Susan’s practice focuses on catastrophic medical negligence, personal injury, and wrongful death. She has deep expertise in determining risk, merit, and potential recovery in medical negligence and catastrophic personal injury cases. She brings a diverse background as a medical malpractice attorney, registered nurse, and hospital risk manager.

Susan began her career in 2003 as a litigation attorney representing individuals in a broad range of matters involving product liability, pharmaceutical class actions, general civil litigation, and personal injury. Realizing that a nursing education would further elevate her medical negligence and personal injury acumen, Susan pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University in 2006. She became a registered nurse and provided patient care to complex pediatric emergency and trauma patients for a Level I hospital.

Susan subsequently transitioned into hospital administration to develop and implement appropriate measures to minimize injury risk to patients, visitors, and staff. She returned to the practice of law in 2010, focusing on representing and advising healthcare professionals, hospitals, and other providers in medical negligence actions, licensing, and disciplinary issues. Additionally, she garnered experience as a corporate counsel which fueled her negotiation and dispute resolution skills.

Prior to formally joining Connelly Law Offices in 2024, Susan practiced in her own law firm, Wassell Law, PLLC for 10 years. She acted as co-counsel solely for Connelly Law on major litigation cases from potential claim stage through litigation and resolution (trial or settlement) and leveraged her aptitude in understanding complex medical issues and theories. Together, she and the Connelly Law team achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients.

In her spare time, Susan enjoys rowing with her crew team, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family, friends, and two Gordon Setter dogs.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC
Juris Doctor ─ University of Miami School of Law, Miami, FL
Bachelor of Arts in Peace, War, and Defense ─ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science ─ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Admitted to Practice

Colorado (2003)
District of Columbia (2010)
Washington (2010)

Awards & Recognition

• #1 Medication Error Settlement in the United States in 2022
• #1 Medical Malpractice Settlement in the State of Washington in 2020
• Top 10 Medical Malpractice Settlements in the United States in 2020
• #1 Medical Malpractice Verdict in the State of Washington in 2018

Representative Cases

Woodring-Thueson v. University of Washington (2018) WL -------- (Wash.Super.)
$25.3 Million jury verdict for woman who experienced delay in diagnosis of basilar artery occlusion after being admitted to Harborview Medical Center.

Smith v. Confidential Hospitals (2018)
$20.1 Million settlement for stroke patient who suffered a series of “Watershed Strokes” caused by relative hypotension.

Confidential v. Confidential (2023) 
$15 Million settlement in a medical malpractice case.

Richardson v. Harborview (2022) 
$10 Million settlement on behalf of a woman who suffered ischemic strokes from vasospasm following a hemorrhagic stroke.

Harding v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of WA, Oral Health Specialists (2021)
$10 Million global settlement for a woman who suffered a stroke as a result of improper discontinuation of blood thinner.

Peschek v. Avalon Contracting, Inc., et al. (2021)
$5 Million settlement to resolve claims related to a truck v. pedestrian collision which caused severe injuries ultimately leading to the pedestrian’s death.