Stephen J. Crane

Stephen (“Steve”) J. Crane has focused his private law practice over the past 47 years on general civil litigation, class actions, serious personal injury, real estate in its many aspects, and corporate and business law. His clients range from individuals to small family businesses to Fortune 500 corporations to local and state agencies in need of specialized services.

A current area of focus is representation of buyers of new condominium units in Seattle and Bellevue who are not able or willing to close their purchases, including pursuing the return of their earnest money deposits when the seller refuses to give them back. These cases are typically handled on a contingent fee basis, where no fee is owed unless there is a recovery.

Another area of increased representation is pursuing claims for income losses of the owners of medical and dental clinics, restaurants, hotels and lodging, entertainment and recreational venues and other businesses that have been forced to close or curtail their operations due to government shutdown orders due to Co-Vid 19. These so-called “business interruption” insurance claims arise under the owner’s property insurance policies, and are typically handled on a contingent fee basis.

A third area of current representation is of property owners whose land is being taken through eminent domain or condemnation by government agencies, such as Sound Transit or cities. We aggressively pursue greater valuation than is initially offered by governmental agencies, and typically part or all of our legal fees are paid by the condemning agency.

Professional History
Mr. Crane has been in private practice since 1976, following positions as a judicial law clerk, and as executive director of the Washington State Council on Environmental Policy. He co-founded Crane Dunham PLLC in 1978, as a boutique law firm focusing on achieving success and the best client representation possible.
Practice Areas
In 1978, Mr. Crane co-founded the present firm. Since then, he has had substantial experience in and achieved success for his clients in all aspects of real estate (development, transactions and litigation), and employment and consumer rights matters (including class actions).
Development Activity
In addition to working as retained counsel for private clients and public agencies, Mr. Crane has acted in a principal capacity in several successful development projects. These projects include the $100M+ W hotel in downtown Seattle.
Community Service
Mr. Crane has served as the Chairman of the Land Use and Development Committee of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and by Mayor appointment on the Special Review Board for the Chinatown/International District. He is a member of the Pacific Real Estate Institute, an “invitation only” association of top Pacific Northwest real estate professionals.
Professional Organizations

Mr. Crane is a member of the Western District Federal Court, Ninth Circuit and United States Supreme Court Bars. He is a member of the Seattle-King County Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association and American Bar Association. He has been specially admitted to practice in Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii and Colorado. He has served on a number of committees, been co-chair of and spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars and contributed to a number of bar publications, including the Washington State Real Property Deskbook.

Family and Community
Mr. Crane and his wife have three adult children and live in Seattle. Mr. Crane has served on the Board and as President of both the Wedgwood Swim Club and the Laurelhurst Beach Club. He ran and successfully completed three charity fundraising marathons in Athens, Honolulu and Seattle.
Education
Mr. Crane received his B.A. in Political Science at California State University at San Jose, his J.D. from University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, and his L.L.M. from the University of Washington.