J. Michael Koch
Mike attended law school at the University of Washington, JD 1971. He then worked as a Deputy Prosecutor in the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office until May of 1973, when he opened his own general law practice in Silverdale. Mike served as the president of the Silverdale Rotary Club & Kitsap County Bar Association. He served on board of the Washington State Association of Justice (WSAJ formerly wSTLA). He has been an Eagle member since 1986. Eagle members promote legislation favoring consumers, and provide ongoing education for members and a high level of advocacy for injured people. He has spoken at Continuing Legal Education Programs for WSTLA and local community groups.
Mike served on the board of Peninsula Services, an organization for the handicapped. He has served the Bremerton Community Theater, the Kitsap Historical Society and the Kitsap County Destruction Derby Association as a pro bono attorney for many years.
In Pimentel v Roudup Company, 100 Wn.2d 39 (1983), he established a new standard of care, for self-service stores. This case established a landmark precedent in the area of premises liability. Mike has tried cases in Kitsap, Pierce, Jefferson, Clallam, Mason, King, Snohomish, Douglas & Yakima counties and in Federal Court for Western Washington. He is respected as a senior trial attorney by insurance companies, defense counsel and fellow Plaintiff’s lawyers.
Crystal McDonald
Crystal McDonald’s practice focuses on civil litigation, including premises liability and motor vehicle accident cases.
Crystal graduated magna cum laude from Seattle University School of Law in May 2008. She received several scholarships including the Dean’s Diversity Scholarship as a result of her academic achievement and as first person in her family to attend college. In 2005, Crystal graduated in Communication studies and Political Science.
Crystal has dedicated her life to protecting the rights of individuals. She has volunteered her time and energy to several community organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Tacoma Rescue Mission, Disability Rights Washington, Washington Women’s Employment and Education, and Kittitas County Volunteer Legal Services.
Crystal is currently serving as Vice President of the Kitsap Young Lawyers, Secretary of the Kitsap Washington Women Lawyers and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. In 2010, Crystal received the Pierce County Washington women Lawyer’s Member of the Year Award. Crystal recently became a member of East Bremerton Rotary Club.
Growing up in Bremerton and graduating from Olympic High School in 2001 and from Olympic College in 2003 has contributed to Crystal’s passion for her community.
Chalmers Johnson
Chalmers Johnson is a relative newcomer to Washington State, but not to the profession of law. he comes from South Carolina, where he graduated from Winthrop University, Cum Laude , with a degree in Political Science and Sociology. He went on to attend Law School at the University Of South Carolina School Of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1996.
Chalmers has been a trial lawyer since being sworn in to the South Carolina Bar in 1996. After litigating for civil Plaintiffs and criminal defendants as an associate attorney for several years, he found himself drawn to civil fights and employment law cases. In 2000, Chalmers opened the Chalmers Johnson Law Firm, in Charleston, South Carolina. For seven years, the firm litigated employment law cases and pursued appeals in South Carolina State Courts and the Federal Fourth Circuit.
In 2007, Chalmers sold his firm to his protégé, and moved to Washington State seeking a new home on the West Coast. He took the Washington bar exam and was sworn in as a Washington State Attorney in June of 2008. After litigating personal injury cases for a little over a year in Tacoma, Chalmers is the senior litigation associate at J. Michael Koch & Associates. He is dedicated to continuing to pursue his professional passion for litigation on behalf of the people in need.
Jackie Jensen
Jackie Jensen joins our firm after passing the summer 2011 Washington State Bar Exam. Jackie grew up in Poulsbo, Washington and attended North Kitsap High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Washington, double-majoring in Political Science and Communication. Jackie obtained her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law in May, 2011. She worked for several years as a legal assistant to the senior partner at a litigation firm in Seattle. She also tried cases as a legal intern in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. In her spare time, Jackie volunteers for the Seattle Draft and Military Counseling Center, enjoys skiing and running, and enjoys being active in the community. The Law Offices of J. Michael Koch and Associates welcome Jackie to the practice of plaintiff’s personal injury law.