Dan Lloyd

Dan Lloyd

Dan Lloyd joined Lighthouse Law Group in 2025 and brings over two decades worth of experience representing local governments in high-profile litigation and providing general municipal advice. Dan began his career as a law clerk for the Washington State Supreme Court, and most recently served as the lead litigation attorney for the Vancouver City Attorney’s Office. There, he handled multiple federal and state lawsuits through verdict and appeal. He has defended numerous claims alleging civil rights & constitutional violations, personal injury, wrongful death, employment discrimination/retaliation, Public Records Act violations, and breach of contact. In addition to his litigation practice, Dan advised Washington’s fourth largest City’s on wide-ranging issues including finance, employment, open government, and risk management. A past president of the Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys and chair of WSAMA’s Amicus Committee, Dan has briefed more than 30 appeals to all Washington appellate courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He has presented over two dozen CLE courses addressing tort law, civil rights, recreational immunity, and other legal doctrines.

In his spare time, Dan enjoys coaching softball and baseball, playing golf, and spending time with his wife and kids.

Education

  • Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2003
  • Gonzaga University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2000

Representative Cases:

  • Knapp v. Goudschaal: defense of city detective in federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations arising from 1994 cold case homicide. Lawsuit turned on extensive DNA evidence. Summary judgment dismissal. 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 154732 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 11, 2025).
  • Ballou v. McElvain: defense of city and police chief in federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations, discrimination, and retaliation. After 11-day trial, jury returned defense verdict on all but one claim, and for that awarded 1% of what was demanded in settlement days before trial began.
  • Murphy v. Schadler: defense of city employee in claim alleging defamation. Plaintiff’s claims dismissed on summary judgment.
  • Nguyen v. City of Vancouver: defense of city in lawsuit alleging excessive force in officer-involved shooting. Summary judgment dismissal. 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61800 (W.D. Wash. Apr. 7, 2023).
  • Troutt v. City of Vancouver: defense of city in lawsuit alleging wrongful death due to alleged negligence. Summary judgment dismissal.
  • Johnigan v. City of Vancouver: defense of police officers in lawsuit alleging false arrest and unconstitutional search. Summary judgment dismissal based on qualified immunity. 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 144250 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 2, 2021).
  • Gibson v. City of Vancouver: defense of city and city officials from lawsuit alleging civil rights violations and seeking injunctive relief related to enforcement of COVID-19 proclamations. Summary judgment dismissal. 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106624 (W.D. Wash. June 7, 2021).
  • Webb v. City of Vancouver: defense of municipality and police officer in lawsuit alleging wrongful arrest arising from traffic stop for DUI. Summary judgment dismissal based on qualified immunity. 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 216773 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 19, 2020).
  • Tracy v. City of Vancouver: defense of municipality in federal lawsuit by battalion chiefs alleging violations of federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Defense verdict following seven-day jury trial.
  • Estate of Murray v. City of Vancouver: wrongful death claim in which family of deceased firefighter claimed excessive radon at fire station caused cancer. Successfully defended partial summary judgment on appeal leading to subsequent full summary judgment dismissal on remand. 2018 Wash. App. LEXIS 2226 (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 26, 2018).
  • Bini v. City of Vancouver: defense of police officer in federal lawsuit alleging unlawful and retaliatory arrest. Summary judgment dismissal based on qualified immunity, affirmed on appeal. 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77680, aff’d, 745 Fed. Appx. 281 (9th Cir. 2018).
  • Mendoza v. City of Vancouver, 269 F. Supp. 3d 1087 (W.D. Wash. 2017), aff’d, 745 Fed. Appx. 768 (9th Cir. 2018): defense of police detectives in federal lawsuit for constitutional claims arising from child abuse investigation. Summary judgment dismissal based on qualified immunity, affirmed on appeal by Ninth Circuit. State court dismissed remainder of lawsuit on summary judgment following remand.
  • McCarthy v. Clark County, 193 Wn. App. 314, review denied, 186 Wn.2d 1018 (2016): defense of city and prosecutor in state court lawsuit alleging false arrest and malicious prosecution arising from domestic violence. Summary judgment dismissal based on prosecutorial immunity, upheld on appeal.
  • Watson v. City of Vancouver: defense of municipality and police officers in federal lawsuit for alleged wrongful arrest and excessive force. Most claims dismissed on summary judgment. Excessive force claim tried to jury over four-day trial. Full defense verdict for officers.
  • Lookabill v. City of Vancouver: defense of police officers in federal lawsuit for alleged excessive force arising from fatal officer-involved shooting. Summary judgment dismissal. 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79333 (W.D. Wash. June 18, 2015).
  • Award Construction, Inc. v. City of Vancouver: defense of municipality in construction case alleging multi-million-dollar delay damages arising from renovation of William Clark Park. Through multiple partial summary judgment motions, eliminated City’s exposure and shifted liability to plaintiff, leading plaintiff to voluntarily dismiss.
  • Bush v. City of Vancouver: defense of municipality in personal injury lawsuit involving plaintiff who injured herself stepping into pothole. Summary judgment dismissal.
  • Franklin v. City of Vancouver: Premises liability lawsuit by plaintiff injured after tripping on elevated building ledge. Summary judgment dismissal.
  • Wilkinson v. City of Vancouver: defense of individual officer in lawsuit arising from officer-involved shooting. Summary judgment dismissal of claims against my client. 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8289 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 23, 2009). Denial of qualified immunity for other officer reversed on appeal. 610 F.3d 546 (9th Cir. 2010).
  • Barnard v. City of Vancouver: defense of municipality in personal injury case alleging quadriplegia. Summary judgment dismissal of my client based on recreational immunity. Case resolved on appeal for nuisance value while other defendant settled for $3 million.
  • Bakay v. Yarnes: defense of county animal control officers in civil rights litigation arising from search and seizure resulting in county having to euthanize 68 cats. Summary judgment dismissal for county and officers. 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51965 (W.D. Wash. Dec. 29, 2005).
  • Watts v. Clallam County: defense of county in premises liability case. Jury verdict for County following four-day trial.
  • Startzell v. Velie: defense of county deputies and county in civil rights case alleging false arrest and excessive force. Summary judgment dismissal. 2005 U.S. LEXIS 49187 (W.D. Wash. July 12, 2005).
  • Tolan v. Clallam County: defense of county clerk and county in lawsuit alleging defamation and violation of civil rights. Summary judgment dismissal, upheld by Ninth Circuit on appeal. 2005 U.S. LEXIS 45454 (W.D. Wash. June 8, 2005), aff’d, 233 Fed. Appx. 638 (9th Cir. 2007).

