STAFF

David B. Vail

Attorney / Managing Partner

David enlisted in the United States Coast Guard from June 1962 through June 1967. He earned the Rank of E-5 as an Electronics Technician, serving one tour in Viet Nam. His last year was as an instructor teaching basic electronics theory to Coast Guard students. Upon discharge, he graduated from the University of Washington and obtained his law degree at the University of Puget Sound in 1976.

Prior to obtaining his law degree, he had the good fortune to work for two Past Presidents of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Gerald L. Bangs and H. Frank Stubbs.  Each limited their practice to Personal Injury, Social Security and Workers’ Compensation cases.

David was admitted to the Bar in 1977, and immediately opened his firm limiting his practice to Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability and Personal Injury cases. In the 1970’s and 80’s David was a founder of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR) and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (TPJ). His firm has grown from just himself to a firm of twenty-five crusaders for injured people through his partnership with Jennifer Cross-Euteneier. Our partnership’s mission is to perpetuate his philosophy to champion the pursuit of the rights of injured people to accomplish their sense of dignity and self-esteem by securing their financial security to which the injured clients are entitled.

Jennifer Cross-Euteneier

Attorney / Partner

Jennifer is a native Washingtonian, who grew up in Seattle.  In 1994 she earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Washington, one in Political Science and the other in Speech Communication. After a brief stint in California where she began Law School at Whittier Law School she returned to Seattle University School of Law and graduated cum laude with her Juris Doctorate in 1998. She was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in October of 1998 and was admitted for practice into the Western District Court in 2002.

Jennifer began working with David in 1997 as an intern and was hired on as an associate attorney in 1998. In 2005 she was made partner and is determined to perpetuate the work begun by David. She currently spends most of her time at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals litigating complex pension cases and from time to time gets involved in questioning the law set forth in Title 51.

Inga Warrick

Associate Attorney

A North Carolina native, Inga received a B.A. in International Studies and French from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. She went on to receive her J.D. from Villanova School of Law in Villanova, PA, before moving to the Seattle area. Inga was a solo practitioner in Seattle before joining the firm in April 2021. In her spare time, Inga enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and two cats, Calypso and Ragnar.

Alexis Hoech

Associate Attorney

Originally from Bothell Washington, Alexis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) in 2016. Alexis is dedicated to giving back to the community and entered the legal field to help others and turned her passion for helping others by joining the firm in February of 2024 to assist the firm in the fight for injured workers. She received her law degree at the University of Idaho College of Law in Moscow Idaho and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2023.

Outside of work, Alexis volunteers at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center assisting individuals with disabilities in adaptive riding lessons. She also enjoys spending time with her pets – a dog named Nala and horses named Harley and Cisco.

Michele Durnin

Senior Supervising Paralegal

Michele joined the firm on October 30, 1995. Since that time, her hard work and dedication have proven invaluable and she has risen through the ranks to the position of Senior Paralegal. Michele’s experience allows her to navigate the complicated Labor and Industries Workers’ Compensation system and more often than not is able to obtain benefits for clients without having to send their cases on to litigation. Her experience is an important asset in all areas of claims management.

Phiona Pim

Worker’s Compensation Supervising Paralegal

Phiona joined the firm in October of 2013. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Washington. Phiona is an advocate for our Worker’s Compensation Clients and fights to get the benefits and treatment they are entitled to. In her spare time, Phiona likes to spend time with her husband and their two cats.

Danielle Roberts

Social Security Paralegal

Lynn M. Venegas

Professional Legal Secretary (PLS)

Our Legal Secretary, Lynn has been with the firm since February 16, 1988. Prior to joining the firm, she attended the Legal Secretary Program at Clover Park Technical College and began her career as a Legal Secretary for a General Practice law firm until joining David B. Vail and Associates in 1988. Lynn received her Professional Legal Secretary Certificate in March of 1997. In 2000-2001 she received the National Association of Legal Secretaries of Pierce County Award of Excellence and that same year she received the National Association of Legal Secretaries of Washington Award of Excellence. Lynn is responsible for facilitating all facets of our Labor and Industries cases at the litigation level.

Rachel Walton

PI Paralegal

Rachel joined the firm in 2017. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and has been working as a paralegal since 2011. Rachel took a brief hiatus from the office after becoming a mom, but is back to advocate for our personal injury clients.

Andrea Vanpelt

Receptionist

Andi joined Vail, Cross & Associates as a file clerk in 2021, and since then has grown with the company. She has now moved up to the front desk to fill the role as the new receptionist. As the receptionist she enjoys learning new communication skills, helping the public, getting to know our clients, and being an important part of the community. She hopes to continue growing with the firm by learning new things, gaining new skills and experience. 

In her free time, Andi loves to spend time relaxing and watching her shows. But when it’s nice out, you can find her outside in the sun having a lake day, at the beach,  on a road trip, or playing darts and pool with friends or significant other.

Additional Staff: