Brian was raised in the Tri-Cities, and graduated from Hanford High School in 1978 with a 3.97 GPA. He graduated a quarter early from Western Washington University in 1982 with a 3.82 GPA with a B.A. in Political Science and Minors in English, History, and Philosophy. Brian worked for then-Congressman Sid Morrison in Washington D.C. before returning to the Pacific Northwest to attend law school at the University of Washington School of Law where he graduated in 1986.
Brian clerked with Rettig, Osborne, Forgette, O’Donnell law firm while in law school, and joined the firm shortly after graduation in 1986. He became a partner in in 1989, and does his best to provide effective, economically sensible representation to his clients.
Brian immediately began working on agricultural issues for individual and large corporate farms, including land use, employment, crop loss, pesticide injury, water rights, and Endangered Species Act (ESA) issues. In 1996, Brian began to represent the Kennewick Irrigation District in the Yakima River Basin water right adjudication (State Department of Ecology v. Acquavella), the largest water right adjudication ever undertaken. He has represented various private landowners and the Columbia Snake River Irrigators Association in litigation relating to water rights. Brian has presented at the Washington State Bar Association Water Law Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program on water law matters, as well as winery water rights at the Water Rights Transfers in 2012 CLE by The Seminar Group. He has also presented on water rights issues to groups of real estate agents as part of their continuing education program.
Brian’s expertise also extends to employment law practice, where he is frequently consulted by employers, as well as employees, on wrongful termination, discrimination, whistleblowing, and other employment disputes.
His community service includes being a Board Member of the Benton Franklin County Chapter of the Red Cross, where he currently serves as President.
Email Brian today at bji@rettiglaw.com or call at (509) 783-6154.