Curt Roy Hineline

Partner

Seattle
T +1.206.332.1101
F +1.206.624.7317

Overview

Curt Hineline is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial, business and securities litigation. The Seattle Litigation Leader, he has tried more than 55 cases to verdict in federal and state courts, as well as before arbitration panels around the country. Curt has been actively involved in representing issuers, officers and directors, underwriters and bond trustees through numerous domestic and international class actions, nonclass actions and large securities and commercial litigation matters.

Curt also has a wealth of experience advising and litigating disputes concerning contracts, fiduciary duties, fraud, consumer protection acts, construction, franchises, the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, the Affordable Care Act, healthcare, the Lanham Act, TCPA, ERISA, USERRA, WLAD, RESPA, TILA, accounting and legal malpractice, employment discrimination, employment reclassification, trade secrets, noncompetes and non-solicitation. He also has represented corporate clients in internal investigations, as well as officers and directors in derivative suits and shareholders in minority oppression claims.

Select Experience

Class Actions
  • Successfully defended high-profile clients in Washington State TCPA equivalency class action in the Western District of Washington.
  • Successfully defended three major corporations sued in an USERRA class action for discrimination in the hiring and employment of military reservists before the Eastern District of Washington.
Commercial Trials 
  • Represented an LLC in a four-day trial before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington over a contract dispute concerning contaminated real property in the South Lake Union area.
  • Represented individuals in King County, Washington, Superior Court in a three-week jury trial for breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims against their former counsel.
Securities Trials 
  • Represented a trustee for securities fraud claims against an issuer seeking rescissionary damages of $15 million in the Western District of Washington.
  • Successfully represented a former CFO of a public company in a four-week jury trial in the Western District of Washington against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asserting securities fraud and books and records violations.
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Experience

Class Actions
  • Successfully defended high-profile clients in Washington State TCPA equivalency class action in the Western District of Washington.
  • Successfully defended three major corporations sued in an USERRA class action for discrimination in the hiring and employment of military reservists before the Eastern District of Washington.
  • Successfully dismissed on motions in the Western District of Washington claims against insurance companies for alleged consumer protection act, insurance act and contract violations.
  • Successfully defended a British mobile telephone company in consumer class actions in King County, Washington, Superior Court; the Western District Court of Washington; and the Washington Court of Appeals.
  • Successfully defended a credit corporation in a consumer/breach of contract class action in the Western District of Washington.
  • Successfully dismissed in King County, Washington, Superior Court claims against an insurance company for alleged consumer protection act and insurance act violations.
  • Successfully dismissed on motion federal securities law claims against two trust issuers in a $900 million-plus class action in the Western District of Oklahoma.
  • Defended an underwriter in a class action in the Western District of Washington alleging violations of federal securities laws.
  • Successfully defended a former CFO of a computer memory company in a federal securities laws class action and derivative suit before the Western District of Washington and King County, Washington, Superior Court, respectively.
  • Successfully defended a broker-dealer in a class action in Island County, Washington, Superior Court brought by purchasers of municipal bonds.
  • Successfully defended underwriters in a class action in the Western District of Washington for securities fraud.
  • Successfully defended a class action in the Western District of Washington brought by IPO purchasers against three underwriters alleging violations of federal securities laws.
  • Defended a U.S. energy company in a securities class action in the Eastern District of Washington alleging false statements in connection with forward energy trades.
  • Successfully defended a class action in the Western District of Washington brought against outside directors by IPO purchasers alleging violations of federal securities laws.
  • Defended the issuer, directors, officers and controlling shareholders in a class action brought under federal securities laws by IPO investors in the Northern District of California.
  • Defended trusts in a consumer banking class action in the Western District of Washington.
Commercial Trials 
  • Represented an LLC in a four-day trial before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington over a contract dispute concerning contaminated real property in the South Lake Union area.
  • Represented individuals in King County, Washington, Superior Court in a three-week jury trial for breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims against their former counsel.
  • Successfully obtained defense verdict in several day trial representing client sued for $6 million in breach of guaranty agreement before the Montana Bankruptcy Court.
  • Successfully obtained defense verdict following a seven-week jury trial for accounting malpractice in Spokane County, Washington, Superior Court. Affirmed by the Washington Court of Appeals.
  • Successfully represented a debtor in New Hampshire Bankruptcy Court in a 22-day breach of contract trial against the former CEO and chairman of the board. Claims against the debtor were dismissed. Also obtained a $45,000 document spoliation award against the CEO/chairman.
  • Successfully dismissed all claims against an international franchisor in King County, Washington, Superior Court for breach of contract arising from an alleged failure to provide bookkeeping and inventory control services.
  • Represented a bond trustee in a mandamus action in Spokane County, Washington, Superior Court and on appeal before the Washington Supreme Court concerning a municipal bond offering.
  • Obtained a successful defense verdict in a jury trial before Multnomah County, Oregon, Circuit Court for personal injury claims.
  • Successfully defended a federal agency in a preliminary/final injunction hearing in the District of Nebraska. 
  • Defended a company in a three-week jury trial in the Eastern District of Missouri against claims for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion.
  • Represented a plaintiff in obtaining a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in the District Court of Oregon.
Securities Trials 
  • Represented a trustee for securities fraud claims against an issuer seeking rescissionary damages of $15 million in the Western District of Washington.
  • Successfully represented a former CFO of a public company in a four-week jury trial in the Western District of Washington against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asserting securities fraud and books and records violations.
  • Successfully represented a securities firm in an action against an investor to recover debit balance. The investor’s counterclaims alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty were dismissed by the New York Supreme Court and later affirmed on appeals by the New York Appellate Division, First Department.
  • Defended a company against securities fraud claims in the District of Nebraska.
  • Successfully defended investment claims against multiple brokerage firms and registered representatives in numerous trials throughout the country.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • American Bar Foundation: Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America: Fellow
  • Washington “Super Lawyer” (2003, 2005, 2015 to present)
  • Seattle Metropolitan: Top Lawyers in Washington (2010, 2019)
  • The Marquis: Who’s Who in American Law
  • Martindale-Hubbell "AV Preeminent" (since early 1990s)
  • Designated by Washington Attorney General’s office as “Special Assistant Attorney General” on case specific matter.

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Washington Federal Bar Association
  • Oregon State Bar Association
  • King County Bar Association
  • The William L. Dwyer Inn of Court: Master
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers 
  • King County Bar Foundation: Trustee (2009 to 2012; 2016 to present)
  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority: Arbitrator

Prior Positions

  • Large international law firms
    • Seattle Litigation Group: Chair
    • Securities Litigation & Enforcement Practice Group: Co-Chair
    • Professional Responsibilities Committee: Member

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • Washington
  • Oregon
  • District of Columbia [Inactive]
  • Nebraska [Inactive]

Education

  • J.D., University of Puget Sound School of Law, magna cum laude
  • B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln