rail project and the total valuation dispute was more than $5.5 million in just compensation. No fees or costs awarded to property owners.

Successfully tried one of the first social-distanced pandemic jury trials in Washington over the condemnation of several permanent and temporary rights abutting the building frontage of one of the region’s largest airlines to allow the local transit authority to construct and operate its light rail project. The parties’ valuations were hundreds of thousands of dollars apart and the jury returned a verdict in our client’s favor. No fees or costs awarded to property owner.

Successfully tried a condemnation bench trial over the taking of an auto dealership to allow the local transit authority to construct and operate its light rail project after having successfully defeated a motion for summary judgment to expand claimed damages by more than $10 million and precluding an award of fees or costs to the owner.

Arbitrated multimillion-dollar construction defect dispute on behalf of hospital system resulting in successful resolution of claims.

Obtained a verdict exactly at our client’s valuation in a condemnation bench trial where the parties’ valuation was more than $9 million apart and precluding an award of fees or costs to the owner.

Preparation and successful negotiation of numerous complex master, template, and project-specific design and construction contracts on behalf of healthcare systems, general contractors, subcontractors, architects and others.

Obtained a favorable settlement and insurance recovery near policy limits representing owner in multimillion-dollar construction defect action for a ski resort duplex project.

Preparation and negotiation of integrated project delivery (IPD) on behalf of healthcare client.

Resolution of numerous condemnation matters on behalf of cities, transportation authorities and owners short of trial.

Favorable settlement resolution of multimillion-dollar condominium defect and warranty action representing general contractor in action involving more than 30 parties.

Successful settlement following complex mediations of lien foreclosure and contract dispute over hotel and office tower project on behalf of subcontractor.

Successful resolution of landlord/tenant dispute on behalf of industrial subcontractor client.

Resolved construction defect dispute on behalf of local transit authority without the need for engaging in a formal claim process.

Successful settlement resolution of party to residential real estate development dispute and litigation involving breach of construction contract, conversion, and Consumer Protection Act claims.

Multi-month wage-and-hour / "joint employer” class-action bench trial resulting in a finding of no liability for client national retail chain.

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News

Community & Professional

International Right of Way Association, Immediate Past President

King County Bar Association, Member

Washington State Bar Association, Member

Associated General Contractors of Washington, Government Affairs Council, Member

American Bar Association, Member

American Subcontractors Association Attorney’s Council, Member

Honors & Recognitions

Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch - Litigation–Construction, 2021-2023; Commercial Litigation, 2022-2023; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, 2022-2023

Selected to the Washington State Super Lawyers Rising Star list, 2014-Present