Biography
Melissa Roeder is Of Counsel at Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska’s Seattle office, and is the chair of the firm's Cannabis practice group. She is well recognized in the Pacific Northwest defense community. She delivers effective and practical solutions in the fields of cannabis/marijuana law, asbestos, benzene and toxic tort. Melissa’s play fair attitude and solid reputation has been the key to her successes inside and out of the courtroom.
Melissa is as “out of the box” at work as she is outside of the office. She rides a Harley Davidson, has climbed Mt. Rainier, runs marathons and is a former Alaska commercial fisherman. Growing up and working on the family farm in a town of 500 people in southwest Minnesota shaped Melissa’s character, work ethic and grit from childhood forward.
Melissa is a nationwide leader in developing educational programs to prepare cannabis businesses for the various legal issues and litigation facing this nascent industry, including product and premises liability for both recreational and medical marijuana growers, suppliers and vendors.
Career achievements include being selected as one of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Washington State, a “Super Lawyer" since 2012, a “Rising Star" from 2008-2011 and the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Outstanding Litigation Associate in 2008.
Melissa is as “out of the box” at work as she is outside of the office. She rides a Harley Davidson, has climbed Mt. Rainier, runs marathons and is a former Alaska commercial fisherman. Growing up and working on the family farm in a town of 500 people in southwest Minnesota shaped Melissa’s character, work ethic and grit from childhood forward.
Melissa is a nationwide leader in developing educational programs to prepare cannabis businesses for the various legal issues and litigation facing this nascent industry, including product and premises liability for both recreational and medical marijuana growers, suppliers and vendors.
Career achievements include being selected as one of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Washington State, a “Super Lawyer" since 2012, a “Rising Star" from 2008-2011 and the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Outstanding Litigation Associate in 2008.
Publications and Presentations
- The Art of Adjusting Cannabis Law, April 2022
- Cannabis, Arkansas Defense Bar, January 2021
- Speaker, IASA: “Cannabis It's Growing Like a Weed!" February 2021
- Panelist, DRI's Vaping Liability and Litigation Seminar, January 2021
- Panelist, Casualty Actuarial Society's 2020 Virtual CAS Annual Meeting “Cannabis Insurance: The Blossoming Weed," November 2020
- Speaker, CLM Focus: Cannabis, Environmental, Insurance Fraud, Property, Subrogation, Claims & Litigation Conference, “Product Liability Issues Facing Growing Cannabis Industry," November 2020
- Chair, DRI Marijuana Seminar, May 2019
- Chair, DRI Marijuana Seminar, 2018
- “Toxicology: What Is It and How Do You Utilize a Toxicologist on the Stand," DRI Marijuana Seminar, June 2018
- “Cannabis Product Liability Litigation: How to Prepare and Defend Cases," Louisiana Defense Bar, May 2018
- Vice Chair, DRI Marijuana Seminar, 2017
- Vice Chair, DRI Annual Convention Committee, 2017
- “Claims in the 21st Century,” Puget Sound Adjusters Association Claims College, 2016
- “Technology in the Courtroom," NBI, 2016
- Perrin Asbestos Conference, September, 2016
- WDTL Associate Marketing CLE, September 2016
- Planner and speaker, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Asbestos Seminar: May 16, 2016
- HarrisMartin Asbestos Seminar, 2014
- Organizer and presenter, Joint Bar Asbestos CLE, 2013
- “Rules and Experts North of Portlandia," 2013
- “Asbestos Litigation Potpourri: Expert Exclusion 2.0", Resolute MidAtlantic, Resolute Midwest and QBE, 2013
- Organizer, “Taylor Trial in Review," 2011
- Organizer, “2009-2010 Washington State Asbestos Trial Overview."
- Organizer, “Asbestos Opinions Around the Country,” 2011
- Organizer, “Multi-District Litigation in Asbestos Trials,” 2010
- Moderator, “Judicial Panel Perspective on Asbestos Litigation: From the Trial Court to the Court of Appeals,” 2010
- “Abestos: A Year in Review," 2009
- “Asbestos Law Update," 2009
- Organizer, Expert Panel, “Fiber Potency and Mesothelioma," 2008
- Organizer, Expert Panel, “Asbestos Pathology, Epidemiology and Industrial Hygiene," 2007
Notable Cases
- Noll v. American Biltrite, Inc. et al. — Trial court granted defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction over a Wisconsin component-part manufacturer. Applying the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning in J. McIntyre Mach., Ltd. v. Nicastro, 131 S. Ct. 2780 (2011), the Washington trial court found insufficient evidence of the Wisconsin company’s minimum contacts with the state of Washington to satisfy the purposeful availment requirement of Washington’s Long Arm Statute.
Awards
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers 2020 — Community Leadership Award
- Washington Super Lawyers®, 2012-2019
- DRI Rudolph Janata Award for Best State and Local Defense Organization, 2016
- Top 50 Women Attorneys, Washington Law & Politics, 2014
- Washington Rising Stars®, 2007-2011
- Washington Law & Politics “Outstanding Litigation Associate” by WDTL, 2008
