Karen Lynn Mitterer

Karen helped me in getting my cosmetology license and helped my partner's son with his special needs rights. I had no idea she had passed when I recommended her to a friend today. When helping me with my case against my vocational school she was a force to be reckoned with. She will be missed.

Karen was THE attorney in Seattle. Just the other day someone asked me for a special needs attorney and the first name that came to mind, as it always had, was Karen. She had a heart of gold for our kids and a genuine desire to help.
She will be greatly missed by us all.
Rest In Peace Karen.

My law firm was updating our holiday card list today and I learned of Karen's passing. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolescences I hope we, who knew Karen, pass on the same enthusiasm, caring, integrity, and desire to help others as Karen demonstrated. She was one of the good guys...and I will miss her.

I haven't seen Karen since our days together at Grace, but I'd thought of her often and was very saddened to learn of her passing. She was a very sweet and kind person who always wore the most beautiful smile on her face. My deepest condolences to her family.

I first heard about Karen while sitting in a JRA specialist's office in Oregon for one of my children. Little did I know, I too, would focus my practice on special education law. Several years later, we collaborated on some cases. It takes a special person with an incredible drive and passion to practice in the area of law that we do. Karen's legacy lives on in the work that she has done to help so many families. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

I first met Karen when she came to interview with me many years ago for an associate attorney position, I was very impressed by her poise and presence. She had a wonderful caring demeanor. While I was not able to hire her then on a full time basis we remained in frequent contact by phone, email and occaisional meetings to review and strategize on cases. I will miss her warmth and charm. My best wishes to her family.

I asked Karen to join me in a special education case that involved the state and two other entities as defendants.

I knew Karen in law school, and then worked with her again when I was working as a special education judge. W e connected again when I started working as a representative for families. She was such a wonderful, warm, caring person. I was saddened to hear of her death and know there are families in Seattle who miss her dearly.

I first met Karen when I held her as a newborn baby. I watched her struggle with JRA early on. I recall her excruciating pain walking up stairs one at a time and trying to move as most lucky children normally do effortlessly: her crying for awhile --then bracing herself, putting on a brave face and moving forward. She did not receive the gift of mercy from above, but rather a lifelong challenge for which most of us are neither prepared to endure nor able to convert into success. One...