Court Admissions:

  • Washington (Admitted 2003) 
  • Oregon (Admitted 2011)
  • United States District Court for Western District of Washington (Admitted 2004)
  • United States District Court for Eastern District of Washington (Admitted 2005)
  • United States District Court for District of Oregon (Admitted 2011)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Admitted 2005)
  • United States Supreme Court (Admitted 2007)

Organizations/Awards

  • Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys
    • President, 2023-2024
    • Board Member, 2017-2025
    • Amicus Curiae Committee, 2007-present
    • Amicus Curiae Chair, 2016-2022
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • International Municipal Lawyers Association
    • Amicus Service Award (2016 & 2018)
  • Washington Law & Politics Rising Star

Presentations

  • Tort Law “Crash” Course: What Local Governments Should Know, Municipal Research and Service Center, Virtual (June 18, 2025)
  • Tort Law Update, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Cle Elum, WA (April 25, 2024)
  • Municipal Tort Law 101: Liabilities, Defenses, Indemnification, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Cle Elum, WA (April 23, 2025) (co-presented with Robin Aronson) 
  • Municipal Tort Law 101: Liabilities, Defenses, Indemnification, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Vancouver, WA (April 24, 2024) (co-presented with Robin Aronson) 
  • Nuts & Bolts: Civil Discovery & Motion Practice, Clark County Bar Association, Vancouver, WA (February 14, 2024) 
  • Role of the Judge, Clark County Bar Association Judicial Mentorship Program, Vancouver, WA (September 29, 2023) (co-presented with Hon. Tsering Cornell & Hon. James Smith in my capacity as commissioner pro tempore)
  • Schwartz v. King County: What Was Obvious Is No Longer So, And What We Can Do About It, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Blaine, WA (April 20, 2023) 
  • Municipal Tort Law 101: Liabilities, Defenses, Indemnification, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Blaine, WA (April 19, 2023) (co-presented with Robin Aronson)
  • Tort Law Update, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Spokane, WA (May 5, 2022)
  • Insiders’ View of Washington Appellate Courts, Clark County Bar Association, Virtual (May 12, 2021)
  • Police Liability in Washington: Impact of Beltran-Serrano and Mancini, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Virtual (April 29, 2021)
  • Tort Law Update, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Vancouver, WA (April 25, 2019) 
  • Police Reports: Balancing Transparency and Privacy with Nonconviction Data, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Vancouver, WA (April 25, 2019)
  • Tort Law Update, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Whistler, B.C. (May 3, 2018) (co-presented with Milt Rowland)
  • Insiders’ View of Washington Appellate Courts, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Fall Conference, Cle Elum, WA (Oct. 12, 2017) (co-presented with Andrea Bradford)
  • Newman v. Highland School District: What Do You Mean It’s Not Privileged?, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Fall Conference, Cle Elum, WA (Oct. 12, 2017)
  • Post-employment Communication with Counsel: Newman, et al. v. Highline Sch. Dist. No. 203, Wash. Pub. Util. Dist. Ass’n Municipal Attorneys Winter 2016 CLE, Vancouver, WA (Nov. 30, 2016)
  • Tort Law Update, Part I: Recreational Immunity, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Fall Conference, Chelan, WA (Oct. 1, 2015)
  • Technology Awareness Issues/Policy, Oregon School Boards Association / Council of School Attorneys, Eugene, OR (December 5, 2012) (co-presented with Michael T. Kitson)
  • Updates on Qualified Immunity and Related Issues in Section 1983 Cases, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference, Stevenson, WA (April 26, 2012)
  • Updates on Qualified Immunity and Related Issues in Section 1983 Cases, Oregon School Board Association Annual Conference, Portland, OR (November 11, 2011)
  • Prevention, Mitigation Emergency Preparedness, and Avoiding Exposure, Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) Annual Conference, Portland, OR (June 7, 2011) (co-presented with Patricia K. Buchanan)
  • Trends in Workplace Discrimination and Retaliation Law, Labor Relations Institute, Yakima, WA (May 13, 2011) (co-presented with Michael A. Patterson and Patricia K. Buchanan)
  • Mayor’s Role in Performance Management, Association of Washington Cities, Yakima, WA (April 12, 2011) (co-presented with Patricia K. Buchanan)