Marisa N. Forthun

Marisa is an Associate at Ryan Swanson who represents and advises clients in civil litigation. Her practice primarily focuses on healthcare defense, with an emphasis on defending medical negligence claims in long-term care, skilled nursing facility, and assisted living facility settings. She is involved in all phases of litigation, from early case assessment and discovery through resolution, including securing favorable summary judgment rulings. She has significant experience successfully resolving matters through mediation, working strategically to achieve efficient and favorable outcomes for her clients.

In addition to her healthcare practice, Marisa advocates on behalf of small businesses in commercial disputes, including breach of contract claims, represents beneficiaries in trust and estate litigation, and advises business clients on employment-related claims. She also has experience handling arbitration proceedings and drafting appellate briefs. Known for her attention to detail and collaborative approach, she works closely with clients to understand their goals, provide practical guidance, and advance their interests.

While earning her J.D., Marisa participated in the Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic, where she appeared in court as a Lay Advocate after passing and being admitted to the Tulalip Tribal Bar. Marisa previously interned at the Unemployment Law Project, where she conducted intake interviews with claimants who had been denied Washington State unemployment benefits, represented clients at administrative hearings, and drafted Petitions for Review.

Additionally, she worked as a Hazelton Fellow revising an evidence treatise and won Washington Law Review’s Student Essay Competition, later publishing her research on discretionary appointments of counsel for children in Washington State dependency proceedings. Marisa was also the recipient of multiple CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Civil Procedure II, Genetics And The Law, and Criminal Procedure: Adjudication.