Biography | Daniel C. Mooney

Dan Mooney has substantial trial and appellate experience, having tried multiple cases to verdict throughout the state of Washington and defended matters before all three divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals. He practices in all areas of civil defense litigation, with particular emphasis on professional liability (health care providers, accountants, attorneys, real estate brokers), personal injury, construction defect, construction site injury, and premises liability.

Dan also represents all manner of licensed professionals before their respective administrative bodies and in disciplinary hearings. Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Dan worked at defense firms in the Seattle area and for a third-party administrator working on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill class action litigation.

Education

Seattle University School of Law (J.D., 2011)
St. Mary’s College of California (B.A. English, 2005)

Bar Admissions

Washington

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington

Professional Affiliations

Washington State Bar Association
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association
DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar

Dan Mooney has substantial trial and appellate experience, having tried multiple cases to verdict throughout the state of Washington and defended matters before all three divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals. He practices in all areas of civil defense litigation, with particular emphasis on professional liability (health care providers, accountants, attorneys, real estate brokers), personal injury, construction defect, construction site injury, and premises liability.

Dan also represents all manner of licensed professionals before their respective administrative bodies and in disciplinary hearings. Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Dan worked at defense firms in the Seattle area and for a third-party administrator working on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill class action litigation.

Press Releases

Wilson Elser Announces Seventeen Lateral Hire Attorneys in Seattle, Including Eight New Partners

October 9, 2025

Rigsby, Mooney and Carley Achieve Favorable Jury Award in Especially Difficult Venue

Peder Rigsby (Partner-Portland, OR), Dan Mooney (Partner-Seattle, WA) and John Carley (Of Counsel-Portland, OR) secured a highly favorable jury award on behalf of their client, a large resource recovery company. The trial was held in King County, WA, a notoriously difficult venue for defendants recently included on the “Judicial Hellhole Top 10” list. This was an admitted liability case that was vigorously contested.

The client’s garbage truck driver backed into the plaintiff’s vehicle, causing it minor damage. Plaintiff was standing in the truck bed and either jumped or fell out. Plaintiff claimed numerous catastrophic injuries, including multiple surgeries and a concussion diagnosed nearly five years after the accident. The alleged economic damages were $1.2 million. During jury selection, Plaintiff’s counsel anchored at $30 million. In closing, Plaintiff asked for $11.8 million. The defense strategy focused on causation and the plaintiff’s credibility, which included presenting numerous experts, a private investigator, and hours of video surveillance showing the plaintiff engaging in activities that he claimed he could not perform. Following a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $500,000 or $100,000 less than our last offer.

Peder A. Rigsby, Daniel C. Mooney and John Carley