General Information and Education

Mr. Otto and his wife, Kim, and their two sons live in Port Orchard, Washington. He has lived in Port Orchard, Washington since 1981. He attended the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) in Tacoma from 1977 to 1980, and passed the Washington State Bar in October, 1980. He is also admitted to practice in the Federal Courts for the Western District of Washington.

Mr. Otto attended Ohio State University, graduating with a B.A. in 1977. He is originally from Lorain, Ohio, and a graduate of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, Ohio in 1973.

Mr. Otto is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Kitsap County Bar Association, the Washington State Trial Lawyer's Association and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Legal Experience

Mr. Otto interned at the law firm of Cullen, Holm, Hogland and Foster in Olympia, Washington 1978-79. He began trying cases while an intern at the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office in Tacoma, Washington, in February, 1980, and has been a trial lawyer since that time.

After Bar passage, Mr. Otto was employed at the Kitsap County Prosecutor's office from October, 1980 to December, 1989. There, he was involved in a broad variety of cases across the criminal spectrum, from speeding to murder prosecutions. He also represented the State of Washington in mental commitment hearing and juvenile prosecutions and child neglect/dependency cases in a contract with the Child Protection Services and Department of Social and Health Services.

Starting in 1990, Mr. Otto has been in solo private practice in Port Orchard, Washington. His practice is a trial practice, emphasizing personal injury plaintiff's cases and criminal defense. Karen Alfano, his paralegal, completes his office team.

Mr. Otto also has prosecuted or defended approximately forty appeals to the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court in civil and criminal matters.

Mr. Otto has served as a South Kitsap Parks and Recreation Director in 1986, and as a board member for the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, of which he also served as Vice President. He also has served as the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee.

Other items of interest

Mr. Otto has coached or been assistant coach for a number of his children's youth soccer and baseball teams. Between college and law school he bicycled from Ohio to Washington state. He continues to have interest in bicycle touring as his two sons now have the ability to go with him. He still dreams of riding from Ohio to New York to complete a cross country achievement.